Safeguarding Our Customers

Safeguarding Our Customers against E-Mail and Internet-Related Fraudulent Schemes

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Email and fraudulent websites

Sometimes criminals may send you email that looks like it has come from Greater Hudson Bank. These phony emails ask you to go to a website that also looks like Greater Hudson Bank and provide your personal account information. Some of these phony emails even caution that if you don't do this, your account may be suspended. But the website is also a fake, and this is a fraud attempt.

This is the most common type of online fraud, and is called "phishing and spoofing". Criminals send these phony email messages or direct someone to a fraudulent website for one goal, to steal personal and financial information.

If you should ever receive an email that appears to be suspicious, do not reply to it or click on the link it provides. Simply delete it. To report a suspicious email that uses Greater Hudson Bank's name, you can forward it to abuse@greaterhudsonbank.com*. (If you have general questions about the bank or your accounts, please go to Contact Us.)

Spyware and viruses

Spyware and viruses are both malicious programs that are loaded onto your computer without your knowledge. Whether the goal of these programs is to capture or destroy information, to ruin the performance of your computer, or to bombard you with advertising, you don't want them.

Viruses spread by infecting computers and then replicating. Spyware disguises itself as a legitimate application and embeds itself into your computer, to monitor your activity and collect information.

Spyware and viruses are both serious threats to the security of your computer.

Pop-up advertisements

Pop-ups are the advertisements that "pop up" in a separate browser window. When you click on some of these pop-ups, it's possible that you're also downloading "spyware" or "adware."

Sometimes, criminals create pop-up ads that look like they come from a respected financial institution and ask you to enter personal financial information, but Greater Hudson Bank and most other financial institutions will never ask you to verify personal financial information in pop-ups.

Fraudulent Phone Calls and Numbers

Vishing is the criminal practice of using social engineering and Voice over IP (VoIP) to gain access to private personal and financial information from the public for the purpose of financial reward. The term is a combination of "voice" and phishing.

When the victim answers the call, an automated recording, often generated with a text to speech synthesizer, is played to alert the consumer that their credit card has had fraudulent activity or that their bank account has had unusual activity. The message instructs the consumer to call the following phone number immediately. The same phone number is often shown in the spoofed caller ID and given the same name as the financial company they are pretending to represent.

Consumers are advised to be highly suspicious when receiving messages directing them to call and provide credit card or bank numbers. Rather than provide any information, the consumer is advised to contact their bank or credit card company directly to verify the validity of the message.

Mobile Phone Security

Smishing is a form of criminal activity using social engineering techniques similar to phishing. Smishing victims receive SMS messages. Known as "smishing," these text messages might ask a recipient to register for an online service -- then try to sneak a virus onto the users' device.

Some messages warn that the consumer will be charged unless he cancels his supposed order by going to a Web site that then extracts such credit card numbers and other private data.

Greater Hudson Bank will never ask you to reply to an email with any personal information or data, such as your Social Security number, ATM or Check Card PIN, or any other sensitive information. In addition, when you sign in to Online Banking always make sure to look for the logo at the bottom of the page.

 How to Protect Yourself

• Be cautious of any offer that sounds to good to be true.
• Verify any calls or emails that you receive about a security or fraud investigation with your bank or financial institution.
• Be wary of any offer that requires you to wire money, withdraw cash from your account, or provide account information.
• Review the FBI Fraud Alert signs of a scam
• Review The Alliance For Consumer Fraud Awareness website

Other Check Fraud Security Tips

• Store your checks, deposit slips, bank statements, and cancelled checks in a secure and locked location. Never leave your checkbook in your vehicle or in the open.
• Unless needed for tax purposes, destroy old cancelled checks, account statements, deposited checks, ATM receipts, etc.
• Reconcile your bank statements within 30 days to detect any irregularities.
• Never give your account number to people you do not know, especially over the telephone to unsolicited phone sales calls. Please note that Greater Hudson Bank will NOT send out email asking you to verify personal data.
• When you receive a new or replacement check order, make sure all the checks are there and that none are missing.
• Mail your bills from the Post Office or sign up for On Line Bill Pay. Limit the amount of personal information on your check. For example, do not include your Social Security Number or Driver’s License Number on your check.

Fraudulent Utility Bill E-mail

The IC3 has received over 40 complaints since May 2011 reporting the receipt of an unsolicited e-mail purportedly from a specified utility company. The e-mail stated the recipient had a new bill which needed to be paid, and the bill was attached to the e-mail. The recipient was instructed to click on the attachment to view their bill. The attachment contained a zip file with a computer virus.

The e-mail concluded by stating the recipient received the e-mail message, because he/she receives e-bills from this utility company. Many of the recipients are located in areas of the United States that do not use this utility company as their electric provider.

Mobile Banking Security                                                                                                                                                             

When you use your smartphone / mobile device for Mobile Banking transactions and inquiries, keep the following tips in mind. 

• Only trust text messages that come from the Greater Hudson Bank short code 96924.
• Never leave your smartphone / mobile device unattended.
• Use passcodes to protect smartphones / mobile devices and enabling screen-lock features after inactivity.
• Frequently delete text messages from Greater Hudson Bank.
• Before selling or trading smartphones / mobile devices reset or wipe the device.
• Never disclosure via text message or e-mail your account number, user name, password, social security number, date of birth, or any other personal data. Please note that Greater Hudson Bank will NOT send out text messages or emails asking you to verify personal data.
• Do not store your user name and password or other sensitive personal information on your smartphone / mobile device.
• Keep smartphones / mobile devices software patches and upgrades up to date to ensure the highest level of protection. Download updates directly from the company’s website to ensure it is legitimate.
• Turn off Bluetooth technology when conducting Mobile Banking transactions and inquiries. Fraudsters can steal information from wireless devices through Bluetooth connection.
• Avoid connecting to unknown wireless devices. Be careful when using public hotspots, even at a trusted retailer, as fraudsters can spoof the name of reputable hotspots.
• Before downloading any app, read reviews about the app developer or company publishing the app and understand user app permissions that will be allowed once the app is downloaded.
• Install mobile malware protection.
• Install anti-virus file integrity software.
• Avoid links or software downloads from unknown sources.
• Do not attempt jailbreaking or rooting your smartphone. Jailbreaking and rooting are methods of “self-hacking” your smartphone in order to gain full access to all features of the technologies of the smartphone.  This process makes the smartphone extremely susceptible to malware, viruses and other malicious programs.
• Reconcile your bank statements within 30 days to detect any irregularities.

Greater Hudson Bank is committed to educating our customers on check and deposit fraud schemes and protecting them through our Privacy and Security content.

*Regular non-encrypted email over the internet is not a secure means of communication. In instances where we provide internet email addresses, they are for inquiries of a non-sensitive and non-confidential nature. We recommend that you do not send confidential information by email unless it is secured.