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Scams And Fraud

Fraud and Identity Theft: How to Protect Yourself

Prevention and detection of fraud is Seacoast Bank's top priority since fraudsters never cease to find new and creative ways to scam consumers. You should contact us immediately if you believe you are a victim of identity theft or fraud.

Protect Yourself With These Tips

When it comes to bank scams, monitoring and alerts are the first line of defense. In order to keep your accounts secure, you need to be able to spot anyone trying to access them as soon as possible. However, you can take other proactive measures to prevent financial fraud.
  • Set up account alerts to notify you of potentially fraudulent activity. Be sure to review alerts as soon as they are received
  • Be cautious when revealing your User IDs and passwords online, including on financial websites that provide tools for financial management, investing, and tax preparation
  • Regularly check your account transactions and balances
  • When using your PIN number, shield it, and do not leave your receipt at the ATM, gas pump, or other retail location

Recognizing Threats Is Crucial

The sooner fraud is detected, the less financial impact it will have. Take time to familiarize yourself with some off the most common scams to watch for:

  • Phishing (email), Smishing (text), Vishing (phone) is the most common types of scams used to obtain your information. The email, text, or phone call is received from someone posing as a reputable company to persuade individuals to reveal personal information
  • Someone posing as a bank representative asks you to send money with Zelle® to stop an alleged fraud
  • Asked to purchase gift cards and provide codes as a form of payment
  • Messages that create a sense of urgency to respond such as threats that your bank account is being closed, or even law enforcement action
  • Asked to cash a check for a stranger or send money via wire transfer
  • Told to make a cash deposit for a sweepstakes
  • Offered more than you’re asking for something you’re selling, with a request to send the overpayment elsewhere

Best Ways To Avoid Getting Scammed
  • Don’t be pressured to take immediate action. If you’re not absolutely sure, don’t respond, click or answer the phone
  • Don’t trust caller ID or answer phone calls from unknown numbers
  • Research and validate – if it seems suspicious, make sure it’s legitimate by calling the organization through an official number from their website
  • Be cautious when clicking on links and downloading attachments
  • Don’t share codes based on a call you receive
  • Always question everything, from phone calls to mail solicitations to emails to social media links. if you’re not 100% confident that the person and reason are legitimate, do not share

Additional Resources

Identity Theft Protection

We recommend that you remain vigilant for incidents of fraud or identity theft by reviewing your account statements and free credit reports for any unauthorized activity. You may obtain a copy of your credit report, free of charge, once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies.

To order your annual free credit report, please visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call toll free at 1-877-322-8228.

Important Links:

Avoid Scams and Frauds

Cyber security continues to be an important topic and protecting your information should be a high priority while navigating the digital world. Seacoast Bank understands the importance, which is why we encourage you to check out the tips and advice from stopthinkconnect.org.

Here's What To Watch For

Did you know that people who are friendly and financially sophisticated have a higher likeliness to be defrauded?

Learn Why >

Report A Potential Security Concern

Contact us if you suspect fraud on your account(s) or you responded to a suspicious email, text message, or phone call.

 
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