There are always scam artists but they always seems to come out in force when people are most vulnerable. There’s always increased scams around the holidays. Recently COVID-19 has created a new angle for these scam artists.
C&N is partnering with the American Bankers Association Foundation’s
Safe Banking for Seniors campaign in a nationwide effort to help older customers and their
financial caregivers understand the current scams and how to protect themselves and their
loved ones. Throughout the month of May, which is Older Americans Month, C&N will share
articles and tips to help eliminate the almost $2.9 billion that older Americans lose each year to
fraud.
Times of crisis leave the elderly more vulnerable to scams and coronavirus scams are
becoming more ingenious every day. Here are a few of the current scams targeting older
Americans.
Phishing and supply scams. Scammers impersonate health organizations and
businesses to gather personal and financial information or sell fake test kits, supplies,
vaccines or cures for COVID-19.
Stimulus check or economic relief scams. The government is preparing to ease the
economic impact of the virus by sending money by check or direct deposit. However, the
government will NOT ask for a fee to receive the funds, nor will they ask for your
personal or account information.
Charity scams. Fraudsters seek donations for illegitimate or non-existent organizations.
Delivery of malware. Often through “virus-tracking apps” or sensationalized news reports.
Charity Frantz
570-724-0225
charityf@cnbankpa.com
Provider scams. Scammers impersonate doctors and hospital staff, claim to have treated
a relative or friend of the intended victim for COVID-19 and demand payment for
treatment.
Bank/FDIC scams. Scammers impersonate FDIC or bank employees and falsely claim
that banks are limiting access to deposits or that there are security issues with bank
deposits.
Investment scams often styled as “research reports.” Fraudsters claim that products or
services of publicly traded companies can prevent, detect or cure COVID-19.
10 Tips for Seniors
- Watch out for phishing scams. Phishing scams use fraudulent emails, texts, phone calls and
websites to trick users into disclosing private account or login information. Do not click on links
or open any attachments or pop-up screens from sources you are not familiar with, and NEVER
give your password, account number or PIN to anyone. - Ignore offers for a COVID-19 vaccine, cure or treatment. Any medical breakthrough will not
be first reported through unsolicited emails or online ads. - Rely on official sources for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19. Visit the websites
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and your state’s health department to keep
track of the latest developments. - Remember that the safest place for your money is in the bank. It’s physically secure and it’s
federally insured. When you deposit your money at a bank, you get the comfort of knowing that
your funds are secure and insured by the government. You don’t have the same level of
protection when your money is outside the banking system. - Do some research before making a donation. Be wary of any business, charity or individual
requesting COVID-19-related payments or donations in cash, by wire transfer, gift card or
through the mail. - Keep your computers and mobile devices up to date. Using the latest security software, web
browser and operating system is the best defense against viruses, malware and other online
threats. Turn on automatic updates so you receive the newest fixes as they become available. - Recognize and avoid bogus website links. Cyber criminals embed malicious links to download
malware onto devices or route users to bogus websites. Hover over suspicious links to view the
actual URL where you will be routed. Fraudulent links are often disguised by simple changes in
the URL. For example: www.ABC-Bank.com vs ABC_Bank.com. - Change your security settings to enable multi-factor authentication for accounts that support
it. Multi-factor authentication—or MFA—is a second step to verify who you are, such as a text
with a code. - Before you make any investments, remember the high potential for fraud right now. You
should be wary of any company claiming the ability to prevent, detect or cure coronavirus. For
information on how to avoid investment fraud, visit the website of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. - Help others by reporting coronavirus scams. Visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center
at ic3.gov to report suspected or confirmed scams. You can also stay up-to-date on the latest
scams by visiting the FTC’s coronavirus page at ftc.gov/coronavirus.
Remember
Never give your Social Security number, account numbers or other personal financial
information over the phone unless you initiated the call.
As your local community bank, C&N is always here to help you and protect you and your loved
ones. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
About C&N: C&N is an independent community bank providing complete banking, financial, investment and
insurance services through 30 full-service offices located throughout Bradford, Bucks, Cameron, Chester, Lycoming,
McKean, Potter, Sullivan and Tioga, counties in Pennsylvania and Steuben County in NY. C&N also operates two
loan production offices in Elmira, NY and York, PA, which offer commercial, residential and consumer lending
services. C&N can be found on the worldwide web at www.cnbankpa.com. The Company’s stock is listed on
NASDAQ Capital Market Securities under the symbol CZNC.
