Second in a series of articles about digital literacy in Seward County
The people trying to steal money from Seward bank customers neither dress nor act like bank robbers.
As they do across the country, they use their computers, phones, and guile to manipulate people into giving them confidential information that may unlock a bank account or credit accounts.
The number and variety of scams and fraud perpetuated using social media, emails, texts, and spam phone calls makes it clear that all technology users need to be prepared to protect their accounts and their identities.
“Not everybody out there has good intentions,” said Ryne Seaman, president and CEO of Cattle Bank and Trust in Seward.
Jill Kruse, executive vice president for operations at Jones Bank in Seward, agrees.
“I don’t like people to be scared, but I think they should be wary. They should be wary of the information they are sharing with people,” she said.
Some of the common scams include:
• Someone calling in an “emergency” situation and asking an individual to provide money – cash or gift cards – in order to protect their own assets, or perhaps to help a relative or friend.
• Placement of a “skimmer” on a gas pump credit card reader that allows a criminal to not just access credit or debit card information, but to replicate the card to more easily make fraudulent charges.
• A pop-up notice on a computer appearing to be from Microsoft, Best Buy or some other well-known company to entice the user to click on a link that opens their computer records or installs malware.
• A text informing of a delay in package delivery without some kind of payment or confirmation, in which clicking the link may install a virus or ransomware on the individual’s computer.
• A work-from-home employer who asks for a paper check or checking account information to facilitate direct payment, but in truth has no jobs and will use the information to withdraw funds.
• Accessing bank account information to create checks on an employer or someone else’s account, even coming into the bank lobby to try to cash a check.
All of these involve manipulating people to reveal their confidential information – social engineering – and scammers use job opportunities, romance, friendship, fear for loved ones’ safety, and the thrill of a prize to wear down people’s guard.
Defend yourself
The first line of defense is individuals’ protecting their own account information, Social Security information, computer passwords and other data that would allow others to fraudulently access their assets.
One of the next lines of defense leads directly to the bank employees who watch for suspicious activity in accounts or unusual requests from customers coming into the lobby.
Cattle and Jones are aggressive in educating their staff and customers about the new scams coming along and how to continually protect their information and money.
Kruse said the extent and kinds of regulations banks deal with make them aware of customer patterns that may show signs of problems. They also have trade organizations like the Nebraska Bankers Association, Independent Bankers Association and other national groups where information about new scams is shared.
Kruse encourages customers to use online banking and alert services to monitor daily activity in their accounts so they are informed if a withdrawal or payment is made at a specified level.
“If I know there’s something suspicious today on my account, that is way better than waiting another 30 days for my statement,” Kruse said. “The faster you know about an unauthorized transaction, the faster you can get it shut down.
“People are so embarrassed when they fall for these scams and they don’t realize how common it is.”
That may keep them from reporting it and ending it, and it means friends and family are not hearing how easily it can occur. She encourages people to use free password applications to help them create secure passwords, to vary the passwords they use, and to keep all account numbers and information in safe places and not on their browser.
Verify contacts
Seaman said people have to be skeptical anytime someone contacts them and asks for personal information.
“They need to understand that we (banks) are not going to ask for certain kinds of information on the phone or online,” Seaman said.
Banks, credit card companies, Social Security, the IRS, law enforcement, or others who most people have some business with do not call or email out of the blue asking individuals to give them their account numbers or other confidential.
Chris Schmit, vice president and IT officer at Cattle National Bank, said scammers are good at making people comply with requests without thinking.
“These scammers are going to present something with a sense of urgency, and you have to do it now, and nothing is that important that it has to be done right now,” he said.
Schmit advises people to hang up on those potential scammers and call the company or agency the caller claimed to be from, but not using a number provided by the potential scammer.
To determine if the calls was from the IRS or the Social Security office, individuals should use phone numbers found on their official documents or a phone directory. If it is a bank or credit card company, the emergency number on the back of the card can be called any time of day.
“Always verify,” Schmit said.“It’s better to be overly cautious than not cautious at all.”
Schmit discourages people from sharing too much information on social media, even though it is challenging to avoid putting birthdates and the like out – even with well wishes for friends.
Pay attentnion
Schmit said his team often catches suspicious activity on a bank account, but he said customers should report their own suspicions as soon as possible. Banks have a limited amount of time in which they can reverse a withdrawal or payment from an account.
Kruse also encourages people to report scammers to the Nebraska attorney general’s office.
“Once you are a victim, you are highly likely to be re-victimized,” Kruse said.
Seaman said Cattle goes beyond what is required to protect customers and their assets.
“I feel pretty good about the limited number of losses we have had, and it’s because everybody in the organization has a responsibility to fight fraud,” he said.
That time and training costs banks money, but other costs are harder to see.
For example, Seaman said when a gas pump skimmer was reported in Lincoln, the bank identified the customers who made legitimate purchases at that station in that time frame, cancelled those account numbers, and issued new cards to avoid any additional theft.
“We ask customers to be in the fight with us, use the tools we have put in front of you to monitor, but also to report things as quickly as possible,” Seaman said.
Residents of Seward County and the areas around it may have more opportunities to learn about digital opportunities and cybersafety in the coming months as the Seward County Broadband Task Force broadens its efforts to include educational programs as well as broadband connections.
The Seward County Broadband Task Force involves the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership, Seward County Board of Commissioners, Southeast Nebraska Development District, industry partners, and other interested residents. The group is looking at ways to help people use those connections for telehealth, education, jobs, and communication with family and friends.
As the group moves forward, the project will expand to include schools, libraries, churches, clinics and civic groups to improve peoples’ digital literacy, access to device repair, and promotion of ways technology can enhance their quality of life.
Next week’s topic: Multi-generational digital learning