Today, it is not unlikely to get an email, text, or phone call from a scammer trying to steal your identity or cash. And, with scams on the rise, First Northern Bank wanted to provide an overview of the common scams hitting businesses and consumers throughout our community. Protect yourself and your accounts by staying informed. And, visit the Federal Trade Commission for steps on how to report a scam.

Bogus COVID Vaccine Survey Scams:

People across the country are receiving emails and texts asking them to complete a survey about the COVID vaccine. In exchange for a “free” reward, you must provide the scammer with your credit card or bank number to pay for shipping.

Don’t click on any links or open any attachments since doing so may install harmful malware to your device.

Further, avoid posting your vaccination card on social media. It offers an entry point for fraudsters.

Fake Check Scams:

If someone you don’t know sends you a check and asks for money back, that’s a scam. But what if you’re a small business owner and someone “overpays” you and asks you to refund the balance? That’s a scam too.

Suspect a fake check scam? Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.

ACH Scams:

Business owners receive an email notification from a business they’ve received services from stating their recurring ACH transaction needs to be rerouted to another account.

Be sure to contact the business directly, even if you’ve been receiving services from them for some time. This protects you from fraud in the event the business’ email account has been compromised.

Online Accounting Software Scams:

Business owners receive a call from their online accounting software support stating they suspect corruption on their account and need to remotely access their files to fix the issue. Or, their subscription has expired and their current card on file was not accepting payment.

Don’t provide any info or access to your systems and contact your accounting software provider by calling their phone number located on their invoice.

Many Other Scams:

Unfortunately, there are many other scams taking place. Protect yourself and your accounts by staying informed. Visit our blog or ftc.gov/scamalerts for tips on what to look out for and the next steps if you become a victim.

If you suspect fraud on your account, please contact our local Client Solutions Center at (707) 678-7742 or your local branch for assistance.