What are the latest scams?

Recently, several fraudulent attempts have been made against bank customers—especially seniors.

• If you are told you have won a lottery, the first question to ask is “Did I enter a lottery?” If not, you are being scammed.
• If you are told you can collect lottery winnings by providing personal information such as your bank account number, your social security number, or other identification information, you are being scammed.
• If you are asked to deposit a check, wait for the funds to become available, and then forward a portion of the funds to the person providing the check, you are being scammed. You will be responsible for the funds you took out of your account if the check is returned and was written on a closed account, for non-sufficient funds, or is forged, altered, or counterfeit. These scams take advantage of the delay between the time check funds become available and the check actually clears.

Please don’t fall for scams. If you receive notice that you have won something, let us know. We may be able to help find out if it is legitimate, or at least point you in the right direction.

For more information on warning signs and how to protect yourself, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Fraud Page.