Ways to Avoid Fraud and Identity Theft
January 26, 2022
Data and identity theft is a constant threat that can affect anyone at any time. Below are several methods you can implement to help reduce the risk of having your data and identity stolen.
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Check washing scams, in which fraudsters steal a check from a mailbox and "wash" it to alter the payee information and payment amount, are on the rise. Victims are often left unaware of the malicious activity until they see the fraudulent transaction on their statements, resulting in a loss of hundreds or thousands of dollars.
In this article, we share several tips to help you detect and avoid a financial loss from check washing and other check-related scams.
A fraudster begins by stealing letters, cards or other correspondence from your mailbox in hopes that these items contain a check. If the fraudster is successful in obtaining a check, they use a chemical solution to remove or wash common types of ink, enabling the fraudster to refill nearly any section of the check after it dries. The resulting fraudulent check is difficult to distinguish and often passes as legitimate by ATMs, remote deposit applications and sometimes, in-person tellers.
After the fraudulent check has been deposited, a fraudster will rapidly withdraw or wire the funds to another account before you can notice the erroneous payment. If you fall victim to check washing, you may not realize it until you spot the fraudulent transaction on your account statement.
The best defense against check-related scams is to be vigilant when reviewing your account statements. Below are a few additional tips to help you detect and avoid check washing fraud and other check-related scams:
If you suspect fraudulent activity on your Trustmark account, report it immediately by calling our Customer Contact Center at 800.243.2524 or visiting a local Trustmark branch.
January 26, 2022
Data and identity theft is a constant threat that can affect anyone at any time. Below are several methods you can implement to help reduce the risk of having your data and identity stolen.
July 13, 2023
Learn about additional measures that companies can implement to avoid becoming the victim of a phishing attack.
December 08, 2022
At Trustmark, we believe the security of your account information is of utmost importance. As fraudulent behavior such as phone scams is on the rise, we want to provide some advice to protect you and your information.
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