A recent scam utilizing peer-to-peer payment (P2P) services is tricking people into sending money directly to scammers. It’s known as the “Pay Yourself Scam”. Scammers pretend to be a representative from the person’s bank, contacting them about a “fraudulent” transaction. In order to stop it, the person needs to send money to themselves. Here’s how it works:It starts […]
Fraudsters Impersonating Bank Representatives in Imposter Scam
Imposter scams vary, but they all work the same way. It begins with a call, text or email from a scammer who is pretending to be someone the person trusts (i.e. government agent, local law enforcement, family member) in order to convince them to send money, oftentimes, in the form of gift cards, mobile payment, wire […]
Businesses: Ducktail Malware Used to Hack Facebook Business Accounts
A new type of malware has been discovered in a spear-phishing campaign targeting marketing and HR professionals across social media platforms, specifically LinkedIn. According to reports, hackers identify businesses who use Facebook Ads and Business services, then reach out to their LinkedIn profiles, typically managed by Marketing or HR departments, in an effort to steal information […]
Businesses: Scammers Redirecting Payroll
Scammers have found a new way to take advantage of businesses, especially those with a large number of employees and locations. They are now impersonating legitimate employees and sending phishing emails, or directly calling HR and Payroll professionals to request a change to their bank account information. Once the change is made, the employee’s payroll is diverted […]
Going Mobile: How to Stay Safe and Secure
One of the perks of banking with Merrimack County Savings Bank is access to free mobile banking. It’s easy to use and always there when you need it. Unfortunately, it’s also easy to get caught in a scammer’s web. Suddenly, you’re sending money to someone you don’t know instead of paying your utility bill. 4 Steps to Stay Safe […]
Protecting Seniors From Financial Abuse
As people over 50 years old control over 70% of the nation’s wealth, fraudsters are using new tactics to take advantage of retiring baby boomers and the growing number of older Americans. In 2021, senior financial abuse cost victims at least $2.9 billion, not only depriving them of their resources but their independence as well. Taking simple […]
How To Recognize Facebook Marketplace Scams
Selling something on Facebook Marketplace? Beware of scammers acting like they are interested buyers. We have received several reports from individuals who say they received messages through Facebook Messenger or Instagram from an “interested party” until a sale was agreed upon. The scammer then tried to persuade the seller into refunding a bogus Zelle fee they claim they […]
Text Scam Targets Users of Mobile Payment Services
With the use of digital wallets on the rise, an old phishing text scam has resurfaced, targeting mobile payment services such as Venmo, PayPal, and others. According to our Fraud Team, consumers have reported receiving a text message stating that their account was linked to a recent transfer and to contact Customer Support if it was […]
Scammers Bypass Multi-Factor Authentication Safeguards
If you have an online account of any kind, you’re likely familiar with the term Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) or Two‑Step Verification. It’s a safeguard put in place to protect your personal information and reduce the risk for cyber-attacks by requiring multiple methods of authentication to gain access to an online account. Unfortunately, scammers are bypassing the tough […]
WhatsApp Users Beware of Scam Messages
WhatsApp users beware! The chat app says scammers are posing as members of their official support team in hopes of obtaining users’ credit card information. Reports say scammers are messaging WhatsApp users and threatening to terminate their account if the user does not provide their credit card information and/or six-digit PIN code. To look legitimate, the messages are […]