You can block out a massive amount of fraudulent activity just by making these small changes to your daily routine:

• Block and Filter: Use your phone’s built-in settings to block unwanted calls and filter spam text messages.
• Don't Share Unsolicited Info: Never give out your Social Security number, bank account numbers, or credit card info to anyone who contacts you out of the blue.
• Verify Independently: If you get a text or email from a company you do business with and think it might be real, do not click any links. Go directly to their official website or call them using a phone number you know is legitimate (like the number on the back of your debit card).
• Pause and Talk: Before you send money or share information under pressure, stop. Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor. Just saying the story out loud can help you realize it’s a trap.

Scammers are smart, but they almost always follow the same playbook. If you experience any of these four things, stop immediately.

• They pretend to be an organization you trust. Scammers often claim to be from a government agency (like the IRS, Social Security Administration, or Medicare) or a business you already do business with—including Columbus Bank and Trust. They can even fake caller ID names and numbers to look real.
• They claim there is a problem or a prize. They might tell you your account is compromised, you owe money to the government, a family member has an emergency, or your computer has a virus. Alternatively, they might say you won a lottery but have to pay a fee to collect it.
• They pressure you to act immediately. Honest businesses and agencies give you time to think. Scammers demand you act right now, threatening arrest, legal action, or account deletion if you hang up.
• They demand a very specific form of payment. If someone insists you pay them using cryptocurrency, wire transfers (like Western Union or MoneyGram), mobile payment apps, or gift cards, it is a scam. Another common trick is sending you a fake check, asking you to deposit it, and requesting that you send some of that money back to them.

If someone has used your personal or financial information to make unauthorized purchases, open accounts, or claim benefits, taking fast action minimizes the damage.

• Freeze Your Accounts: Call the fraud department of the financial institution or company where the fraud occurred. Ask them to freeze or close the affected accounts immediately so no new charges can be added. Change your logins, passwords, and PINs right away.
• Place a Fraud Alert & Check Your Credit: Contact one of the three major credit bureaus to place a free, one-year fraud alert on your file (they are legally required to notify the other two). Then, pull your free credit reports from annualcreditreport.com to look for any other unauthorized accounts.
  • Experian: 1-888-397-3742
  • TransUnion: 1-888-909-8872
  • Equifax: 1-800-685-1111
• Report the Theft to the FTC: Go to IdentityTheft.gov and report the incident with as many details as possible. The FTC will automatically generate an official Identity Theft Report and a customized step-by-step recovery plan to help you dispute fraudulent charges and repair your credit.

• Sign up for text or email alerts offered by your bank to warn of suspicious activity on your account.
• Don't provide personal information to anyone who calls or emails you out of the blue.
• Consumers should only send money to people they trust.  And confirm the recipient's contact information.
• Your financial institution will never call you to request information you received vis text (SMS) or pressure you to reset your online banking log in.
• Fraud refunds are not issued through Zelle®.
• Don't trust caller ID.  Caller ID could be spoofed to show your financial institution's name.
• Don't click on links in unsolicited email or texts.
• Don't give an unsolicited caller remote access to your computer.

ATM facilities cannot be made completely safe from crime such as robbery, kidnapping, hostage, extortion, etc. To avoid unsafe conditions we encourage customers to be aware of some common safety warnings:

• Be aware of your surroundings – particularly at night.
• Consider having someone accompany you when using an ATM after dark.
• If you observe or sense suspicious persons nearby, do not use the ATM at that time. Or, if you are in the middle of a transaction, cancel the transaction. Leave the area and come back another time or use an ATM at another location.
• Have your ATM card ready before arriving at the machine.
• If making a deposit, fill out forms before arriving at the ATM.
• Be aware of other persons near you at the ATM.
• If you are approached by any person who asks you to do them a "favor" or tries to draw you into conversation, cancel your transaction and leave the area. Report the incident to us as soon as possible. Do not let strangers assist you if the ATM appears to be malfunctioning.
• Be alert to places of concealment or “hiding places” near or around the ATM.
• When using the ATM at night, pull close to the ATM in a well-lighted area and always lock your car.
• If the lights on or around an ATM are not working, don't use it. Report it to us the next day.
• If you are using another financial institution's ATMs and shrubs or trees block the view, select another ATM.
• To keep your account information confidential, always take your receipts with you.
• Don't display any cash.
• Report all crimes to the police immediately.
• Commit your PIN to memory and DO NOT WRITE THE PIN ON YOUR CARD or share it with others.
• Be careful not to reveal your Personal Identification Number (PIN). When you enter it in, use your body to "shield" the keyboard. Don't carry your Personal Identification Number with your card, and never attach it to your card.

Protect Your Small Business from Account Fraud

Corporate account takeover is a type of fraud where thieves gain access to a business’ finances to make unauthorized transactions, including transferring funds from the company, creating and adding new fake employees to payroll, and stealing sensitive customer information that may not be recoverable. Here are some tips to keep your small business safe.

• Educate your employees. You and your employees are the first line of defense against corporate account takeover. A strong security program paired with employee education about the warning signs, safe practices, and responses to a suspected takeover are essential to protecting your company and customers.
• Protect your online environment. It is important to protect your cyber environment just as you would your cash and physical location. Do not use unprotected internet connections. Encrypt sensitive data and keep updated virus protections on your computer. Use complex passwords and require that they be changed periodically.
• Partner with your bank to prevent unauthorized transactions. Talk to your banker about programs that safeguard you from unauthorized transactions. Call backs, device authentication, multi-person approval processes and batch limits will help protect you from fraud.
• Pay attention to suspicious activity and react quickly. Look out for unexplained account or network activity, pop ups, and suspicious emails. If detected, immediately contact your financial institution, stop all online activity and remove any systems that may have been compromised. Keep records of what happened.
• Understand your responsibilities and liabilities. The account agreement with your bank will detail what commercially reasonable security measures are required in your business. It is critical that you understand and implement the security safeguards in the agreement. If you don’t, you could be liable for losses resulting from a takeover. Talk to your banker if you have any questions about your responsibilities.