With a click of a button, you are able to conduct instant transactions for anything from splitting the bill at dinner to reimbursing your sister for buying you ice cream last night. But this convenience not only attracts customers – it also attracts fraudsters as well.
Our P2P feature is considered very safe to use, but like any payment method, it is important to be careful with your personal information.
A few scenarios might include:
- Scammers impersonating your bank and ask you to confirm your bank account number, debit card number, and/or online banking username and password to verify your information.
- A scammer “accidentally” sends you money on a P2P Service and asks you to send the money back.
- You receive a check in the mail from a company that asks you to deposit into your account and send all or part of the funds to someone else using P2P.
- Scammers pose as a business and request payment using P2P for a product or service.
All of these scenarios could have malicious intent tied to each one. Here are a few tips from the American Bankers Association that can come in handy, no matter if you’re using our online banking portal, or another common P2P app:
- Don’t send money to someone you don’t know or have never met in person.
- Don’t share bank authentication or verification numbers or your personal information with anyone who contacts you, even if caller ID indicates it’s a familiar company. Keep your account usernames and passwords, Social Security number, and bank account, debit, and credit card information to yourself. If you’re pressured or have any concerns, hang up and contact your bank directly using the number on the back of your card or on your bank statement.
- Don’t let any strangers persuade you to send money to yourself or to anyone else.
- Don’t let anyone you don’t know borrow your phone.
- Don’t do a Google search for customer service phone numbers. Scammers have created fake websites with toll free numbers that connect to them. Only call your bank using the number on the back of your card or on your bank statement.
- Do be sure to know and trust the other party who’s receiving your money. Confirm the name, email, phone number, or applicable identifier when you transfer money. If you make a mistake, even one wrong digit, you will send your money to someone else who may not give it back. Just like handing someone cash, your bank can’t get it back for you.
- Do set up alerts to notify you of any transaction on your account.
- Do enable multi-factor authentication — a step to verify who you are, like a text with a code — for all accounts and do not share the verification codes with anyone, including anyone claiming to be the bank.
- Do ensure that any bank or P2P app you use is updated so it is secure.
- Do be wary of accessing any financial or personal information on public Wi-Fi or mobile hotspots. They often lack security and hackers can capture sensitive personal information on these open servers.
Remember: Fraud can happen to anyone. It’s important to safe guard your personal information. If you feel you have been a victim of P2P fraud, contact your local banker.