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Bloomfield State Bank's Alerts Site:
alerts from the FDIC can be found at
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/
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OPT OUT PRESCREEN
www.optoutprescreen.com
(added 2-26-10) |
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Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Consumer Credit
Reporting Companies are permitted to include your name on lists used by
creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance that
are not initiated by you ("Firm Offers"). The FCRA also provides you the
right to "Opt-Out", which prevents Consumer Credit Reporting Companies
from providing your credit file information for Firm Offers.
Through this website, you may request to:
- Opt-Out from receiving Firm Offers for Five Years -
(electronically through this website).
- Opt-Out from receiving Firm Offers permanently - (mail Permanent
Opt-Out Election form available through this website).
- Opt-In and be eligible to receive Firm Offers. This option is for
consumers who have previously completed an Opt-Out request -
(electronically through this website).
If you choose to Opt-Out, you will no longer be included in firm
offer lists provided by these four consumer credit reporting companies.
If you are not receiving firm offers because you have previously
completed a request to Opt-Out, you can request to Opt-In. In doing so,
you will soon be among the many consumers who can significantly benefit
from having ready access to product information on credit and insurance
products that may not be available to the general public.
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Fraudulent
Correspondence Claiming to be from the FDIC
(added 12-4-09) |
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is
reminding financial institutions, businesses and
consumers that fraudulent correspondence claiming to be
from the FDIC continues to be mailed, faxed and e-mailed
in the United States and other countries. The
correspondence uses various techniques to gain the trust
of recipients in hopes they will provide sensitive
personal information, including bank account numbers,
that can be used to steal money and other assets.
Recipients should NOT, under any circumstances, respond
to the fraudulent requests. Institutions also are
encouraged to inform customers that fraud artists may
use the names of the FDIC and other government agencies
and to take appropriate precautions.
The criminals, knowing that people trust the FDIC name,
have duplicated the official logo and seal in fraudulent
letters, forms, certificates and other correspondence.
Recent examples have included invoices, bills, transfer
forms, guarantees, endorsements, and confirmations of
stock and investment purchases. In some cases,
recipients were asked to complete fraudulent forms and
return them by fax or e-mail. In other cases, recipients
were asked to remit funds via check or wire transfer
service.
The FDIC rarely sends unsolicited bills or other similar
documents to financial institutions, businesses and
consumers. In particular, the FDIC does not send
unsolicited correspondence asking for sensitive personal
information, including bank account information. Anyone
receiving such correspondence should contact the FDIC
immediately by calling toll-free at 1-877-ASK-FDIC
(1-877-275-3342) or by e-mailing to alert@fdic.gov. Do
not use contact information listed for the FDIC in the
correspondence because it is likely to be falsified.
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Fraudulent
Work-at-Home Funds Transfer Agent Schemes
(added 10-30-09) |
The Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is warning financial
institutions of an increase in schemes to recruit
individuals to receive and transmit unauthorized
electronic funds transfers (EFTs) from deposit accounts
to individuals overseas. These funds transfer agents,
often referred to as "money mules," are typically
solicited on the Internet by criminals who have gained
unauthorized access to the online deposit account of a
business or consumer. In a typical scenario, the
criminal will originate unauthorized EFTs from a
victim's account to a money mule's deposit account. The
money mule is then instructed to quickly withdraw the
funds and wire them overseas after deducting a
"commission" (commonly eight to ten percent).
Criminals target online deposit accounts
at institutions where business customers can originate
EFTs, such as automated clearing house (ACH) and wire
transfers, over the Internet. Money mules, however, can
be customers at any depository institution where EFTs
can be received and funds withdrawn. In some cases, the
money mule may be an unknowing accomplice in a fraud
scheme. Because EFTs are often made immediately
available by the receiving institution, funds may be
removed and wire transferred overseas before the fraud
is detected.
Money mule schemes can take many
different forms, but most involve receiving unauthorized
EFTs into a deposit account and then withdrawing the
funds or forwarding them on to another party via another
EFT. The following are common scenarios:
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Online
job posting Web sites are used by criminals to locate
individuals seeking employment with flexible work
hours that can be performed from home. These
work-at-home schemes often involve written employment
contracts, job descriptions and procedures to
legitimize the scam.
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Advance
fee scams promising large monetary rewards for acting
as a financial intermediary can entice individuals to
participate in this activity.
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Mystery
shopping jobs may be used that require the employee to
assess the performance of money service businesses by
completing EFTs and then evaluating the service using
customer satisfaction forms.
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Social
networking sites may be used to recruit individuals to
act as money mules. Criminals conjure up various
imaginative stories to befriend and persuade
individuals to receive and forward stolen funds.
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Some
hesitant or skeptical money mules have been
intimidated, harassed and threatened by their criminal
"employers" to process the funds transfers quickly and
with secrecy.
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The
personal identifiable information provided by the
money mule might later be used to commit identity
theft or account takeover.
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FDIC Consumer Alert
(added 10-27-09) |
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October 26, 2009 |
 IBA
Consumer Alert
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FDIC Consumer Alert
- Oct.26, 2009
The Indiana Bankers Association has
received notice that the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received
numerous reports of a fraudulent e-mail that
has the appearance of being sent from the
FDIC.
The subject line of the e-mail states:
"check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage."
The e-mail tells recipients that, "You have
received this message because you are a holder
of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC
has officially named the bank you have opened
your account with as a failed bank, thus,
taking control of its assets."
The e-mail then asks recipients to "visit
the official FDIC website and perform the
following steps to check your Deposit
Insurance Coverage" (a fraudulent link is
provided). It then instructs recipients to
"download and open your personal FDIC
Insurance File to check your Deposit Insurance
Coverage."
This e-mail and associated website
are fraudulent. Recipients should
consider the intent of this e-mail as an
attempt to collect personal or confidential
information, some of which may be used to gain
unauthorized access to online banking services
or to conduct identity theft.
The FDIC does not issue unsolicited
e-mails to consumers. Financial institutions
and consumers should NOT follow the link in
the fraudulent e-mail.
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6925 Parkdale Place * Indianapolis, IN
46254-4673 * 317-387-9380 * Fax: 317-387-9374
www.indianabankers.org
Official
Release from FDIC |
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Fraudulent Visa/Mastercard
calls to Consumers
(added 2-23-09) |
Fraudulent caller from Visa or
MasterCard calls a consumer and informs the consumer
they are calling to check up on an "unusual purchase" on
their card. They continue and tell what the
supposed "unusual purchase" is and the amount, usually
just under $500. When you answer no that isn't a
valid charge, they then say they will be issuing a
credit back to your account in this amount, but before
they can process this, they must have some numbers from
the back of your card to verify you are the actual
accountholder and possess the card. When/if you
give this information to them they will tell you it is
correct and then they will instead of crediting you,
charge your account. They never ask for your
credit card number during the phone call and sound very
professional and give reference and control number.
NEVER give out numbers on the
back of your card unless you initiated the call and know
who you are speaking with. Visa/MasterCard will
never ask you for information from the card as they
have all of the information on file.
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Fraudulent Attempts
to Obtain Bank Information from Small Businesses
(added 2-19-09) |
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Fraudulent Compliance
Requests to Hoosier Businesses
(added 2-11-09) |
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Recent Phishing
Attacks in area
(added 8-4-08) |
Article sent by Indiana Bankers
association.
PDF Article of Full News release
Member institutions of the Indiana
Bankers Association (IBA) have reported recent scams in
Indiana:
• A phone scam states in a recorded message that said
the caller is with a local Indiana bank and claims that
the consumer’s debit card had been suspended. The
fraudulent caller then recites a phone number to call,
allegedly to reactivate the card.
• A website scam originating in Canada copies bank
websites and distributes mass e-mails. The e-mails claim
that consumers who complete an online “bank” survey will
receive $90 deposited into their accounts.
Consumers are advised to be alert and aware, and are
invited to contact their trusted personal/business
bankers for guidance.
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Fraudulent e-mails from FDIC
(added 3-18-08) |
The Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous notifications
from consumers of an e-mail that gives the appearance of
being sent from the FDIC. The "From" line of the e-mail
displays the name "Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
<consumer@fdic.gov>" and the subject includes the words
"Consumer Protection."
Current versions of the fraudulent
e-mail state:
"Who is FDIC?
The Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) preserves and promotes public
confidence in the U.S. financial system by insuring
deposits in banks.
What can FDIC do for you?
Despite the efforts of law
enforcement, Identity theft is becoming more
sophisticated and the number of new victims is growing.
In general, consumers are protected against liability
for unauthorized accounts or transactions under federal
and state law and by financial industry practices.
Identity Theft can affect consumers in many ways, thats
[sic] why FDIC is presenting a new card insurance which
can restore you up to $500 if you are a victim of
internet fraud. Learn more about Consumer Protection >
Card Insurance: Clicking here will redirect you
to a online signup page for this program."
The e-mail requests that recipients
click on a hyperlink that is provided. This directs the
recipient to a "spoofed" Web page requesting the user to
enter personal information to receive $500 of "card
insurance." The requested information (name, phone
number, Social Security number, address, card number,
bank name, card expiration date, card verification code,
and electronic signature/ATM PIN) could be used to
perpetrate identity theft and gain unauthorized
access to bank accounts. Be aware that
the appearance of the fraudulent e-mails can be modified
and that additional variations are possible.
Consumers should NOT access the link
provided within the body of the e-mail and should NOT,
under any circumstances, provide any personal financial
information through this media.
The FDIC has shut down the fraudulent
Web site and is investigating the source of the e-mails.
Consumers are asked to report any similar attempts to
obtain this information to the FDIC by sending
information to alert@fdic.gov.
Information about counterfeit items,
cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may
be forwarded to the FDIC’s Cyber-Fraud and Financial
Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004,
Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to
alert@fdic.gov. Questions related to federal
deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted
to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at
http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.
For your reference, FDIC Special
Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC’s Web site at
www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2008/index.html.
To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special
Alerts through e-mail, please visit
www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.
Sandra L. Thompson
Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer
Protection
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Advance Fee Loan Scams
(added 3-18-08) |
The Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) is reminding consumers and financial
institutions to be aware of advance fee loan scams. The
FDIC has observed a significant increase in the number
of unsolicited e-mails ("spam") advertising mortgage
refinancing, debt consolidation and elimination, small
business loans, and special loan programs for veterans
and minorities. While some of these e-mails may
advertise legitimate loan programs and lenders, advance
fee loan scams are becoming more prevalent.
Advance fee loan scams prey on
consumers who may be under financial duress and may be
seeking quick and easy loan approval and funding. The
scam typically involves the lender making false promises
to arrange for a loan in return for fees paid upfront by
the loan applicant. Scam artists may even design Web
sites and online loan applications giving the appearance
that the company is legitimate.
Fraudulent logos and letterhead of
legitimate financial institutions or government agencies
may also appear on documents that are faxed to the loan
applicant. Potential borrowers may be asked to provide
information through a Web site or be contacted by phone
or e-mail by a "representative" who guarantees loan
approval as soon as the borrower pays a required fee.
The loan applicant may be told that the fees will be
used to pay a third party for loan insurance or
application processing, or to make the first month's
loan payment. The loan applicant may also be told to
send or wire transfer money to an individual overseas
before receiving the loan proceeds.
In some cases, the loan applicant has
been falsely directed to a legitimate financial
institution with no knowledge of the transaction. In
other cases, the loan applicant is told that the loan
request was declined and is asked to forward additional
money to qualify for a different loan program.
The following are warning signs that
may indicate a loan offer is not legitimate:
* The loan approval is "guaranteed."
Lenders do not typically guarantee loans before
analyzing the applicant's financial condition, credit
history and ability to repay.
* The loan applicant is required to
pay upfront fees to a third party or individual. Loan
fees are normally paid to a business after the loan has
been approved.
* The lender or loan processor may be
located outside of the United States.
* Fees are requested using a retail
wire transfer system. A password is sometimes used by
the overseas receiver to pick up the funds in an attempt
to hide the true identity of the criminals and make
funds more difficult to trace.
Victims of online advance loan fee
scams should report the crimes to the Internet Crime
Complaint Center at
http://www.ic3.gov/.
More information about fraudulent advance loan fee scams
can be found at
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/tmarkg/loans.shtm.
For your
reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the
FDIC's Web site at
www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2008/index.html<http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2008/index.html>.
To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special
Alerts through e-mail, please visit
www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html<http://www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html>.
Sandra L.
Thompson
Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer
Protection
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Free
Annual Consumer Credit Report
(added 3-3-08) |
The Fair Credit
Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide
consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and
TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your
credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.
The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of
information in the files of the nation’s consumer
reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC),
the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the
FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies.
A credit report includes information on
where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether
you’ve been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy.
Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the
information in your report to creditors, insurers,
employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate
your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or
renting a home.
The three nationwide consumer reporting
companies have set up a central website, a toll-free
telephone number, and a mailing address through which
you can order your free annual report.
To order, visit
http://www.annualcreditreport.com or call
1-877-322-8228.
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For older Alerts please visit our
archives. |
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