Consumer Fraud

Education Center

Welcome to QNB’s Consumer Fraud Education Center. This section of our website is dedicated to the ongoing education of our customers on important cyber security and fraud prevention tips.

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Tips to Avoid Becoming a Victim of a Scam or Fraud

Fraudsters impersonate banks, government entities, and vendors to get your money.

  • Before sending money from your account(s) to anyone, ensure you have validated all aspects of that transaction.
  • If you receive an email, text, or phone call advising you to act regarding your accounts or bills/invoices, it is best to slow down and investigate. Contact the bank, business, or person directly using the phone number you have on file, not one provided in a text, email, or phone call.
  • If you receive communication payment instructions or changes to payments, stop to confirm this is legitimate. If via email, confirm the email address matches previous communications and check the domain name; fraudsters are known to alter an email address just slightly.

QNB Bank and other legitimate financial service providers will not call, email, or text you and ask you to provide access to your personal information, online banking, computer, or IT network.

  • This includes your password, online banking user ID or password, Social Security Number or EIN, or security codes such as access or multifactor authorization codes. Legitimate banks, credit cards, financial services, and technical support will not contact you to ask for this information either!

Protect your mobile phone and computer by not allowing access!

  • Fraudsters will want access to your mobile phone or computer by asking you to download a program giving them access to receive online banking messages and security codes such as access or transaction authorization codes. Also, do not let people have physical access to your devices.

Anyone trying to rush you to make changes to your payments or banking should be treated with caution.

  • Legitimate entities will allow you the time to validate. If anyone is pressing or rushing you, this can be a red flag that something is not legitimate.

Protect Against Check Fraud

  • Use gel ink when writing or printing checks to protect against check washing.
  • Review accounts daily to validate and ensure that checks posting to your account are for the correct amount and that the payee has not been altered. 
  • If a check remains outstanding longer than normal, confirm the check has been received by the payee (checks not received may indicate it was stolen).

Avoiding Financial Scams and Fraud

Shopping online? Here are some key tips to help you safeguard your finances and avoid becoming a victim to cybercriminals and con artists.

1. Shop Securely Online

Online shopping is convenient but can be risky if you’re not cautious. Always shop on secure websites—look for the "https://" in the URL and a padlock icon in the address bar. Stick to reputable retailers and avoid clicking on suspicious links in emails or ads, which could lead to phishing sites.

2. Beware of Too-Good-To-Be-True Deals

If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers often use fake advertisements or websites offering unbelievable discounts to lure shoppers. Research the seller and read reviews before making a purchase. Verify the legitimacy of the website and avoid making purchases on unfamiliar platforms.

3. Monitor Your Accounts Regularly

Keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements during the holiday season. Check for any unauthorized transactions and report them immediately. Setting up transaction alerts can help you stay informed of any unusual activity.

4. Avoid Public Wi-Fi for Transactions

While it might be tempting to shop online while sipping a coffee at your favorite café, using public Wi-Fi for financial transactions is a risk. Hackers can intercept data transmitted over unsecured networks. If you need to shop or check your accounts on the go, use a secure, private connection.

5. Watch Out for Fake Charities

New Year's resolutions may inspire generosity, and scammers can take advantage of this by creating fake charities. Before donating, research the organization through trusted sites like Charity Navigator or GuideStar. Never feel pressured to donate on the spot, especially if someone contacts you unsolicited.

6. Protect Your Personal Information

Be cautious about sharing personal or financial information. Scammers often pose as representatives from legitimate companies or banks to extract sensitive details. If you receive a suspicious email, text, or call, verify the source directly through official contact channels before responding.

7. Be Cautious with Gift Cards

Gift cards are a popular gift, but they’re also a favorite tool for scammers. Only purchase gift cards from reputable retailers and avoid buying them from third-party sellers. Additionally, inspect the card for signs of tampering before buying.

Protecting your finances requires vigilance and proactive measures. By staying informed and cautious, you can enjoy a stress-free new year while keeping your hard-earned money safe.

Information provided by KOFE®: Knowledge of Financial Education.

Protect Your Child from Identity Theft

Identity thieves could steal your kids’ Social Security number, name and address or date of birth to apply for government benefits, such as health insurance or to open a bank account or credit card. Your child’s stolen identity could also be used to rent an apartment, sign up for utilities or apply for a loan. All the while, you have no idea that your child’s stolen identity is being used to rack up large amounts of unpaid debt, resulting in a poor credit history.

So, when your kid grows up and starts out on their own, he or she already faces roadblocks to approval for loans, credit cards and renting a place to live. The good news is that you can take steps to protect your child’s identity and know how to spot warning signs that your child’s identity has been compromised.

Child identity theft facts

Why steal a child's identity?

It’s easy, and a clean credit history can be lucrative. Because a child's credit may not be checked till they’re 18, thieves have a long time to open credit, buy homes and cars, or get a job.

Family members may be the culprits.

A social security card is available to close family and can be tempting if they have much debt.

A child’s identity may be compromised at school.

Make sure social security numbers are required by law on any form. School-identifying numbers should also be unique and not the SSID.

Theft may not be realized for years.

SSID numbers may only be checked once a child applies for a driving permit or a job. Almost 15 years may have gone by with debt racking up. Poor credit is discovered when applying for student loans or auto loans.

Preventing child identity theft

Ask questions before providing your child’s Social Security number. The FTC recommends asking a few questions first if your child’s school or another business or organization says it needs your child’s Social Security number for its records. Before simply handing over the number, which can be stolen for identity theft purposes, inquire further about why they need the Social Security number.

Also, ask how they will protect the number from misuse or theft. Ask if the school can use a different identifier instead or just the last four digits to identify your child. Keep your child’s documents in a safe place.

Store documents that contain your child’s personal information, such as their Social Security card or medical bills, in a secure place, such as a locked file cabinet. “When you decide to get rid of those documents, shred them before you throw them away. If you don’t have a shredder, look for a local shred day,” advises the FTC.

Delete personal information from devices.

The FTC recommends deleting all personal information about your child and your own from the hard drive on your computer, phone, or tablet before disposing of devices. That way, the sensitive information can’t be used by an identity thief.

Before deleting, transfer the files to a new computer or save them to the cloud or an external storage device such as a USB flash drive. If keeping to the cloud, ensure you find the level of privacy and security offered.

Watch for warning signs.

Keep an eye out for warning signs that your child’s personal information is being used by someone else. Warning signs include:

  • You’re denied health care coverage, nutrition assistance, or other government benefits because someone else is already receiving those benefits under your child’s name.
  • You receive collection calls for a bill under your child’s name for an account you didn’t open for the child.
  • The IRS sends a letter saying that your child owes income taxes. This may happen if someone used your child’s Social Security number on tax forms for a job.
  • You’re denied a student loan because of your child’s bad credit. This can happen when someone else opens a credit card, cell phone, utility, or other account and then doesn’t pay the bills.

Generally, a child under 16 won’t have a credit report – unless that child’s personal information is being used by someone else to commit identity theft fraud. The FTC recommends contacting the three major credit bureaus – TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax – and asking for a manual search for your child’s Social Security number to see if a credit report turns up. When you call, you may have to provide credentials such as your driver’s license or other government-issued I.D., proof of address, birth certificate and/or your child’s Social Security card.

When your child turns 16, also check for a credit report under his or her name. That way, you’ll have time to correct any identity theft fallout by the time they turn 18 and head to college or set out on their own.

In some states, the law allows you (parents, legal guardians, or other representatives of minors) to request the credit reporting agencies to freeze a child’s credit. These states are Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Information provided by KOFE®: Knowledge of Financial Education.

Watch Out for these IRS Tax Scams

Tax season is stressful enough without adding vulnerability to identity theft to your list of things to worry about. To keep your sensitive personal information safe, however, you should be a little worried – or at least alert and informed enough to know a tax scam when you see one.

Tax scammers have several common tricks they use to lure taxpayers into handing over their personal information that can be used for identity theft. Knowing what to look for is key to avoiding tax scams this tax season. Here are six scams to look out for:

1. House calls by "IRS officials"

Most of the IRS’s notices arrive in the mail. So, if you hear a knock on your front door and open it to someone claiming to be an “IRS official,” don’t be fooled. Showing up on your doorstep isn’t the way the IRS contacts taxpayers.

Exceptions to this contact rule include special circumstances where the IRS may come to your home or business, such as discussing an overdue tax bill or obtaining a delinquent tax return. However, the IRS will first send “several notices” in the mail before showing up. The IRS also gives you the opportunity to appeal or ask questions about the amount it says you owe.

2. Calls demanding specific types of payment

The IRS won’t call to demand immediate payment through a specific method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card, or wire transfer. If you get such a request, hang up and block the caller. “Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes,” says the IRS.

3. Social Security number scams

Don’t be intimidated into responding to a robocall message or other phone call threatening to cancel your Social Security number unless you make immediate payment on what the caller claims is an unpaid tax bill. Never give out sensitive personal information over the phone unless you know the caller is legitimate – if you called the IRS and are speaking with an actual IRS agent, for example.

Report the call to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Also, report the caller ID and callback number to the IRS at [email protected], typing “IRS phone scam” in the subject line. While you’re at it, report the call to the Federal Trade Commission, adding “IRS phone scam” in the notes.

4. Fake taxpayer advocates

Callers who fraudulently claim to represent the IRS can use “spoofing’ software to bring up the phone number of the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, according to the IRS. Sometimes, the calls are robocalls asking you to call back. If you return the call, however, you could be in trouble.

That’s because the scammer will likely ask for your personal information such as your Social Security number or taxpayer identification number for purposes of identity theft.

5. "Tax transcript" emails

Scammers may send “tax transcript” emails to bait taxpayers into opening an attachment that contains malware posing as a bank or other financial institution, warns the IRS. The IRS doesn’t send unsolicited emails to the public and would never send a sensitive document like a tax transcript via email. Don’t open the attachment. Instead, delete the email immediately.

“The scam is especially problematic for businesses whose employees might open the malware because this malware can spread throughout the network and potentially take months to successfully remove,” says the IRS.

6. Phony tax agencies

Tax scammers may send a letter threatening you with an IRS lien or levy. However, the lien or levy is based on “bogus delinquent taxes owed to a nonexistent agency: “The Bureau of Tax Enforcement,” according to the IRS.

“There is no such agency,” says the IRS. “The lien notification scam also likely references the IRS to confuse potential victims into thinking the letter is from a legitimate organization.”

Cryptocurrency Risks & Scams

What is Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency is a type of digital currency that exists electronically. You generally use your smartphone, computer, or a cryptocurrency ATM to buy cryptocurrency to then be stored in a digital wallet, which can be online, on your computer, or on an external hard drive. These electronic units of money can pay for goods and services or be used as speculative investments.

But digital currencies aren’t regular money. To begin with, cryptocurrencies are not issued or backed by the United States or any other government or central bank. No one is required to accept them as payment or to exchange them for traditional currencies. To work, they depend on the processing power of vast networks of unidentified, private computers around the world, which maintain and update a public ledger called the “blockchain.”

Be Aware of the Risks

While cryptocurrencies offer the potential for innovation, a lot of big issues have yet to be resolved – some of which are critical. If you are interested in using or buying digital currencies, you should be aware of the associated risks:

Hackers. Cryptocurrencies are targets for highly sophisticated hackers who are capable of breaching advanced security systems. Even if you use best practices, anything that connects to the internet can be hacked.

Fewer protections. With a traditional bank account or payment card, if someone breaches your account, your bank or payment card company will help you recover some or all of your funds. If you’re storing your cryptocurrencies on your own computer, you’re basically on your own if your digital currency is stolen. There is no other party to help you. Even if you trust someone else to hold your digital currencies and something goes wrong, that company may not offer you the kind of help you expect from a bank or payment card provider.

Cost. Cryptocurrencies can cost consumers much more to use than credit cards or even regular cash. For example, some cryptocurrency ATMs charge high transaction fees or other mark-ups. When purchasing cryptocurrency, it's important to know what the relevant exchange rate will be and how it is determined. The value of cryptocurrency can change rapidly, sometimes significantly, as cryptocurrencies tend to be more volatile than more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds.

Scams. Scammers are taking advantage of the hype surrounding digital currencies to cheat people with fake opportunities. Before you get involved in cryptocurrency, it’s important to know what can go wrong and how you can protect yourself.

How to Avoid Cryptocurrency Scams

Scammers are always finding new ways to steal your money using cryptocurrency. To steer clear of a crypto con, here are some things to know:

  • Only scammers demand payment in cryptocurrency. No legitimate business is going to demand you send cryptocurrency in advance – not to buy something, and not to protect your money. That’s always a scam.
  • Only scammers will guarantee profits or big returns. Don’t trust people who promise you can quickly and easily make money in the crypto markets.
  • Never mix online dating and investment advice. If you meet someone on a dating site or app, and they want to show you how to invest in crypto, or ask you to send them crypto, that’s a scam.

Scammers are using some tried and true scam tactics — only now they’re demanding payment in cryptocurrency. Investment scams are one of the top ways fraudsters trick you into buying cryptocurrency and sending it on to scammers. But scammers are also impersonating businesses, government agencies, and a love interest, among other tactics.

Investment scams

Investment scams often promise you can "make lots of money" with "zero risk," and often start on social media or online dating apps or sites. These scams can, of course, start with an unexpected text, email, or call, too. And, with investment scams, crypto is central in two ways: it can be both the investment and the payment.

Business, government, and job impersonators

In a business, government, or job impersonator scam, the scammer pretends to be someone you trust to convince you to send them money by buying and sending cryptocurrency. Here are some tips to avoid this particular form of fraud:

  • No legitimate business or government will ever email, text, or message you on social media to ask for money. And they will never demand that you buy or pay with cryptocurrency.
  • Never click on a link from an unexpected text, email, or social media message, even if it seems to come from a company you know.
  • Don’t pay anyone who contacts you unexpectedly, demanding payment with cryptocurrency.
  • Never pay a fee to get a job. If someone asks you to pay upfront for a job or says to buy cryptocurrency as part of your job, it’s a scam.

Blackmail scams

Scammers might send emails or U.S. mail to your home saying they have embarrassing or compromising photos, videos, or personal information about you. Then, they threaten to make it public unless you pay them in cryptocurrency. Don’t do it. This is blackmail and a criminal extortion attempt. Report it to the FBI immediately.

How to Report Cryptocurrency Scams

Report fraud and other suspicious activity involving cryptocurrency to:

  • the Federal Trade Commision (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov
  • the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) at cftc.gov/complaint
  • the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at sec.gov/tcr
  • the cryptocurrency exchange company you used to send the money

Information provided in-part by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Don't Be Fooled by Phone Number Spoofing

The bad guys have technology that allows them to “spoof” real phone numbers so they can imitate legitimate businesses or services such as a bank's fraud center. If QNB's Fraud Center contacts you to verify check card activity, they will never ask you for personal information. If you are asked for personal information, such as a social security number, a driver’s license number, etc., there is reason to be suspicious.

QNB's Fraud Center will NEVER:

  • Ask for your card's expiration date
  • Ask for your card's CVV (3-digit code)
  • Ask for your card's PIN
  • Ask for your social security number
  • Ask for your driver's license number
  • Ask for your online banking login credentials
  • Keep you on hold for extended periods as they continue to collect additional personal information.

Look out for these red flags and others, such as a fraudster asking for your account balance to determine how much they can get from you. When in doubt, disconnect the call and contact our Customer Service Center at 215-538-5605 or 800-491-9070.