Alerts Print

Common Fraud Schemes That Contribute to Account Takeover

Important Ways to Protect Yourself

Be familiar with the various types and account takeover schemes discussed below.
Always be aware of what information you choose to submit online and never easily provide your personal information.
If you are concerned about an automated message, do not respond to the call, text, or email. Contact your financial institution or the company in question, using the official customer service number on your own card or the contact information listed on the company’s legitimate website. Do not contact any number provided by the fraud call or message, and do not click on links in text messages or emails.
If you are responding to a fraud alert message from The Bank of Glen Burnie for a transaction you do not recognize, you should confirm fraud, or if unsure about the transaction, call The Bank of Glen Burnie directly. Never reply “No Fraud” for a transaction you do not recognize.
Request a consumer credit report once a year through any of the three main credit reporting agencies – Experian, Equifax, TransUnion – or via annualcreditreport.com.
Always maintain a secure, up-to-date operating system, along with robust security and anti-malware software.

What is Account Takeover?

Account takeover is an attack in which cybercriminals take ownership of online accounts using stolen passwords and usernames and then use these credentials to commit fraud. These bad actors purchase cardholders’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII) via the dark web, often obtained from data breaches or from social engineering schemes such as phishing, vishing, or smishing attacks (detailed below). Stolen PII (e.g., name, address, email, phone number, date of birth, business name, cell phone provider, social media and login accounts and passwords) provides the necessary credentials for a fraudster to pose as a cardholder.

With this information, fraudsters can engage with the cardholder’s financial institution and make changes to accounts or card settings to execute fraud. They may make demographic changes (e.g., phone numbers, emails, passcodes), or apply for increased limits, Personal Identification Number (PIN) changes, and/or travel exemptions to suppress or interfere with our fraud monitoring tools.

Common Account Takeover Schemes

Skimming and Malware

Skimming and deployment of point-of-sale (POS) terminal malware continue to be widespread methods for stealing data. Smaller, local merchants are now more likely to be compromised than in years past. Stolen data, which is collected using POS malware, is passed to criminal networks through remote, wireless technologies with increasing speed.

Phishing

Phishing is an attempt made by an individual or group to obtain personal information from unsuspecting users by posing as a trusted organization or individual, such as technical support or one’s bank. Commonly, this is done through email messages that are specifically crafted to look similar to actual communications sent by the organization or individual, at times even using real company logos and information. Within the email users may be asked directly to provide specific personal information or they may find instructions directing them to a link that they must click on, leading them to a fraudulent website designed to look legitimate. Once on the site the user is often requested to provide personal information, such as usernames and passphrases, which can be used to assist with future compromises or lead to identity theft.

Vishing and Smishing

Smishing and vishing schemes use sophisticated methods combined with social engineering to deceive cardholders into revealing critical information and disregarding legitimate fraud warnings.
Smishing is the fraudulent practice of sending text messages claiming to be from reputable companies to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords or credit card numbers.

Vishing is the fraudulent practice of making phone calls or leaving voice messages claiming to be from reputable companies to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as Financial Institution banking details and credit card numbers. Cardholders may be sent a voice or text message with transaction details and requesting that the cardholders confirm. When they respond, they may be questioned for account details, or they may be asked to call back a number to provide account information. In some instances, they are sent a one-time passcode (OTP). The caller or text message then instructs the cardholder to reply “No Fraud” to text/voice messages.

It is important to be on the lookout for these kinds of fraudulent messages that disguise themselves as legitimate fraud notifications. These schemes use sophisticated methods combined with social engineering to deceive cardholders into revealing critical information and disregarding legitimate fraud warnings. Additional red flags of note include hyperlinks and grammatical and punctuation mistakes, although AI has made these types of mistakes more difficult to detect.

Malicious Software (Malware)

Malicious software (malware), including software which compromises account-holder computers locally via Man-in-the-Browser (MitB) attacks, is a significant threat to the security of financial data. Man-in-the-Browser attacks install malicious software in the background via “drive by download.” This malware monitors and hijacks user web sessions to then transfer funds or harvest payment cards and online banking credentials, while redirecting the legitimate cardholder to a fictitious error page. This type of malware is often deployed automatically when a user visits a compromised website.

Maintaining a secure, up-to-date operating system, along with robust security and anti-malware software, is a critical first step in preventing this type of fraud. Availability and deployment of automation and crime-ware is increasing in the card fraud world. Both all-in-one malware packages, which are designed to compromise computer systems (e.g., Zeus, Citadel, Tilon), and individual tools, which are able to crack passwords and automatically carry out brute force attacks, are available for purchase on underground websites and on criminal forums. Heavy reliance on one type of security tool or on older tools could lead to more fraud loss. We recommend a dynamic, multi-layered detection and prevention strategy.

Non-Card-Related Scams

Stay on top of any large events that are coming up and be on the lookout for scams/schemes related to those events. Fraudsters like to take advantage of what is going on in the world, such as The World Cup, tax season, the Olympic Games, and national sporting events/seasons, as well as National Holidays. These types of large events can be prime times for criminals to take over cardholder identities, leading to account takeover, loans being opened in their names, cards being used for fraud, and other fraudulent activities.

An explosion of similar scams, such as imposter, online shopping, lottery, tolls, and romance scams, is quite common as well. Some of the scams are similar to those used in other countries, which target victims by SMS/text messages and often falsely direct the recipient to provide personal identifiable information (PII) and/or to make a payment for an unpaid parcel allegedly pending delivery.

Visa has some new information about Threat Actors Exploit eSIM Technology to Conduct Account Takeover, which embeds users’ SIM cards for their mobile smartphones within the device itself, rather than requiring a physical, removable SIM chip. This technique reveals threat actors’ interest in continuing to find ways to exploit new technologies to gain access to sensitive victim information, particularly financial account information or credentials, which can lead to phishing and vishing attacks.

It is important to stay diligent about odd looking or unfamiliar texts, emails, and senders. SIM card swapping: Attackers deceive mobile network providers into transferring a victim’s phone number to a SIM card under their control, allowing them to receive authentication codes and take over accounts linked to the victim’s phone number

How to Safely Use Mobile Payment Apps and Services

Mobile payment apps can be a convenient way to send and receive money with your smartphone. These apps have become very popular — and scammers may try to use them to steal your money. Find out how mobile payment apps work and how to avoid sending money to a scammer.

Download important information from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and ABA Foundation to learn how to protect yourself.

Identify and Avoid Bank Text Scams

Fraudsters often attempt to deceive consumers by sending text messages that appear to be from a bank. These messages typically:

Look legitimate.
Mimic a bank warning or fraud alert.
Include links or phone numbers. The sender’s phone number or short code can be spoofed to appear to come from a legitimate bank number.

Fraudulent text messages may:

Claim that an unauthorized charge has been made on your account.
Request verification for a recent card transaction, often asking if you attempted a specific charge at a retailer or business. These messages typically prompt you to click a link or reply “yes” or “no” to confirm the transaction.

Responding “yes” or “no” to a fraudulent text confirms to scammers that you’ve engaged with their scheme.

Next, they may claim you need to work with a fraud investigator who will call you shortly. When they call, they’ll pressure you to provide sensitive information such as your email address, bank login details, or account/card number. Fraudsters often have just enough personal details to seem legitimate and create a sense of urgency, making you fear financial loss if you don’t act immediately.

If the text includes a link and you click it, you may be directed to a fake website designed to steal your personal information. Clicking the link could also install malware on your device, giving scammers access to steal even more data for future financial crimes.

Does The Bank of Glen Burnie contact customers via text?

Yes, we may send text messages to help protect your account from fraud. Legitimate messages from The Bank of Glen Burnie may include:

Authentication and security requests to verify your identity or authorize a transaction.
Financial alerts to track payment approvals, transactions, balance limits, and budget notifications.
Fraud verification messages when suspicious activity is detected.

All legitimate fraud alert texts include our fraud center phone number. Always verify the number before responding to any message.

How can I tell if a text message is actually from the Bank?

Consider the content before responding or taking action. We will never ask for personal or confidential information via text. Legitimate messages from The Bank of Glen Burnie will not request additional details or direct you to complete a form.
Verify the sender’s number. The Bank of Glen Burnie sends fraud alerts from a specific short code. However, like phone numbers, short codes can be spoofed, so verify suspicious texts through official bank channels.
Watch for fake contact information. Scammers may include fraudulent email addresses or phone numbers that look similar to ours. Before calling or responding, verify the number using your bank statement or the information on the back of your debit card.
Look for red flags. Suspicious texts may have unusual formatting, typos, or grammatical errors. While AI-generated scams are getting more sophisticated, poorly written messages are still a warning sign.

What are Spoofing Scams?

Spoofing scams occur when scammers manipulate caller IDs or text messages to make them appear as if they’re coming from a trusted or official number. Even if a message or call looks like it’s from The Bank of Glen Burnie or another familiar source, always use extreme caution before sharing any personal information. When in doubt, contact the bank directly using a verified phone number—not the one provided in the message.

Never Share Verification Codes

Legitimate bank verification codes help protect your account, but The Bank of Glen Burnie will never call or message you asking for these codes. If someone claiming to be from the bank requests a verification code, it’s a scam—do not share it.

What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Bank Text

If you receive an unexpected text about your bank account:

Delete it immediately—do not reply or click any links.
If you are unsure, verify the message by calling The Bank of Glen Burnie directly at 410-766-3300 rather than responding to the text.
If calling after hours, follow the prompts to “Report a Disputed Transaction” to reach our Dispute Center.
For further assistance, contact your local BofGB branch manager.

What to Do If You Are a Victim of a Scam

Report the fraud immediately using a verified bank phone number (found on your statement or the back of your debit card).
Secure your personal information by changing your login credentials, passwords, and PINs immediately.

Understanding and Protecting Yourself Against AI-Powered Fraud

Imagine this scenario – you get an urgent phone call from your daughter claiming she has been arrested and needs a large sum of money for bail. It sounds just like her and she urgently needs your help. While it is her voice, the situation seems a little off. In this scenario, you might just be a target of an artificial intelligence (AI) voice cloning imposter scam.

Scammers are increasingly using AI and machine learning to commit imposter fraud. They leverage generative AI to create text, images, video, and audio that closely mimic humans. Grandparents and the elderly have been frequent targets of this type of scam.

It is more important than ever to stay informed and take steps to protect yourself from AI-powered scams.

Voice Cloning and Deepfakes

Scammers use AI to create computer-generated audio and videos known as deepfakes to spread false scenarios. Scammers only need to record you speaking for a few seconds and can often find snippets of your voice online that can be used to clone your voice. They may also take photos and other information from your social media profiles and other websites and use this information to create realistic deepfakes that look and sound just like you. They may pose as relatives or friends over the phone and fabricate a story about an emergency and ask the victim to send money immediately. They will ask for payment in cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, third-party person-to-person payment apps, or by wire to make it difficult to trace and recover.

These deepfakes are often very convincing and can look and sound just like the people you know. Even savvy consumers may fall victim to these fraudsters.

How to Protect Yourself

Take time to stop and think. Do not be swayed by the sense of urgency the scammers create. These scammers play on fear, confusion, and your desire to be helpful.
Do not trust the voice. Always call the person who supposedly contacted you to verify the story and be sure to use a phone number that you know is theirs.
Strengthen passwords by using two-factor authentication. Be sure to use complex passwords (more than 12 characters with a mix of upper- and lower-case letters with numbers and special characters). Do not reuse passwords across sites or use personally identifiable information such as names, birthdays, etc. Update your passwords frequently.
Make your social media profiles private and be cautious about how much information you share on social media and other websites. Avoid posting videos on social media that use your voice.
Use caution when answering calls from unknown numbers. Let unknown calls go to voicemail, then call back to verify the identity using a known and trusted phone number.
Do not trust caller ID. Scammers often spoof legitimate phone numbers for businesses and individuals.
Never give your personal information over the phone to someone claiming to be your bank. Hang up the phone and call your local bank branch using phone numbers from your bank statement or debit card to verify any requests.

Additional Information

FTC Consumer Alert – Scanners Use AI to Enhance Their Family Emergency Schemes

The Pay Yourself Scam

Send Yourself Money? That’s a Big Red Flag

If someone tells you to send yourself money with Zelle®, don’t. Even if they say they are from The Bank of Glen Burnie. It’s a scam! Watch this video to learn more.

Scammers are always creating new ways to steal your money. One of the recent scams utilizing peer-to-peer payment services is what’s known as the “Pay Yourself Scam.”

The gist of the scam is that someone pretending to be a representative from your bank or credit union tells you that there has been a fraudulent transaction and in order to stop it, you need to send yourself money with Zelle®. That sense of urgency really works in their favor and gets unsuspecting consumers to act immediately.

The best way to avoid this scam is to know what to look for. Here’s how it unfolds:

It starts with a text message from a scammer that looks like a fraud alert from your bank or credit union. It looks real and urgent!
If you respond to the text message and engage the scammer, you’ll receive a call from a number that may appear to be your bank or credit union.
The scammer pretends to be calling from your bank or credit union and offers to stop the alleged fraud by directing you to send yourself money with Zelle®.
In reality, the scammer is tricking you into sending money to their bank account.

How the Scam Works

So how are the scammers diverting money to their account?

When you enroll with Zelle® initially or if you switch your enrolled U.S. mobile number or email address to a different account, your bank sends you a security code to verify your identity. In this scam, the fraudster pretends to be calling from your bank or credit union saying that they need this passcode to authorize your payment to yourself. That should be a big red flag to you. Your bank will NEVER ask you for this security code, nor will they ask you to send money to yourself.

If the scammer gets the one-time passcode, they can link their bank account to your U.S. mobile number or email address. Now the money you thought you were sending to yourself is sent directly to their bank account.

Staying Safe in a World of Scammers

How can you avoid being tricked? Always keep these tips front of mind:

Never discuss account numbers, PINs, or other personal information with anyone who contacts you, even if they say they are from your bank or credit union.

If the person claiming a problem with your account needs your account information, hang up and call the bank yourself.
Don’t call the number in a text, email, or voice mail. It will connect you directly with the scammers. Always look up the number online or review the number listed on your debit or credit card.
Don’t click on text message links from people you don’t know, even if it’s pretending to be your bank or credit union. These links can be deceiving and direct you to a fraudulent site or expose your device to malware.
Your bank or credit union will never ask you to send money to yourself (or anyone else)!

If you detect suspicious activity regarding Zelle®, hang up and contact your bank or credit union directly at the number listed on the back of your bank-issued debit card, in your banking app, or on their official website.

To learn about other scams and ways to protect yourself, visit zellepay.com/pay-it-safe.

Phishing Scams

How to Outsmart Sophisticated Phishing Scams

phishing graphic with sea chest and fish and click to play arrow icon

Can you spot a phishing email, text, or phone call? It’s not hard if you know what to look for. Watch this short video to learn the latest tips to identify phishing and protect your money and personal information from sophisticated scammers.

You’ve probably heard of phishing. But do you really know what it is – and more importantly, how to protect yourself from falling victim to it? Phishing scams have become very sophisticated, but there are some simple things you can do to protect yourself and keep your personal information safe.

What is Phishing?

Let’s start with a basic description: Phishing is a type of scam where an attacker sends a fraudulent message to trick you into revealing sensitive information – often to access your accounts or commit identity theft. Phishing attempts usually occur through email, over the phone, or via text message. They can be very well-designed to look or sound like legitimate messages from those you know and trust, such as your financial institution, and may contain a link that directs you to a fake website that looks legitimate.

Tip #1: Do not expect phishing emails to be filtered into your Junk mail. Because they are often individually crafted based on information gathered on your social media sites, they can avoid detection from advanced email filters.

How to Detect Phishing Scams

There are ways to avoid phishing scams if you know what to look and listen for. Be on the lookout for these identifying factors:

Inconsistencies in email addresses. Phishing emails will typically come from an unfamiliar, unusual email address. The easiest way to detect this is to hover your cursor over the email address to reveal the true “from” address. This will usually reveal the email as a fraud and can be done without actually clicking into the email itself. For example, if an email allegedly originates from your financial institution, but the domain name reads something else, it’s likely a phishing email. Delete it immediately.
Unfamiliar greeting or salutation. Sometimes the informality or other irregularity or other irregularity of a salutation can and should provoke suspicion. Be on the lookout for this type of irregularity in emails and text messages, and perhaps even phone calls. For example, if your financial institution greets you with a nickname you don’t use with your accounts, it’s an indication of phishing.
Bad grammar, spelling mistakes or unusual language. Legitimate emails and text messages will not have these mistakes. However, they are often found in phishing scams.
Demand for urgent action. This is key! Emails, text messages and phone calls threatening some type of negative consequence, loss of money, or missed opportunity are key factors in phishing scams. The urgency prompts you to act without thinking and is what ultimately gets intelligent consumers to fall for these well-designed phishing scams. The scams have flaws, but the panic they create can cause consumers to take swift action before errors can be spotted.
Requests for passwords. Do not respond to a text alert, email, or phone call asking for a password, PIN, or any other security information. Never give this information to anyone, even if you think it’s your bank or credit union. They will never ask you for this information. Ever.

Tip #2: Be wary of long text numbers. If you receive a text message from an unidentified number longer than 10 digits, the odds are high it’s a scam.

More Dos and Don’ts to Protect Yourself

Don’t click on links in an unsolicited email or text message.
Don’t use the phone number a potential scammer provided in an email or text message. Look up the company’s phone number on your own and call to verify the authenticity of the message or request.
Don’t give out personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or Social Security numbers.
Don’t respond to suspected phishing emails, text messages or phone calls, even if you think it would be fun to tease or trick them. It’s best to avoid responding in any way.
Do be suspicious of anyone pressing you to act immediately.

Tip #3: Phone numbers and caller identities can be faked to look like the caller ID is from a business you know and trust, like your financial institution. Never trust that the caller ID is accurate. It is best to look up the company’s phone number on your own and call them.

If you detect suspicious activity, contact the alleged company directly. In the case of your financial institution, call at the number listed on the back of your bank-issued debit card, in your banking app, or the bank’s official website.

Learn more about scams and ways to protect yourself by visiting zellepay.com/pay-it-safe.

How to Send Money with Zelle® Safely

Zelle® is a fast, safe and easy way to send and receive money with people you trust, like your babysitter, your fellow PTA mom, your son’s soccer coach, or your coworker. Whether you just enrolled with Zelle® or have been an active user for a while, there are a few tips you should always keep in mind to ensure you are being safe when sending money.

Only send money to people you know and trust

Money moves fast with Zelle®, directly from checking account to checking account within minutes*. So, it’s important you know and trust the people you’re sending money to.

Why? Because you can’t cancel a payment once it’s been sent, if the recipient is already enrolled with Zelle®. And if you send money to someone you don’t know for a product or service you might not receive (like paying for something in advance), you may not get your money back. Keep in mind that sending money with Zelle® is similar to handing someone cash.

Beware of payment scams

One example of a payment scam is buying event tickets at a price that seems too good to be true from a stranger and never receiving them. If the seller asks you to use Zelle® to purchase the tickets, you should refuse unless the seller is a person you personally know.

Also, keep in mind that no one from The Bank of Glen Burnie will ask you to send them money with Zelle® as a test or to send money to avoid a fraud event.

Neither The Bank of Glen Burnie nor Zelle® offers a protection program for authorized payments made with Zelle®. So, if you aren’t sure you will get what you paid for, you should use another payment method with purchase protection, such as a credit card.

Treat Zelle® like cash

Did your friend change phone numbers recently? It’s easy for people to change their phone number or email address. When in doubt, contact your friend to verify the email or U.S. mobile number they used to enroll with Zelle® before you hit “Send.” Another good check point for ensuring you’re paying the right person is to confirm the first name that is displayed for enrolled emails and U.S. mobile numbers.

If a person has already enrolled a U.S. mobile number or email address with Zelle®, you can’t cancel the transaction, so it’s important you get it right the first time.

If you’d like more information on safely using peer-to-peer payments, check out these articles from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Helpful Tips for Using Mobile Payments Services and Avoiding Risky Mistakes

Tips on Using Peer-to-Peer Payment Systems and Apps

How to Keep Your Personal Information Secure Online

*U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle®. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes.

Zelle and the Zelle related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license

Scams are on the Rise: Security Tips to Help Protect Your Bank Account

Beware of scammers that may call or text you while impersonating The Bank of Glen Burnie, the IRS, the government, other financial institutions, or a well-known company. These scammers will attempt to catch you off guard and get you to share personal information in order to steal your identity, money, or both. Learn more about how to spot these scammers, and always remember to handle each incoming phone call or text with caution.

Your financial institution will never call you to request information you received via text (SMS) or pressure you to reset your online banking log in password or ask you for your one-time passcode.
Don’t trust caller ID; Caller ID may be modified or spoofed to make it appear to show your financial institution’s name.
Don’t provide your online banking log in credentials, one-time password, account number, PIN or personal information by email or text or phone call. Using a published phone number, reach out to your financial institution to confirm that the request is legitimate.
Don’t give information over the phone if you receive a call stating that a transaction is canceled, even if the caller claims to be from your financial institution. Once again, contact your financial institution using a published phone number (on your bank statement or card) to inquire about the transaction.
Don’t send money to “receive a refund” or “reverse a transfer.” Remember, the bank has your account information.
If you receive a code to authorize any amount of money (even $.01) to be transferred or another transaction you didn’t initiate, don’t enter the code in your bank app or share it with anyone, even if they claim to be from your bank.
Don’t click on links in unsolicited emails or texts.
Scammers often leave messages or send text messages that are calculated to get you to reply or call them back. Messages like “Your account has been compromised. Call us to reset your password.” are used by scammers to convey a sense of urgency. Contact your financial institution using a published phone number. Don’t reply to the text message or call a phone number in the message.
Don’t give an unsolicited caller remote access to your computer.
Don’t download any “troubleshooting” apps because they may allow a scammer to take over your device.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers extensive information including tips for recognizing scams and examples of common scams.

Scammers Can Fake Caller ID Info

Scammers are using fake caller ID information to trick you into thinking they are someone local, someone you trust – like a government agency or police department, or a company you do business with – like your bank or cable provider.

Don’t rely on caller ID to verify who’s calling. It can be nearly impossible to tell whether the caller ID information is real. Click the links below to learn more about how to handle these types of calls.

If you receive a suspicious inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book, or on the company’s website to verify the authenticity of the request. The Bank of Glen Burnie will never solicit your personal, private information via email or telephone.

Learn More About Caller ID Spoofing from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

COVID-19 Scams

If you receive calls, emails, or other communications claiming to be from the Treasury Department and offering COVID-19 related grants or stimulus payments in exchange for personal financial information, or an advance fee, tax, or charge of any kind, including the purchase of gift cards, please do not respond. These are scams. Please contact the FBI at www.ic3.gov so that the scammers can be tracked and stopped.

Money Mule Scams

Money mule scams are a type of scam in which criminals use their victims to move stolen funds. Money mule scams can take many forms and commonly involve online dating, work-at-home jobs or prizes.

In a typical scam, the fraudster sends the victim money to deposit into a bank account and then asks them to send some of it to someone else, usually through a gift card or a wire transfer. When the initial check is later found to be fake, victims are on the hook for the full amount.

Consumers can avoid money mule scams by never using their own bank accounts or opening a new account in their name to transfer money for an employer; never paying to collect a prize or move any money out of their “winnings”; and never sending money to an online love interest. If a money mule scam is suspected, consumers should break off contact with the scammer, inform their bank and report the incident to the FTC.

Learn More

Download Money Mule Infographic

Protect Yourself from Fake Check Scams

Protect yourself from fake check scams with these tips from FDIC Consumer News.

Telephone Scam Alert

In this type of scam, a call comes through with someone acting as if they are from your bank and stating there has been fraudulent use of your debit card (or leading you to believe that by giving you some alleged recent transactions). Often people are so concerned that they give out personal information, assuming what they have heard is true. If this occurs, HANG UP and call your bank to confirm whether they have called you and verify whether there is any problem with your account. NEVER give out your personal/sensitive information on a call you didn’t place [to a company you know to be legitimate].

Protect Yourself from Caller ID Spoofing

Caller ID “Spoofing” occurs when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Spoofing is often used as part of an attempt to trick someone into giving away valuable personal information so it can be used in fraudulent activity or sold illegally, but can be used legitimately, for example, to display the toll-free number for a business.

Learn More About Spoofing

Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks Bearing the Name “The Bank of Glen Burnie” are Reportedly in Circulation

The Bank of Glen Burnie, located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier’s checks bearing the institution’s name are in circulation. The information has also been shared with the Maryland Commission of Financial Regulation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Postal Service (USPS).

Fraud Protection

Keeping your personal information safe and secure is a top priority at The Bank of Glen Burnie®.

Learn More About Fraud Protection

Protect Yourself from Phishing

“Phishing” is a term that is used to describe one of the fastest-growing types of online fraud. Phishing involves someone impersonating your bank or another trustworthy entity through electronic communications such as emails, text messages, or instant messages.

Learn More About Phishing

Resource Guide – Money Smart for Older Adults

This easy-to-read guide published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) provides information for older adults, family caregivers, and others to help prevent, recognize and report financial exploitation.

View “Money Smart for Older Adults” Resource Guide (English)

View “Money Smart for Older Adults” Resource Guide (Spanish)

Unaffiliated Third-Party Bill Payment Websites

Unaffiliated third-party bill payment websites can create confusion for customers and often result in payment transactions on sites with no actual affiliation to the biller. Customers who use Google or other search engines to locate bill payment options are especially vulnerable to being misdirected to these unaffiliated third-party sites.

Learn More About Unaffiliated Third-Party Bill Payment Websites

FDIC Consumer News: Shopping Online During the Holidays?

During the holiday season, we tend to make a lot more purchases online for travel and gifts, so it’s especially important to be vigilant about protecting your money.

Learn More About Protecting Your Money From Scams