Fraud Prevention

At Southwest Heritage Bank, your safety and financial security are our highest priorities. As technology evolves, so do the tactics used by fraudsters. It’s more important than ever to stay informed and vigilant.

Please take a few moments to review the information below on common scams, how to protect yourself and your family, and what steps to take if you suspect fraudulent activity.

What is a Bank Impersonation Scam?

The scammers pretend to be an employee of your Bank using text messages, phone calls, and other methods to gain access to your banking information such as online banking passwords, authentication factors, and account numbers.

Texts from “your bank” - FAKE BANK TEXTS

The scammer creates a text message looking like a transaction verification, normally for a debit card or electronic transaction. The text message generally looks like this:

Dear customer, Your debit card activity of $2,400 to account ending 2688 has been flagged as suspicious. Please click on the link URL to confirm this transaction was valid. OR respond Yes or No.

Call from “your bank” - IMPERSONATION PHONE CALLS

The scammers will then call, generally after the text message has gone out, pretending to be an employee of your bank.

“Hello, this Joe from the Bank. I am with the Fraud Prevention and Customer Welfare Department.”

Everything about the call sounds normal, giving the bank’s customers a false sense of security. The customer is asked security questions and then additional questions such as the customer’s online banking username and/or account number. The scammers then try to log into the customers online banking account and request the customer give the 6-digit verification code they just received by text. The scammer now has complete access to the customer’s account.

GOVERNMENT IMPERSONATION PHONE CALLS

Scammers may pose as government officials and request payment. 
Be aware: legitimate government agencies will never call you to demand that you withdrawal funds from your account. 

*Southwest Heritage Bank will never request personal information (e.g., account number, Social Security/Tax ID, birthdate, or card PIN) via email, text message, or unsolicited phone call and will not ask you to transfer money or make payments to anyone, including yourself. 

How to Avoid Bank Impersonation Scams

  • If someone claims to be from the bank and asks for your personal information, do not share it unless you confirm directly with your bank it is legitimate.
  • The Bank WILL NEVER ask for your online banking username or password.
  • The Bank WILL NEVER ask for your 6- digit text verification code.
  • The best safeguard is to let the “bank employee” know that you are going to hang up the phone and then call the bank directly using a known phone number. If possible, go to the Bank in person to confirm details.

Fraud Awareness

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Check Fraud

Checks contain sensitive personal information and are a common target for mail theft. To help reduce your reliance on paper checks, Southwest Heritage Bank offers secure digital banking options:

  • Online Banking
  • Mobile Deposit
  • Bill Pay
  • Zelle

Be sure to store your checkbook in a secure location. For assistance with our digital services, contact one of our knowledgeable bankers.

Email Fraud

Watch for emails that:

  • Urge immediate action or claim urgency.
  • Contain generic greetings (e.g., “Dear Customer”) or poor grammar/spelling.
  • Include suspicious links. Hover over any hyperlink to verify its destination before clicking. “As a best practice, it is recommended to access the website directly by typing in the URL into your browser, rather than clicking links provided in emails.”  

Never click on a link unless you're confident about the sender and where the link leads.

Romance or Sweetheart Scam

Have you fallen victim to a romance/sweetheart scam? Scammers like to love bomb their victims showing excessive flattery, affection, and praise early in a relationship in an effort to manipulate their emotions. Signs that you may have fallen victim are:

  • The scammer asks you to move to another app or website to speak privately.
  • The scammer is not able to meet you.
  • They might say that they’re traveling for work.
  • Refuses to chat on video, claiming their phones camera doesn’t work or claiming that they don’t have a cell phone at all.
  • Give excuses for not being able to meet in person. The scammer asks for money for a family medical emergency.

*There are many more red flags to watch out for so if something ever does not seem right, go with your gut feeling.

Online / Wire Fraud

Have you fallen victim to online fraud? Scammers like to trick their victims out of money, property, or personal information. What can you do to protect yourself?

  • Install firewall, anti-virus, and anti-malware software on your computers and other electronic devices.
  • Use secure complex passwords.
  • Use VPN when logging in remotely and be aware of your surroundings when entering your password.
  • Double check email addresses.

Grandparent Scam

Scammers exploit the affection and concern grandparents have for their grandchildren. Scammers pretend to be a grandchild in urgent need of financial help, taking advantage of your emotional vulnerability.

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Protect Your Money:

  • Regularly review your account history and statements. Report any suspicious activity immediately.
  • Avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or attachments, which may be phishing attempts.
    • What is phishing?
      Phishing is a form of fraud in which scammers impersonate trusted entities often through emails or text messages to steal your sensitive data. These messages typically urge you to act quickly and provide personal information or click a malicious link.
  • Be cautious when granting remote access to your devices or downloading unknown applications.
  • Keep your contact details current to ensure we can reach you in the event of suspicious activity.
  • Use strong, unique passwords for your online banking accounts.
  • Always report suspicious activity. Never ignore it.

If You Suspect Fraud

What should you do if you suspect that you have fallen for a scamming scheme?

  • Cease all communication with the suspected scammer immediately.
  • Contact Southwest Heritage Bank immediately if you suspect you’ve sent money to a scammer.
  • Do not transfer funds, purchase gift cards, or wire money in response to an online relationship or urgent request.
  • Consult someone you trust before taking any action.
  • Limit how much you share on social media.
  • Be wary of “emergencies.”

If someone claims to be from the bank and asks for your personal information, do not share it unless you confirm directly with your bank it is legitimate.

Stay Informed and How to Report Fraud

To learn more about some of the most common frauds and scams that the FBI encounters, as well as tips to help you stay safe you can visit and what to do if you’re a victim, visit www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams- and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams 

Report fraud at:

Visit the Federal Trade Commission website (FTC) for various resources, education, and to sign up to receive email updates and alerts to stay informed.

Federal Trade Commission | Protecting America's Consumers

Consumers - https://consumer.ftc.gov/

Business  - https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance