How to protect your loved ones from scammers

🚨 FRAUD ALERT 🚨 Even if your caller ID shows your bank’s name, do not share personal or account information. Fraudsters are now spoofing legitimate bank phone numbers. A former client of mine was just a victim — she received a call, was sent a link, and clicked it. That allowed scammers access to her account. The link’s address was not secure — it began with “http” instead of “https.” 🔒 Remember: • Only secure sites start with https (the “s” stands for secure). • Never click links from texts or emails on your phone. • Hang up and call your bank directly using the number on your statement or the bank’s website. Stay cautious. Trust your instincts. When in doubt, verify!

⚠️ Important Caution – Scam Alert! Dear friends, Someone recently used or hacked a contact from my phone and tried to scam me. The person greeted me pretending to be my friend and then asked me to send 3,800 birr, claiming that their account was blocked. When I asked a few questions to confirm their identity, they immediately went offline and disappeared — which proved it was a fraud attempt. 👉 Please be careful! Always verify before sending money, even if the message seems to come from someone you know. Scammers often use hacked or fake accounts to trick people. If someone asks for urgent financial help through chat, call them directly to confirm. Let’s stay alert and protect each other from such scams.

I just received a scam message on my phone today here in the U.S. — and it’s an interesting one to dissect. The sender appears as a short code (six digits), likely pointing to a fake “company” registration. The real phone number behind it, however, is a long code starting with +56 (Chile). Even more unusual, the message shows all recipients — all in the same area code as mine — exposing that this wasn’t a legitimate one-to-one notification. Here are a few recent statistics to keep in mind: In 2024, consumers reported losing $470 million to scams that started with text messages. (FTC) Overall fraud losses reported in the U.S. in 2024 exceeded $12.5 billion, a 25% increase over the previous year... (still from FTC, keeping my source in the same spot 😅 ) It is public knowledge and stats that text message “open rates” are estimated to be as high as 98% (compared to ~20% for email) and response rates up to ~45%. Bottom line: even when the format seems familiar, details such as unusual sender IDs, foreign numbers, visible groups of recipients, or urgent links should always raise alarm bells. Have you encountered similar scam or fell for one? Stay alert out there.

This year, it feels like we hear about a new deepfake every day. From “Brad Pitt” in the hospital to criminals posing as bank customer service reps, these scams may sound outlandish, but they are very real and terrifying when you are the one being victimized. We wanted to better understand this trend at Alloy which is why we’re publishing our inaugural State of Scams Report today. For our annual State of Fraud reports, we survey bankers, but this time we wanted to get the consumer perspective on both scams and how these individuals expect their banks to respond. Some of the results were sobering: 1 in 5 customers who experienced a scam reported losing $5,000 or more. However, there’s also a lot of opportunity here for banks that can act as a partner to their customers in preventing scams. Customers ranked fraud prevention and security measures as their most important factor when deciding where to bank. 85% said they would be more likely to bank with an You can read the full report here, and reach out to me if you want to discuss more! https://lnkd.in/gPAnRYsX

💬 “Once a customer consents to a payment, there’s nothing more we can do”. This is one of the most common and dangerous myths in fraud prevention. In his interview with Dr Nicola Harding, CEO at We Fight Fraud, Michael Morris, Product Director at Cleafy, challenges that belief and shares why it’s not too late, even in APP fraud cases. Scams don’t start at the transaction. They start much earlier, with subtle manipulation, emotional pressure, and user behaviour that shifts just enough to raise a flag—if you know what to look for. From romance scams to investment fraud, catching those early signals -before trust is weaponised - is key to prevention. 🎥 Watch the full interview to learn more 👉https://okt.to/OkMa7f

Protect what you worked hard for. Fraudsters can try to trick you with fake texts, emails, or calls about “suspicious activity.” Don’t share personal info, don’t click unknown links, and always verify directly with BankChampaign if something feels off. Be prepared to spot fraud early - it’s the best way to keep your money safe.

⚠️ Financial Institution Scam Alert⚠️ Scammers are impersonating banks and credit unions. They may claim there’s an issue with an ACH file, transfer, or deposit — even referencing legitimate names or accounts to sound credible. 🔹 Encourage your teams and clients to verify any requests independently before opening links or attachments. 🔹 Report suspicious calls immediately and remind employees to use only official contact channels. 🔹 If a link was clicked or a file downloaded, contact your IT department and financial institution right away. Help spread awareness and keep Iowa businesses protected. Visit IowaFraudFighters.gov for more fraud prevention resources.

Do you know how to protect yourself from scams and identity theft?  Scammers can steal your personal details and use them to open bank accounts, get loans, or take your money. This can happen online or in person if someone asks for your private information. To help you stay safe:  ✅ Keep your personal details private.  ✅ Use strong passwords and don’t share them.  ✅ Be careful with emails, texts, calls, or people asking for your information.  ✅ If you’re not sure it’s real, ask someone you trust before giving any details.  If you think your identity has been stolen, talk to your employer or call the police on 000. You can also call the PALM scheme support service line on (1800 51 51 31) or email (palm@dewr.gov.au).   Watch this video below on scams and how to get help.  

🚨 Wire Fraud Alert! 🚨 Every single day, cybercriminals try to trick buyers and sellers out of their money 💸 by sending fake wire instructions via email. These scammers are sneaky—they’ll copy logos, steal info, and use email addresses that look almost identical to your trusted contacts 👀. 🏡 Whether it's your real estate agent, attorney, title company, or settlement team—no one is immune to impersonation. 🛡️ Protect yourself and your funds by following these smart steps: 1️⃣ Always verify wire instructions by phone—using a known, trusted number. 2️⃣ Never click on links or download attachments from suspicious emails. 3️⃣ Double-check email addresses for subtle misspellings or odd formatting. 4️⃣ Confirm any changes to wiring details with your agent or attorney directly. 💬 When in doubt, speak out. A quick call can save you thousands.