10 Things To Do To Avoid Fraud & Phishing Scams

Swindlers use clever schemes to defraud millions of people every year. They often combine new technology with old tricks to get people to send money or give out personal information.

A Fraud Call Center will NEVER request a cardholder’s SSN, PIN or CVV (3-digit code on the back of a card), nor does CCNB initiate a call to a cardholder that asks you for your card number. If you have any doubts as to the legitimacy of a call, hang up and call the number printed on the back of your card, or call CCNB at (866)418-9219 and speak with a customer care representative.

Here are some additional tips from the FTC’s Consumer Protection Agency to help you avoid phishing scams:

Spot imposters.
Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, friend, or a company you do business with. Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request — whether it comes as a text, a phone call, or an email.
Do online searches.
Type a company or product name into your favorite search engine with words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” Or search for a phrase that describes your situation, like “IRS call.” You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them as scams.
Don’t believe your caller ID.
Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see aren’t always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up. If you think the caller might be telling the truth, call back to a number you know is genuine.
Don’t pay upfront for a promise.
Someone might ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit, and loan officer, mortgage assistance, or a job. They might even say you’ve won a prize, but first, you have to pay taxes or fees in order to redeem it. If you do, they will probably take the money and disappear.
Consider how you pay.
Credit cards have significant fraud protection built-in, but some payment methods don’t. Wiring services like Western Union or MoneyGram can be risky since it’s nearly impossible to get your money back. That’s also true for reloadable cards (like MoneyPak or Reloadit) and even gift cards. Government offices, reputable financial institutions, and honest companies don’t require you to use these payment methods.
Talk to someone.
Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, consult an expert — or just tell a friend.
Hang up on robocalls.
If you answer the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up and report it to the FTC. These calls are illegal, and often the products are bogus. Don’t press 1 to speak to a person or to be taken off the list. That could lead to more calls.
Be skeptical about free trial offers.
Some companies use free trials to sign you up for products and bill you every month until you cancel. Before you agree to a free trial, research the company and read the cancellation policy. And always review your monthly statements for charges you don’t recognize.
Don’t deposit a check and wire money back.
By law, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. If a check you deposit turns out to be a fake, you’re responsible for repaying the bank.
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If you spot a scam, report it at ftc.gov/complaint. Your reports help the FTC and other law enforcement investigate scams and bring crooks to justice.

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