The best defense against bank account fraud is awareness. Review these tips to know what to look for:
- Use common sense. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Be suspicious if you are asked to deposit or cash a check and immediately give or wire a portion of the funds.
- Remember that you are responsible and liable for items you cash or deposit into your account. It may take time for a fraudulent check to be discovered and returned to your bank.
- Be very cautious when depositing or cashing checks from individuals or businesses you do not know well or with whom you have only interacted online.
- Do not accept payments for more than the total amount of a sale with the expectation that you send the buyer the difference.
- Do not accept jobs in which you are paid or receive commission for facilitating money transfers through your account.
- Do not accept work arrangements or sweepstakes proceeds that require you to deposit a check and send back a portion of the funds for training materials, taxes or fees.
- Look for typos, discrepancies, and misspellings on checks and other documentation – they are red flags for potential fraud.
- Never be shy about asking for verification or independently researching an individual, company or check.
- Always ask your banker for assistance if you have any concerns about a check you are depositing or cashing.
- Remember that a wire transfer is an immediate form of payment. Once a scammer has obtained the funds you have wired in exchange for a check, the wire transfer cannot be reversed, even if the check was fraudulent.
- Be wary of strangers who initiate a friendly conversation and eventually move to a discussion regarding a financial opportunity or need that requires you to deposit a check, wire money or share an account or credit card number.
- Never give personal information to a stranger who contacts you by telephone, email, or other means. This includes your Social Security number, bank account information, online banking credentials, and credit or debit card numbers.
- Never try to lead on a scammer with the intention of “catching” them or getting back at them. You may unintentionally provide the scammer with additional information that can be used to further defraud you.
https://www.wellsfargo.com/privacy-security/fraud/bank-scams/
