Security Tips

Consumer Technology Topic of the Month

7 Peer-To-Peer Payment Scams And How to Avoid Them

What is a P2P Payment?

A P2P Payment is a digital money transfer made between two individuals without the need for a traditional banking system. Instead, these transactions happen online using a website or mobile app.

Popular platforms like PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Google Pay and Zelle have made it easy for people to send and receive money online almost instantly. Whether its splitting a dinner bill, paying rent or just sending a gift, P2P payments offer a convenient solution.

7 Common Peer-to-Peer Payment Scams

While P2P apps make transferring money easy, there are scammers out their aiming to trick you. Here are a few scams to watch out for:

1. Phishing

Phishing is a tactic where scammers pretend to be a trustworthy entity, like a bank or payment platform, to trick you into revealing information like your passwords and credit card details.

When it comes to P2P scams, phishing might involve fake emails, texts or calls pretending to be from popular payment apps like Paypal or Venmo. The scammer might claim there's a problem with your account, and ask you to click a link or provide login details to "fix" the issue. Once you do, they can access your account, make unauthorized transactions or even lock you out.

2. Unauthorized Money Transfers

An unauthorized money transfer happens when someone moves money out of your P2P account without your permission. Its more a type of fraud than a scam, but it's still worth knowing about. For P2P platforms, unauthorized transfers can happen if a fraudster gains access to your account details, perhaps through phishing tactics or by stealing your login credentials.

3. "Accidental" Transfers

Imagine getting money in your P2P account you weren't expecting. The sender says "Oops, that was a mistake. Can you send it back?" Sounds fair, but sometimes, it's a scam.

"Accidental" transfers occur when someone claims to have mistakenly sent money to your P2P account and asks you to return it. In this scam, after you've sent the funds back, you'll often discover that the initial funds sent to you were from a stolen source or a fake account. By the time the P2P service identifies the fraud, the scammer has your money, and you could be held responsible for the funds you received.

If someone says they have accidently transferred money to you, don't send it back. Instead, contact the P2P platform to report the incident and let them handle it.

4. Impersonation Scams

Impersonation scams trick you into believing you're dealing with a trusted entity, like your bank or a P2P platform. A scammer might call, posing as a representative of that company, warning of "suspicious activity" on your account. They'll instruct you to send money, often to "verify" your account or "revers" a transaction.

5. Fake product or Service Purchases

When you buy a product or service online, you expect to get what you paid for, right? In a fake product or service purchase scam, fraudsters pose as legitimate sellers. They'll showcase appealing products or services, and once you're convinced, they'll request payment via a P2P app. After you transfer they money, they vanish, leaving you without the item or service you paid for. If this happens, reach out to the P2P provider and your bank if it's linked to the service.

6. Work From Home Scams

Imagine landing a seemingly perfect work-from-home job. Your new "employer" sends you a check to deposit, saying it's for supplies or training. Exciting, right? But then, they instruct you to send a portion of that money to someone else via a P2P service.

Here's the catch: the check they sent you is fake. By the time your bank identifies it as fraud, you've already sent the scammer real money from your account. You're left with a drained bank account and no job. Always be wary of job offers that ask you to transfer money, especially if they sound too good to be true.

7. Physical Access

Always be cautious when lending your phone to someone. In today's digital world, it can be akin to handing over your wallet, especially if you don't have the proper security features turned on.

How To Avoid P2P Scams

Now that you know about common peer-to-peer payment scams, here are some ways you can keep yourself safe.

Know Your Recipient

Sending money via P2P is a lot like handing over cash. Would you transfer money to a stranger? Probably not. So, never send or accept P2P payments from people you don't know. Make sure you trust the other person in the transaction.

Double-Check All Details

Mistakes happen. But with money, even small mistakes can be costly. Before hitting "send", double-check all details. This includes the recipient's name, email, phone number or any other identifier. A single wrong digit could mean sending money to the wrong person.

Stay Updated With the Latest Security Features

Scammers always look for easy targets. Don't be one. Regularly update your P2P apps. Modern apps come with data encryption and other security measures that act like a shield, keeping your money safe from fraudsters.

Take Immediate Action if You're Suspicious

If something feels off, trust your gut, If you spot any suspicious activity or get an odd request, notify your P2P platform and bank right away. Better to be safe than sorry.

Keep Your Information Safe During Customer Service Interactions

If you're talking to customer service on the phone, especially if they've called you, be careful. Scammers can pretend to be customer service reps to steal your info. Never provide sensitive details, like your password, over the phone. And always use the official phone numbers you find on the P2P vendor's website, your bank statement or the back of your card.-not a number someone else gives you.

Enable Alerts and Use Multi-Factor Authentication

Enabling alerts and multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security to your P2P accounts. With alerts, you get an instant notification each time you make a transaction, so you can spot suspicious activity as soon as it happens.

And with MFA, even if a scammer gets your password, they'd still need a second form of verification, like a code sent via a text message, to access your money.

ANATOMY OF A FAKE CHECK SCAM

Fake checks drive many types of scams- like those involving phony prize wins, fake jobs, mystery shoppers, online classified ad sales, and others. In a fake check scam, a person you don't know asks you to deposit a check-sometimes for several thousand dollars and usually for more than what you are owed- and wire some of the money back to that person. The scammers always have a good story to explain the overpayment- they're stuck out of the country, they need you to cover taxes or fees, you need to buy supplies, or something else. But by the time your bank discovers you've deposited a bad check, the scammer already has the money you sent, and you're stuck paying the rest of the check back to the bank.

The Federal Trade Commission receives tens of thousands of reports each year about fake checks. Over the last three years, the number of complaints has steadily increased, and so have the dollars lost.

The FTC's new info graphic developed with the American Bankers Association Foundation, offers some tip-offs to rip-offs and what to do if you get a check from someone you don't know.

Please share this information with others. Victims may be embarrassed to talk about their experiences, but you can help. A simple phone call, email or text, saying "Look what I just found" and sharing this information may make a difference in someone else's life.

Avoiding Cryptocurrency Scams

How to Avoid Cryptocurrency Scams!

Scammers are always finding new ways to steal your money using cryptocurrency. To steer clear of a crypto con, here are some things to know.

ONLY SCAMMERS DEMAND PAYMENT IN CRYPTOCURRENCY. No legitimate business is going to demand you send cryptocurrency in advance- not to buy something, and not to protect your money. That's always a scam.
ONLY SCAMMERS WILL GUARANTEE PROFITS OR BIG RETURNS. Don't trust people who promise you can quickly and easily make money in the crypto markets.
NEVER MIX ONLINE DATING AND INVESTMENT ADVICE. If you meet someone on a dating site or app, and they want to show you how to invest in crypto, or asks you to send them crypto, that's a scam.

Spot Crypto-Related Scams

Here are some common investment scams, and how to spot them.

A so-called "investment manager" contacts you out of the blue. They promise to grow your money- but only if you buy cryptocurrency and transfer it into their online account. The investment website they steer you to looks real, but it's a fake, and so are their promises. If you log in to your "investment account", you won't be able to withdraw your money at all, or only if you pay high fees.
An online "love interest" wants you to send money or cryptocurrency to help you invest. That's a scam. As soon as someone you meet on a dating app asks you for money, or offers you investment advice advice, know this: that's a scammer. The advice and offers to help you invest in cryptocurrency are nothing but scams. If you send them crypto, or money of any kind, it'll be gone, and you typically won't get it back.
Scammers guarantee that you'll make money or promise big payouts with guaranteed returns. Nobody can make those guarantees. Much less in a short time. And there's nothing "low risk" about cryptocurrency investments. So: if a company or person promises you'll make a profit, that's a scam. Even if there's a celebrity endorsement or testimonials from happy investors. Those are easily faked.
Scammers promise free money. They'll promise free cash or cryptocurrency, but free money promises are always fake.
Scammers make big claims without details or explanations. No matter what the investment, find out how it works and ask questions about where your money is going. Honest investment managers or advisors want to share that information and will back it up with details.
IF YOU SEE A TWEET ( OR A TEXT, OR OTHER MESSAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA) THAT TELLS YOU TO PAY WITH CRYPTOCURRENCY, THAT'S A SCAM!

September 2024 Security Tip

What is Account Takeover Fraud?

Account takeover fraud occurs when cybercriminals gain access to your online accounts and use them to withdraw money, make purchases or extract information they sell or use to access your other accounts. Potential targets of account takeover fraud include social media and email accounts, as well as those you use to shop or handle bank and credit card transactions.

How Do Criminals Get Your Account Information?

Fraudsters can buy stolen credentials off the dark web and use them to access your accounts. Data breaches are a prime source. Additionally, criminals may use malware, phishing or other methods of identity theft to obtain your login and password information. Once they have credentials, they may attempt credential stuffing, where the login and password from one site is used to try to log in to others. Alternatively, they may execute a brute force attack, which uses bots to try multiple passwords on a single site.

What Do Fraudsters Do With Stolen Accounts?

Once they gain access to your account, criminals may do any number of things to cause trouble. They may, for example:

Order a new card from your credit card company and use it to make purchases.
Buy a smartphone from your mobile phone carrier.
Access and redeem your account credits or rewards points for their own benefit.
Make a payment to a fraudulent company from your bank account.
Open a new bank account in your name.
Place orders on a shopping or restaurant delivery site.
Redirect unemployment benefits.
Access and steal personally identifiable information.
Change account information, including your phone number, email, home address or login and passwords.
Use the information they obtain to access other accounts.
Sell the account information on the dark web.

For all the problems account takeover can create, it can be difficult to detect. Often, criminals take the extra step of changing your account preferences so you don't receive notifications that might otherwise tip you off that something is amiss. Play defense: Pay attention to password change notifications and other account alerts as they come in before fraudsters have the chance to disable them. If you're notified of activity you don't recognize, look into it right away.

How Can You Protect Yourself From Account Takeover?

What else can you do to reduce your risk of account takeover fraud? Following general best practices for reducing the risk of identity theft is a good place to start. Some factors may be out of your control. For example, your information may be leaked in a data breach without your knowledge or the opportunity to secure your information. You can, however, take steps to limit the ways bad actors can use your data.

Be meticulous with passwords. Hackers will be more successful with their attacks if you tend to use the same logins and passwords on multiple sites. Ideally, you should have a unique, secure password for every online account. Using a secure password manager to generate and store these passwords across devices could be a great help.

Use multifactor authentication. Simply setting up security on your accounts to send a one-time passcode by email or text an help thwart an account takeover. Adding biometrics like face recognition or fingerprints can also be effective. Multifactor authentication isn't available on all accounts, but it is available on many critical ones. Activate it wherever you can.

Safeguard your credit. Even before you fall victim to account takeover, you might want to consider placing a credit report freeze with all three credit bureaus. With a fraud alert, credit bureaus will ask creditors to take steps to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. A credit freeze prevents potential creditors (and others) from viewing your credit report and scores unless you deliberately "thaw" your credit information.

What To Do if Your Account Has Been Hacked. If you discover your account has been hacked, follow these basic steps for dealing with account fraud and identity theft:

Report the fraud to the company or agency involved. You may need to close your account or upgrade your account security.
Check your accounts. Access whether your other accounts have been affected, especially those that use the same password.
Change your passwords. Update account information for the affected account and any others that share passwords with it. Better yet, you may want to take this opportunity to change and update your passwords across the board.
Consider your credit. If you haven't already, you may want to freeze your credit or add a fraud alert to your credit reports and activate credit monitoring.

August 2024 Security Tip

Zelle Safety Education

Pay Yourself Scams:

The best way to avoid scams is to know what to look for.

The "Pay Yourself Scam" begins with a text message from a scammer that looks like a fraud alert from your bank. If you respond to the text message and engage the scammer, you'll receive a call from a number that appears to be your bank. The scammer pretends to be a representative from your bank or credit union and offers to stop the alleged fraud. In reality, the scammer is actually tricking you int sending money to their own bank account.

Here's how they scam you:

When you enroll with Zelle, your bank sends you a security code to verify your identity. The scammer lies that they need this passcode to authorize your payment to yourself. If the scammer is given the on-time passcode, they'll be able to enroll THIER bank account with Zelle using your email or phone number. Now the money you thought you were sending to yourself is sent directly to their bank account.

Remember, your bank will never ask you to send money to yourself:

If you detect suspicious activity, hang up and contact your financial institution directly at the number listed on the back of your bank-issued debit card, in your banking app, or the bank's official website. You may also report pay yourself scams to the Federal Trade Commission.

Phishing Scams

Phishing is a type of social engineering where an attacker sends a fraudulent message to trick you into revealing sensitive informaiton- often in order to access your accounts or commit identity theft.

These attempts typically occur through email, over the phone, or via text messag- all designed to look like legitimate messages from those you know and trust. Phishing attempts often include an unexpected "urgent request" demanding immediate aciton. This could be signing onto a fake website, opening an email attachment containing malware, or simply responding with your personal or account information. Be on the lookout for any unusual language, including spelling and grammatical errors, and pay special attention to add or unfamiliar phone numbers and email address domains.

When it comes to phishing, remember to slow down and ask yourself questions.

Phishing Emails Pretending to be from Zelle

Cybercriminal scammers pretend to be from lots of different businesses, including payment technology companies like Zelle.

How can you tell this a phishing email?

The domain extension used by Zelle is @Zellpay.com. Zelle does not use <@gmail.com> or any other domain such as <@aol.com, <@yahoo.com, or any other common email domain.

How do I know an email is legitimately from Zelle?

Look at the domain at the end of the email string. If it's from Zelle or your bank, the domain will be @Zellepay.com or @YourBank.com. Be sure to look for misspellings.

What should I do if I receive an email like this pretending to be from Zelle?

Do not click any links in the email and report the scam to Zelle
Contact your bank or credit union directly to report the scam
Report scams and identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission and the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Don't reply to any texts or calls even if it seems to be from Zelle or your bank. If it's a call hang up and call your bank directly.

Marketplace Scams

Whether you're looking for a houseplant, a coffee table, or a new gaming console, online marketplaces can be a great place to start.

BUT be careful. Anonymous

July 2024 Security Tip

The 8 Latest Zelle Scams To Know in 2024

Money mule scams

Work-from-home job scams- that turn distressed job seekers into unsuspecting money mules are nothing new.

These job scams usually unfold this way:

The candidate applies for a "lucrative work from home job online"
A "hiring manager" reaches out, usually via Messenger, Telegram, Skype, or text message.
All subsequent communications tend to be exclusively through text messages.
The "hiring manager" extends an offer to the candidate, but there's a catch. The candidate is asked to front money or deposit a check, usually in the guise of purchasing work equipment.
It always ends the same way- with candidates still out of work, and no means to get their stolen money back.

Here's what to do:

Be wary of any job for which the entire interview process takes place through text messages. Legitimate jobs usually require at least one phone call or in- person interview.
Legitimate jobs don't require you to pay for your own equipment.
Never give your Zelle account information- including your phone number or email- to unknown individuals.

2. Zelle transfers to "yourself"

Here's what to do:

If you suspect you're on the phone with a scammer, hang up.
Never share your bank or Zelle account authentication codes with anyone.
Don't send money to yourself via Zelle to "reverse unauthorized payments:"

3. Account upgrade scam

Spoofing is a type of phishing scam in which the scammer is deliberately impersonating a company and/or installing malicious software at the same time.

An individual tried to sell his camera online only to lose $4,200 in the process. The individual needed to make a $1000 upgrade on his buyer's account. A phishing email purporting to be from Zelle was requesting this payment in gift cards.

Here's what to do:

Know that Zelle will never solicit money via emails or phone calls.
Verify that the sender's email address is from an official domain.
Look for signs of phishing- questionable grammar and a tone of forced urgency are some tip-offs.

4. Bank impersonators

Smishing is a form of phishing in which scammers send text messages purporting to be from reputable companies, usually banks.

The tactics that scammers use in smishing scams closely resemble phishing or spoofing schemes. Most smishing text messages claim to either flag "a suspicious login" or a "suspicious purchase".

If you respond or click on a link in the text, you will most likely receive a call from a bank representative impersonator.

5. Account takeovers

Account takeover fraud (ATO) is exactly what it sounds like- a scammer gets access to you Zelle account, changes the passwords, and locks you out.

Account takeovers usually unfold the same way as phishing, spoofing, or smishing scams wherein the victim clicks on a phony login link.
This gives scammers access to your account.
Then, they change your password and other account details to lock you out of your account.
Since the locked-out account is still connected to your bank account, you'll be the one footing the bill for the scammer's spending spree.

Here's what to do:

Only enter your Zelle login credentials on the official Zelle app or website.
Send a $1.00 transfer to confirm that you've reached the intended recipient prior to making larger transfers.

6. Zelle scammers on Facebook Marketplace

In this scam, the alleged buyer responds to a listing on Facebook Marketplace, asking if the item is still available. This usually happens withing a couple of hours after the listing goes up. The scammer often pretends to be a senior citizen who isn't very tech-savvy.
They ask for your phone or email address to send you the money on Zelle.
You may then receive a phishing email from a Zelle lookalike domain, "ZelleSupport@gmamil.com" is an example.
These emails typically prompt you to pay to upgrade to a Zelle business account. You may even be asked to pay via a link in the phishing email.

Here's what to do:

Ask for the recipient's Zelle email address- not a phone number. Spotting typos in email addresses is easier (and more obvious) than identifying incorrect digits in a phone number.
Remember that you don't need a Zelle business account to make and accept payments on Zelle.
Don't use Zelle for commercial transactions.

7. Refund and recovery scams

If someone bilked you, scammers know you will be desperate to get your money back. Refund and recovery scams take advantage of your already vulnerable state by charging for bogus services.

You may receive a call out of the blue flagging a fraudulent Zelle transaction from your bank account.
The caller purports to be from your bank and even offers evidence such as a seemingly legitimate caller ID.
They then walk you through an elaborate, fake Zelle refund process. You inadvertently end up paying the scammer to reclaim funds you never lost in the first place.

Here's what to do:

If you're not convinced you are speaking to a bank representative, hang up and call the official number on the bank's website.
Be wary if anyone demands upfront payment to "recover" your lost funds or account access.

8. Cragslist scams

Overpayment and rental scams may be the two most common scams on Craigslist.

If rental scams pressure you into paying advances for a listing that's too good to be true, overpayment scams operate differently.
An "interested" buyer may contact you about the item you're selling on Craigslist.
When the buyer pays you with a certified or cashier's check, you notice it exceeds the same price.
They then urge you to deposit the check and wire back the overpaid amount.
By the time the bank flags the counterfeit check, you've lost the sale item and the overpaid amount.

Here's what to do:

Look up the bank account, address, and phone number for the bank name displayed on any check you receive. Call the bank's official phone number- not the one listed on the check- to confirm.
Turn down checks made out to an amount larger than what you discussed. If the buyer insists that you return any overpayments using apps like Zelle, it's a scam.

June 2024 Security Tip

Recognize Common Scams

Scams 101

What you should know

Though there are different types of scams, the objective is the same: to steal your money or information. Scammers often use sophisticated tactics to commit fraud that can make it hard to cancel or reverse the transaction. If you send money to a scammer, you may not be able to get it back. Worse, if you knowingly take part in a scam, you could face hefty fines and criminal charges.

Wire Transfer

Wire transfers are an immediate form of payment that deposit money directly into another person's account and are typically irreversible, even if fraud is involved.

Digital payment apps

Digital payments allow you to send money to another person withouth using their bank account number. Sending money using Zelle, or third party payment apps like CashApp or Venmo is like sending cash.

Be on the lookout for bank imposters who tell you to send a wire to another account or person in order to protect your money. We'll never ask you to send money to yourself or anyone else.

Bank imposters may ask for your access codes so they can sign on to your account and enroll you in wire services, often without your knowledge, to steal money from your account. NEVER SHARE YOUR ACCESS CODE to verify an account, receive a refund, or for any other reason.

Gift card and prepaid card

Scammers may ask you to pay them using a gift card or prepaid card because they are like cash. If you are ever asked to pay or donate in the form of a gift card or prepaid card- it's a scam.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is digital money that is not backed by the US government or any bank, and once sent, that transaction is irreversible.

As part of a new job or romance scam, you could be asked to make a payment or send money using cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin or Ether. Be wary of unexpected requests to send money using cryptocurrency.

Fake check or account deposit

Scammers may send you a fake check or make a deposit into your account. Once the deposit has been made, you are asked to send all or a part of it back. After you send the money, you find out that the check or deposit is fraudulent.

Be aware: You are responsible for the full amount of the check you deposited and associated check fees if it is returned plus any money you send the scammer. It may typically take up to 10 business days for a check to be discovered as fraudulent and returned to your bank.

Debit or Credit Card

After obtaining your debit or credit card number through a scam or data breach, scammers may use it to make unauthorized purchases. Set up alerts on your accounts to help you track your transactions and spot unusual activity so you can contact us quickly if something doesn' look right.

QR codes

QR codes can be a quick and easy way to pay for goods or services without the hassle of entering a URL into your browser or handing over your physical card.

It's convenient, but use caution when scanning QR codes to pay for items or services. If something doesn't feel right when using a QR code to pay, ask to pay a different way. Be aware that scammers may use QR codes to send you to a malicious site, or a fake website where they can steal your payment information.

Here's what you can do to help protect yourself from scams

Get rich quick schemes. If an offer seems to god to be true, it probably is.
Unexpected calls, text, social media posts, or emails where someone asks you to send money, provide your account information, or give them access to your device.
Scammers impersonating tech support companies, government agencies, and even Grandview Bank to pressure you to act right away. Don't be afraid to end communication with the person who contacted you so you can have time to do more research.

Follow these tips to avoid a payment scam:

When using Zelle or a wire transfer to pay someone, double check your payment details to make sure that you're sending money to the right person. If you send money as part of a scam, you may not be able to get it back.
Don't send money or give account information to anyone you don't know or a company that you can't verify as legitimate.
Don't send money back to someone who has provided a check or overpayment for goods or services. These are almost always scams.
Don't cash checks for others or provide your account or sign-on information. If the check is bad, you are liable.
Don't allow anyone else to use your desktop or mobile device and make sure you have extra layers of security added to your banking or payment apps.

May 2024 Security Tip

Fraud Prevention and Cybersecurity Tips

Protect your accounts

Identity Protection

Store your Social Security card, passport, green card, financial documents, and unused credit, debit, or ATM cards in a secure location.
Never provide your personal or financial information to anyone unless you initiate the call or other communication.
Don't send personal or financial information through text or email, as this is typically not secure.
Shred documents that contain sensitive information before discarding.
Sign up for online billing and financial statements to help reduce the risk of identity theft from stolen paper documents.
Review your credit report at least once a year to look for unauthorized accounts that are opened in your name.
Monitor your credit and set up credit monitoring alerts.
Help protect against child identity theft by limiting the type of information shared with schools and organizations.

Account & Card Security

Immediately report lost or stolen ATM, debit cards, credit cards, checks, or account numbers.
Review your account for unauthorized withdrawals on your account. If you spot suspicious or unauthorized charges, report them right away.
Keep your contact information up to date so we can reach you if we detect unusual activity on your account.
Limit the amount of information printed on your checks to your name and address. Don't include your phone number or DL.
Always keep your checks, debit, ATM, and credit cards in a secure place.
Don't give out your account information over the phone unless you initiated the call using the phone number on the back of your card or the company's website.
If you receive a replacement debit or credit card, cut up or shred and discard your old card.
If you misplace your card, turn it off temporarily and back on when you find it.
Use a digital wallet to make purchases in stores, in-app and online. Digital Wallets replace your actual card number with a unique digital card number. This means businesses cannot see or store your full card number.

PIN protection for debit cards and ATM cards

When choosing a personal identification Number (PIN) for your debit card, don't use a number or word that appears in your wallet, such as name, birth date, or phone number.
Don't share your PIN with anyone or provide it through text message, email, or phone call.
Cover the keypad while entering your PIN at an ATM, Grocery Store or other locations.
Don't write your PIN anywhere, especially on your card.

Protect yourself online

Create a unique username and password for your Grandview Bank accounts and don't use any part of your email address.
Don't store your banking password or other sensitive data on your device.
Use biometric authentication so you don't have to remember your password and you can conveniently access your accounts.
Some browsers and smartphones allow you to save your username and password, commonly known as AutoSave or AutoFill. We recommend you disable this feature.
Activate 2 Step Authentication for an additional layer of security ehen you sing on to online or mobile accounts
Don't access your financial accounts using public Wi-Fi networks.
Always sign off from any website after you make a purchase with your credit or debit card. If you cannot sign off, close your browser to help prevent unauthorized access to your account information.

Email and text message

If you receive a suspicious email or text message, don't respond, select any links, or open attachments. Don't sign on to your account form a link in a suspicious message.
Create a unique password for your email account and don't share it with anyone. If scammers gain access to your email account, they may be able to reset your passwords for other websites and lock you out.

Online document storage (Cloud)

Before saving financial docuents to a third-party, online storage service, carefully review the provider's security and privacy settings and terms of service.

Online account aggregators

Before providing your username and password to third-party websites or apps to access your Grandview Bank information, carefully review the provider's security and privacy settings and terms of service.

Protect your devices

Protect your phone by setting up a PIN with your mobile carrier so no one other than you can make changes to your account or transfer your service to a different mobile phone.
When you're not using your phone, use the built-in security functions to lock it.
Remove all personal data and reset your phone to factor settings before discarding or selling it.
If you change your number, contact Grandview Bank to update your contact information so we can reach you if we detect unusual account activity.
If your phone is lost or stolen, contact your mobile service provider to determine if the mobile device can be shut off.
Keep your devices up-to-date, including operating system, anti-virus, applications, security patches, and browser versions.
Secure your home router with a strong password to help protect devices on your network from unauthorized access.

Elder financial abuse

Watch out for fraud and scams that attempt to trick older or vulnerable adults into sending gift cards or money, or giving up personal information or property. These scenarios may include scammers posing as technical support, IRS/Medicare representatives, grandchildren, love interest,s or lottery officials.
Encourage older adults to get to know their neighbors and connect frequently with family. Isolation is often a contributing factor to elder financial abuse.
Look out for signs of financial abuse by caregivers or relatives, such as requests for financial help or unexpected payments.

April 2024 Security Tip

How to Protect Yourself from Fraud

Beware of Fraud Trends on the rise

Zelle Refund Imposters- Grandview Bank will never reach out to you to ask you to send money to refund yourself for a fraudulent transaction. Even if it appears the call is coming from Grandview Bank, if it doesn't make sense, hang up and call us at 817-641-3100.
Cybercriminals and Your Personal Information- Identity theft is on the rise as merchants you do business with fall victim to data compromises. As a result, scammers can gain access to your personal identification information, such as your Social Security number, date of birth, debit card or account number.

Ways to Keep Your Information Safe

Be aware of scams that request personal information through calls, direct mail, emails or texts.
Do not click on links or cell phone numbers provided in a suspicious text or email. Instead, contact organizations directly at the number listed on its website.
Use caution with caller ID. Scammers can make calls look like they are coming from a reputable source.
Know that most providers you do business with, including Grandview Bank, will never reach out to you to aks for your account access credentials such as, banking account information, passwords, usernames, security questions, debit card numbers, PIN, passcodes or your Social Security Number. Do not share this information with anyone.
Do not click links in spam emails- even those sent by someone you know. Emails with typos and grammatical errors are a red flag.
Never store personal or financial information, including passwords on your device or on paper.
Do not use the same login ID and password accross multiple systems.
Secure documents that have personal information. Don't carry our Social Security card with you. If you get statements mailed to your home, bring in your mail as soon as you can.

Monitor Your Accounts

Carefully and regularly check your statements and reconcile your accounts daily for unexpected activity.
Contact us immediately if you notice any unusual activity on your account.
Periodically check your credit report.
Sign up for customizable Debit Card Alerts, so you can quickly detect and help stop fraudulent use of your debit card.
- Grandview Bnak may occasionally send you a fraud text and/or email alert asking you to confirm whether you recognize a particular debit card transaction. It's important that you respond to those fraud alerts.
Take advantage of tools that can help you stay safe
- Sign up for Debit Card Alerts for protection against unauthorized transactions
- Use Grandview Bank app to monitor the transactions on your accounts.
- Sign up for E-Statement Delivery to stop receiving paper statement by mail to help limit potential for theft.
- Sign up for account email alerts to monitor account activity
Protect your Debit Card
- Keep your PIN a secret. Do not write your PIN on your card, its carrier or other papers in your wallet
- Grandview Bank will never call, text or email you to ask for your PIN. Do not share your PIN with anyone.
- Place travel notices on your debit card when traveling out of the U.S.
- Only shop online at trusted websites.
Keep your devices secure
- Keep your device's operating system, software and apps up to date.
- Set up a password for your device and lock it when not in use.
- Use strong passwords when accessing online accounts. Use Multi-factor authentication if possible.
- Fully log out of online banking when you
- Keep your software up to date. Software developers send out updates to enhance protection from cybercriminals.
- Ensure that you are using the most recent version of antivirus software.
- Do not log into online banking using Wi-Fi hotspots; these connections typically do not have adequate security to keep your information safe.
- Secure your router by changing the name and password from the default setting.
- Do not install or run any app or program on your device unless it's from a trusted source.
- If you use the Frost App and lose your device, you can disable the app in Grandview Bank Online Banking.
Protect Yourself From Common Scams
- Never give your online banking credentials to a third party who wants to make a deposit into your account, for an online loan or for any other reason.
- Be cautious of communications from unsolicited sources including by phone, text, email or through social media.
- Stay alert of "spoofed phone calls", Fraudsters are "spoofing" or falsifying their phone number to display as a rep;utable company to consumers with the goal of getting them to give out account credentials, sending money to fake organizations or infecting their mobile or desktop devices with a virus.
- Federal government agencies, including the IRS, will never text or call you to ask for money.

Proudly serving North Texas for over 130 years.

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