Fraud Alerts

Criminals do not take vacations! Check here for news about other people trying to get their hands on YOUR money. Updates on new and recurring scams can help protect you from fraud. The more you know, the safer your money remains.

Remember! GSB will never request account information via an email or ask you to click on a link to verify such personal account data.

Seniors...be aware of calls from youths claiming to be a family member in immediate need of cash / check sent to Canada. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of the following GSB officers: David Kreiman
(847-832-0344); Pat Grimes (847-832-0850) or Pamela Aho (847-832-0153).

Alerts:

• Web-based scams (Posted 11/14/11)
  

  As people continue to move away from email, criminals have shifted their focus to social networking services. Twitter, Facbook and other online communities are plagued with spambots and other tricks with potential to cause serious problems. Some examples include alerting your Facebook friends that funds are needed immediately to assist them after an overseas mugging, illness, accident, etc.  Wiring money via Western Union or other untraceable method is part of this scam.  DELETE IT. You can verify your friend’s well-being via phone or known email address.

  The “Twitter Trap” alerts you that someone has left a nasty post about you along with a link.  DON’T BE TEMPTED.  Clicking on that link will forward the same message to all your followers and goes only to a mega advertising page which earns the scammer money for each click.  Don’t encourage this type of person.

  Surprisingly, some people will still respond to an email that mentions “Nigeria” if they think free money is involved.  The latest one is supposedly from “Citibank Nigeria” and states that for a contribution you will be eligible for $50,000 in compensation.  If this one pops up in your email, have a laugh over the latest spin on this age-old scam and its feeble attempt to hook you in, and then hit delete. It's safest
  
  
• Fraudulent FDIC E-mail (Posted 8/18/11)
  Be aware of fake emails to Business Customers supposedly from an FDIC address. Do not "click here" as directed as it will ask for personal account information.
The e-mail appears to be sent from "alert@fdic.gov" and includes a subject line that states: "FDIC: Your business account."

 

• Fake E-mail from NACHA (Posted 5/19/11)
  To avoid a computer virus, do not click on a link or attachment included with a phony email from "NACHA" that makes reference to an ACH transaction on your account.

NACHA does not send communications to persons or organizations about individual ACH transactions that they originate or receive.

• Debit Card Scam (Posted 5/4/11)
  A recent debit card scam has been reported on some of our cardholders’ accounts. As a precaution we are closing the debit cards that may be compromised and personally calling the contacts we have for those accounts. New instant issue debit cards are available at both 800 Waukegan Road, Glenview and 20 E Northwest Highway in Mount Prospect. If you have any questions, please contact Teleservicing at 847-729-1900.

 

• Fake IRS E-Mail (Posted 4/5/11)
  Be aware of a new scam making the rounds via email, which warns of discrepancies on the recipient’s income tax return and requests that personal information be sent via fax to a toll-free number.  It is made to look like it was sent from irs@irsonline.gov, and urges recipients to fill out, print, and fax an attached PDF tax form which of course requests the information needed to steal your identity and money. Covering all their bases, they offer suggestions for both people who have already filed and those who have yet to do so….a nice touch! Simply delete this email.

 

• Fake FDIC e-Mails (Posted 1/13/11)
  The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous reports from consumers who received an e-mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. The e-mail informs the recipient that "in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security, federal, state and local governments…" the FDIC has withdrawn deposit insurance from the recipient's account "due to account activity that violates the Patriot Act." It further states deposit insurance will remain suspended until identity and account information can be verified using a system called "IDVerify." If consumers go to the link provided in the e-mail, it is suspected they will be asked for personal or confidential information, or malicious software may be loaded onto the recipient's computer.
  This e-mail is fraudulent. It was not sent by the FDIC. It is an attempt to obtain personal information from consumers. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the link provided within the body of the e-mail and should NOT under any circumstances provide any personal information through this media

 

• Phony Calls & Texts (Posted 11/3/10)
  We have received a handful of calls this week from customers who have received fake phone calls and text messages requesting confirmation of various forms of bank information. Please remember! No financial institution will contact you via phone, email or text to request you provide any bank account or debit/credit card information. Always disregard such calls, emails or text messages.

 

• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous reports of suspicious telephone calls where the caller claims to represent the FDIC and is calling regarding the collection of an outstanding debt. These suspicious telephone calls are fraudulent. If a caller demonstrates that he or she has the recipient's personal information, such as Social Security number, birth date, and bank account numbers, the recipient may be the victim of identity theft and should review his or her credit reports for signs of possible fraud. The individual should also consider placing a "fraud alert" on his or her credit reports.

 

• Fraudulent Debit Card Phone Calls (Posted 6/21/11)
  There are reports of recent calls from various out of state and toll free phone numbers indicating your debit card has been deactivated are not valid. Disregard those calls. If you provided your account number please call 847-724-1900 and choose the option for lost or stolen debit card.
  For your information, in a phishing scam, the scammers know nothing about your card or account or your bank association. They target communities all over the country, use sophisticated technology to dial phone numbers in a community assuming a large percentage of residents bank at their local bank and have debit cards, and hijack phone numbers from different areas of the country to make it appear that the call is coming from other areas on your caller ID. Ignore these calls.

• Debit Card text message
  Be on the lookout for a text message saying your debit card has been de-activated and advising you to call a number which then asks for the entire card number. Remember, GSB does not contact customers that way. When in doubt, call 847-729-1900 to verify any communications claiming to be from the bank.
  
  
• New Medicare Scam
  Phone calls purporting to be from Medicare to elderly people advising them that the new Health Care Bill requires a change and they need to provide their bank routing number and account number. Caller ID will actually show the correct toll-free number for the Medicare office, but they are using sophisticated phone trickery to have that appear. If you call the number, Medicare has a message warning of the scam. Take a moment to advise any elderly friends and relatives of this new scam and also remind them that no legitimate firm will ever call or email you to ask you for sensitive financial information, including account numbers, and especially social security numbers.
  
  
• Facebook
  Don' be fooled by a plea from a "friend" on Facebook claiming to be in an emergency situation in a foreign country. They of course would like you to send them money via Western Union to save them from whatever made-up situation they describe. Avoid being duped by international fraudsters by asking your friend to call you in order to wire the money. Unless your friend is in the middle of a jungle in the Congo, they should be able to call you.
  
  
• Mystery Shopper Fraud
  Interested in the easy money promised by a Mystery Shopping ad? Think twice if they mail you a check to use as seed money, and ask that you return an amount not used. They may also have you deposit the "check" into your own account and wire funds. More than likely, that "check" is counterfeit and you're responsible for the amount if you cashed or deposited it.
  
  
• H1N1 Email Scam
  (First reported 12/2/09)
  Delete a fake e-mail purporting to be from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) which directs the recipient to register for a "personal vaccination profile" so that the government can keep track of people who have received the H1N1 flu vaccine. The link goes to a "look-alike" CDC site which asks for information that pertains to your bank accounts.
  
  
• Fraudulent ACH Transaction Emails
  (First reported 11/12/09)
  The Electronic Payments Association has received reports that individuals and/or companies have received a fraudulent e-mail that has the appearance of having been sent from NACHA (The Electronic Payments Association). The subject line of the e-mail states: “Rejected ACH Transaction.” The e-mail includes a link which redirects the individual to a fake web page which appears like the NACHA Web site and contains a link which is almost certainly executable virus with malware. Do not click on the link. Both the e-mail and the related Web site are fraudulent.
  
  
• Check Receipts for Unauthorized "Cash Back" Debits
  Always check the receipt from a debit card transaction BEFORE leaving the store, etc. It seems some unscrupulous clerks are adding "cash back" transactions on customer bills and pocketing the cash themselves. They can be successful if the customer is rushed and does not confirm the actual dollar amount. If this occurs, demand it be corrected on the spot.
  
  
• Scam Text Messages
  Be aware of "scam" text messages which include a request for confidential information such as account and debit card information. Always contact your bank or credit card company directly for verification before responding with any private information.
  
  
• It's NOT from the FDIC
  A phishing email including the official FDIC logo has been circulating claiming that our bank has failed and instructs recipients to click on a link to a phony FDIC site. This is a SCAM. Do not click on that link. Glenview State Bank is not experiencing any difficulty.
  
  
• Fraudulent FBI Email
  An e-mail message claiming to contain a confidential FBI report titled “New Patterns in Al-Qaeda Financing” has been circulating since August 15, 2009. The e-mail has the subject line “Intelligence Bulletin No. 267,” and contains an attachment titled “bulletin.exe.” This message, or similar messages, may contain files that are harmful to the recipient’s system and may try to steal user credentials. DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINKS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS E-MAIL OR SIMILAR E-MAILS, IT IS A HOAX. The FBI does not send unsolicited e-mails or email official reports. Consumers should not respond to any unsolicited e-mails or click on any embedded links, as they may contain viruses or other malicious software.
  
  
• PIN means PERSONAL
  There are recent reports of "Visa" or MasterCard" calling cardholders to report suspicious activity on the account. They have your account number and address and just need the 3-digit PIN on the back of the card. Wait a minute! If it's really your card company calling, they have that info. Do not provide that number to any call that you have not initiated...such as for a purchase. When in doubt, call your card company using the number on the card, NOT a number that the caller provides.
  
  
• "Fraudsters" take advantage of social networking
  The over increasing popularity of online social sites appeals to crooks also. They continue to hijack accounts on social networking sites and spread malicious software by using various techniques. One technique involves the use of spam to promote phishing sites, claiming there has been a violation of the terms of agreement or some other type of issue which needs to be resolved. Other spam entices users to download an application or view a video. Some spam appears to be sent from users' "friends", giving the perception of being legitimate. Once the user responds to the phishing site, downloads the application, or clicks on the video link, their computer, telephone or other digital device becomes infected. Another technique used by fraudsters involves applications advertised on social networking sites, which appear legitimate; however, some of these applications install malicious code or rogue anti-virus software. Other malicious software gives the fraudsters access to your profile and personal information. These programs will automatically send messages to your "friends" list, instructing them to download the new application too. Infected users are often unknowingly spreading additional malware by having infected Web sites posted on their Web page without their knowledge. Friends are then more apt to click on these sites since they appear to be endorsed by their contacts.
  
  
• The "phishing" season never ends
  As much as we like to hear from you, the bank will never initiate a "chat" session via LOLA to obtain your account information. A recent scam has been reported where a person pretending to be from your bank will attempt to "chat" their way into more confidential information even after they've convinced you to supply your name & account number. Don't be fooled by look-alike web pages. Whenever in doubt, contact one of the names above.
  
  
• Who Needs a Deed?
  Homeowners DO NOT need to pay an excessive amount to an independent company to obtain a copy of the deed to their property. This information is available from your county's Recorder of Deeds for a nominal fee.
  
  
• Magazine Sales
  They're so polite and sound so sincere ....the young boy or girl who rings your doorbell is just trying to sell magazine subscriptions to help their school, team, church or whatever. At least that's their story. In many cases however, they've been sent out by unscrupulous companies who just want your cash. If you want to buy magazines from a salesperson who rings your bell, make sure it's a legitimate organization. If in doubt, just say "no thanks."
  
  
  
• Pigeon Drop
  An unattractive name for a cruel scam that is much older than the victims it targets. If you are approached by anyone willing to share something of value they just "found"...walk away and immediately report the incident to the police. DO NOT GIVE THEM MONEY OR ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION.!
  
  
• Jury Duty Scam
  It's back again! Phone caller advises that a warrant has been issued for your arrest for failing to appear for jury duty. When a person claims they never received the summons, caller requests social security number to "verify information on their list".
  Don't be intimidated by this scam.
  
  
• Call Forwarding
  In this phishing scheme the victim receives an email from the phisher telling them that their bank needs to verify their phone number immediately. If they do not confirm their phone number their account will be suspended. By following the phisher's instructions, the bank customer is actually forwarding any subsequent phone calls to the phisher's number. The calls will continue to be forwarded until the victim notices they are not getting any calls. When customer tries to verify the soon-to-follow fraudulent withdrawals from their account, the call goes directly to the phisher. NEVER provide your financial or personal information to an unknown source via email or the phone.
  
  
• Credit Card "Swapping"
  Make sure the credit card you get back from a clerk or server is really yours. Phony and invalid cards with someone else's name have been substituted.

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