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4 common banking scams and how to avoid them
Banking is one of the most technologically advanced sectors. From being able to deposit money into one’s bank account to sending money overseas, most transactions today take a few minutes to a couple of hours to complete. However, the banking sector is most vulnerable to scams from criminals who gain illegal access to a customer’s personal and financial information. This is why one should know about these 4 common bank scams and how to protect oneself. Overpayment scam These usually begin with scammers sending counterfeit checks or money orders for more than the amount owed to a seller. The scammer then asks the seller to deposit the money in the bank and wire the difference back. However, the fake check will eventually bounce, and the bank will charge a returned check fee, leaving the seller without any funds wired to them and losing the product. Therefore, one should confirm the buyer’s name, telephone number, and street address before accepting the check and not accept a check for more than the selling price. Automatic debit scam The scammer may contact one by email, text, or phone to siphon the information and set up automatic payments to themselves from the account. This might look like a genuine monthly subscription for services, but instead, it is someone stealing funds.