An increase in telephone scams including individuals claiming to be from a “Bank Fraud Department” has been recently noted.

In one instance the fraud scheme was initiated through an email that the individual received from a fictitious “PayPal” email address alerting the individual that a substantial charge was going to be processed against the individual’s bank account. The PayPal email directed the customer to call a fictitious PayPal phone number if they did not authorize the charge. The individual called the fictitious PayPal phone number and the representative told them that they would be receiving a call from the Bank Fraud Department to resolve the issue. Once contacted by phone the fraudulent “representative” then probed for additional private financial information.

Please be aware and always be on guard to protect your private information.

A few important points to keep in mind:

• Neither the Bank nor the fraud department will ever ask customers over the phone for their PIN, CV2 codes or Expiration Dates.
• A text alert warning of suspicious activity on a card will NEVER include:
• A link to be clicked. Cardholders should never click on a link in a text message that is supposedly from the Bank.
• Vague reference to a “Merchant” transaction; details should be included
• Requests for cardholder data such as card numbers, PINs, CV2 Codes, Expiration Date
• A text alert from the Bank will always be from a 5-digit number and NOT a 10-digit number resembling a phone number.
• A valid notification will provide information about the suspect transaction and ask the cardholder to reply to the text message with answers such as ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘help’, or ‘stop’.
• A phone call from one of our Call Center agents will only include a request for the cardholder Zip code, and no other personal information, unless the cardholder confirms that a transaction is fraudulent.
• Only then will the cardholder be transferred to an agent, who will ask questions to confirm the cardholder’s identity before going through the transaction history. If, at any point the cardholder is uncertain about questions being asked or the call itself, they should hang up and call us directly.
• If a call is received by a customer, claiming to be you’re the Bank’s Call Center and asking to verify transactions, no information should have to be provided by the cardholder other than their Zip code, and a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the transactions provided.

For additional information please visit: https://coastalheritagebank.com/2017/09/07/be-aware-phone-scams/

Please keep in mind Coastal Heritage Bank will never contact you without you first initiating a request.