Fraudulent Emails

Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into disclosing your personal information, but there are things you can do to protect yourself.

Recognizing Phishing¶

While scams are constantly changing, there do tend to be similarities:

• Unexpected emails appear to be from a company you know or trust (including your bank!).
• Convey a sense of urgency to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment without thinking:
  • "We've noticed some suspicious activity..."
  • "There's a problem with your payment..."
  • "Please confirm your information..."

How to Protect Yourself¶

Be prepared by taking proactive steps:

• Protect your computer by using modern anti-malware protection and ensure it updates automatically to protect against the latest attacks.
• Protect your mobile devices by setting the software to update automatically so you are protected against newly discovered vulnerabilities.
• Protect your accounts by using multi-factor authentication ((e.g. soft or hard tokens).
• Protect your data by backing it up to external hard drives or cloud storage. Safe Deposit Boxes are a great place to store offline backups for strong protection against ransomware.

Responding to Attacks¶

If you suspect a scam: Don't click any links or open any attachments. Pick up the phone and call a verified phone number to check the validity of the email first. If it is phishing, you can then report it to [email protected] or directly to us.

If you make a mistake: Don't let embarrassment hinder you from getting the help you need. If your banking information has been compromised, call us right away. Then go to https://IdentiyTheft.gov to see what steps you need to take based on the information that has been compromised.

Common Scams

American Riviera Bank will NEVER call and ask you to give your personal information over the phone unsolicited. If someone calls and asks you to verify this type of information over the phone – BE SUSPICIOUS! Even if a caller says they are from the American Riviera Bank’s audit or security department. Request their name and phone number, then call us directly at 805-965-5942 to verify that the call is legitimate.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous reports of fraudulent e-mails that have the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. While the messages exhibit variations in the "Subject" lines, the messages are similar. They all make reference to the suspension of recipient's ability to conduct transfers via ACH and/or wire transfer. The e-mails then encourage recipients to install a software update by clicking on a link. These messages and the links provided are fraudulent. Recipients should consider these messages harmful and understand they will attempt to load malicious software on the recipient's computer, or steal personal or confidential information. Recipients should not click on the link provided. The FDIC does not send unsolicited e-mails to consumers or business account holders.