Alerts

**Five Ways Cardholders Can Help Combat Debit Card Fraud**
(Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 in SHAZAM Blog)

Check out the simple tips below from our Debit Card provider, Shazam, to help you proactively monitor your accounts to help protect yourself against fraud.

1. Review transactions regularly.
Don’t wait for monthly statements to review transactions and track your accounts. Make it a habit to review transactions regularly. Keep in mind, fraudsters often test the waters with small transaction amounts before taking the plunge with a large one. Don’t ignore low-dollar charges.

2. Use mobile banking apps.
Mobile banking apps such as Shazam's Brella® allow you to receive fraud alerts 24/7. Mobile banking also offers you the convenience of shutting your card off if you suspect fraud or your card is lost or stolen. You can also submit travel notices through mobile banking apps without needing to contact your financial institution.

3. Stay cyber aware.
Cyber criminals use fake emails, spoofed websites and other phishing attacks to trick victims into sharing personal or sensitive information. To spot potential fraudulent email, look for slight variations in email addresses. For example, an extra letter added to a coworker’s name might be easy to miss. This is a common tactic used to trick victims into sharing confidential information. Website spoofing is similar. Scammers create fraudulent websites that mimic a trusted company and use it to steal information.

4. Protect your personal information.
Using a pattern when updating passwords makes it easier for fraudsters to hack into your accounts. Along with creating strong passwords, protect personal information that is commonly used for password recovery questions. Avoid social media challenges that collect personal information, such as your favorite vacation place, model of your first car or childhood heroes. Social media challenges can be a fun way to get to know more about friends or pass the time, but to a fraudster, the info you provide can inadvertently help them with their fraudulent schemes.

5. Embrace multi-factor authentication technology.
Multifactor authentication processes, such as Visa Secure® and Mastercard Identity Check®, take only a few seconds to ensure the cardholder is the one attempting the transaction, making it more difficult for fraudsters. It can be frustrating to be asked to take additional steps to complete a transaction, but keep in mind the extra time taken is ultimately for your benefit. If you need assistance navigating the multifactor authentication process, reach out to your financial institution.

Silence the scammers
One last tip, do NOT share your account number, debit card number or social security number, even if they receive a call, text or email from someone claiming to be from your financial institution or SHAZAM. A trusted financial partner won’t ask for any sensitive information on an OUTBOUND CONTACT. When in doubt, cardholders should hang up and call your financial institution or SHAZAM directly.

 

10/23/2023

Attention Black River Country Bank Business Customers:

The FinCEN beneficial ownership registration begins 1/1/2024 for certain entities. According to FinCEN, there has been fraud circulating regarding the registration process.

FinCEN has been notified of fraudulent attempts to solicit information from individuals and entities who may be subject to reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act, which includes the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reporting Rule. The fraudulent correspondence may be titled “Important Compliance Notice” and asks the recipient to click on a URL or to scan a QR code. Those emails or letters are fraudulent. FinCEN does not send unsolicited letters. Do not respond to the fraudulent messages, or click on any links or scan any QR codes within them.

Please refer directly to the www.fincen.gov/boi website for additional information.

Additional information may be found here:

Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting | FinCEN.gov  

https://youtu.be/nx48tPUbRK0?si=qbQqDLHi1VzQY9b5  This is a link to a 30 second video on the new BOI proposal.