On June 27, local fraud fighters Jen Parsons and Chad Davis of Mid-Penn Bank met with nearly 20 attendees at the Fighting Financial Fraud seminar held at the ELANCO Library.

Early in the presentation, Davis asked for a show of hands among attendees who had been victims of fraud or attempted fraud. He then asked those who did not raise their hands if a friend or family member had been affected by fraud. All but about three attendees had raised their hands.

The incidence of cyber crime in the U.S. nearly doubled from 2019 to 2022, affecting most members of the community who utilize email and cell phones, but fraud attempts are also made over landlines. Parsons and Davis described several types of fraud, including phishing, cloning, spoofing, tech-support scams, ransom, emergency or grandparent scams, and the Publishers Clearing House scam.

The pair explained that phishing usually involves a text or email that asks for personal information. Parsons warned that a bank will not contact an individual and ask for personal information. "(If you receive a call) asking for a credit card number, bank account number, or password credentials, do not share it with them," she said. Davis added that fraudsters will try to frighten targets into divulging information, and Parsons said that hanging up and calling the institution the caller says he or she represents will usually uncover the trick.

Parsons noted that spoofing may involve a notice that a package is about to arrive. "They may want you to call, and they will try to get information," she said, adding that the notice may appear to come from a legitimate delivery service and even include what appears to be that company's website.

Davis also mentioned a tech-support scam that may involve a phone call, pop- up, or email that looks like it is from a cyber security company pointing to problems with a computer system and the need for information from you. "They will be looking for bank information," said Davis, who noted that victims may be asked to click a link. "They may offer to scan the system and clean things up and ask for credit card information," he added. "Don't click on links like that, and don't take phone calls of that nature," he cautioned.

Parsons also mentioned the cloning of phone numbers so that a phone's caller identification will make the number appear to be legitimate. Similar issues occur with email. "Is it OK to open an email if you don't click on the link?" asked Parsons, who told the story of a business that was hacked in this way. An attendee recommended using the reading pane to look at emails rather than opening them, and Davis noted that compromised phones and other devices can be taken to local professionals to be scanned for issues. The presenters spent significant time discussing the emergency or grandparent scam, which plays on the emotions of the victim. "You get a call telling you your grandson has been in a terrible car accident. He is in the hospital. He killed a woman with his car, and he's facing charges as soon as he gets out of the hospital," said Parsons, who noted the caller will ask for a specific amount of money to cover the grandchild's bail to be wired or sent. The caller may also pretend to be a family member. "Is this something your loved one might do?" asked Parsons, who recommended talking to a spouse or other relatives before taking any action. She told of a scam that was headed off when the jail supposedly holding the grandson was contacted, and the jail confirmed that the grandson was not there. Parsons also recommended developing a family password or safe word that can be used for identification purposes. "Make it something simple that you guys would know," she noted.

The Publishers Clearing House scam involves a phone call or other notification saying the recipient has won something. "You don't pay anything up front when you've won something," noted Davis. Again, the tactic of hanging up and calling the organization supposedly offering this prize was recommended.

Old-fashioned methods of fraud still abound, according to Parsons. "Check fraud is still a thing," she said. "People steal checks from mailboxes and alter them." She recommended using bill paying systems offered by banks and mailing checks to post office boxes rather than street addresses. Davis added that checks should not be accepted from unfamiliar individuals, and people should let a check sit at the bank for four or five days before delivering the merchandise they are selling to the writer of the check.