Security Center

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Below are some simple steps you can take to prevent you from becoming a victim of identity theft. More information on identity theft can also be found at: www.ftc.gov and www.identitytheft.gov.

Some tips to keep you and your information safe: 

• Do not disclose personal information (including your Social Security number, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, personal identification numbers or passwords) to anyone who should not have access to your accounts.
• Do not select a PIN that uses information readily found in your wallet or purse, such as your birthdate or house number.
• Do not print your driver’s license number or Social Security number on your checks.
• Do not routinely carry important documents such as your Social Security card or passport.
• Sign new bank cards or credit cards immediately.
• Report lost or stolen credit cards or bank cards immediately.
• Review monthly statements promptly, and immediately report any transactions or charges that appear suspicious. Keep all receipts until you receive your statement.
• Call the company if you stop receiving regular bills or statements, to be sure no one fraudulently changed your address.
• Shred unneeded financial documents, such as old bank statements, and destroy cards you no longer use.
• Question any emails or phone inquiries that seem suspicious, especially if they request account information so they can “award a prize.” 

The Northumberland National Bank provides round-the-clock fraud monitoring for your Norry Bank debit card. If an unusual transaction is detected, we will contact you so that future fraudulent transactions can be avoided. A reminder that Norry Bank staff will never independently call or email you to ask for your account number, ATM/debit card PIN, or other information. 

To report a lost or stolen Norry Bank ATM or Debit Card, please call 570-473-3531. To report a lost or stolen Norry Bank Visa Credit Card, please call Cardmember Services 24-hours-a-day at 800-558-3424. If you detect an unauthorized debit card transaction on your account, you must visit one of our branches to file a dispute form.

To ensure security in online banking transactions and personal information, please be advised of the following responsibilities as a consumer.

Password reminders

• Choose a strong password
• Do not disclose login ID and password
• Do not store login ID and password on the computer
• Passwords do not expire, but we highly recommend that you change your password on a regular basis for your protection
• Password must be a combination of letters (uppercase and/or lowercase), numbers, and special characters
• Password must be at least 8 characters in length
  

Are you using the correct website?

• Check for the correct and secure website
• Verify correct website with correct URL address
• Verify secure website by the URL beginning with https://
• Beware of pharming websites that are “look-alike” websites to deceive consumers

Protect your computer from hackers and viruses

• Install a firewall and reputable anti-virus software
• Keep anti-virus software up to date
• Keep your operating system and web browser up to date
• Never download any file or software that you are not familiar with
• Always remember to log off the site when transactions have been completed
• Clear the cache to remove stored information entered into the site

 

Scammers need access to your personal information (such as social security number, date of birth, mother’s maiden name) to fuel their financial crimes. Here are some common tactics used by scammers to fool victims:

• Scammers pretend to be someone you trust. They make themselves seem believable by pretending to be connected with a company or person you know, or a government agency. 
• Scammers create a sense of urgency. They rush you into making a quick decision before you have time to look into it. 
• Scammers use intimidation and fear. They tell you that something terrible is about to happen to get you to send a payment before you have a chance to check out their claims. 
• Scammers use untraceable payment methods. They often want payment through wire transfer, reloadable cards, or gift cards that are nearly impossible to reverse or track. 

Fake Check Scams
Most scams take advantage of the fact that the bank often must make deposited funds available to you before the deposited check is known to be fraudulent. Keep in mind that when you deposit or cash a check, you are acknowledging that you believe in good faith that it is a good check, and that it will be paid by the person who wrote it. If the check returns, you will be responsible to pay back the bank for the full amount. Con artists increasingly use counterfeit cashier’s checks, money orders and other official bank checks because people trust them. If you receive a questionable check, our bank staff can help you verify whether it is a fraud. Be aware of scams like the ones listed below. Additional information can also be found at www.fakechecks.org. If you receive a similar offer, remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is a scam.

COVID-19 Fraud and Scams
With the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in fraud and scams. The Internal Revenue Service urges you to be on the lookout for calls and email phishing attempts about Coronavirus, or COVID-19. These contacts can lead to tax-related fraud and identity theft. You should watch not only for emails but text messages, websites and social media attempts that request money or personal information.

Work from Home Scams
You’re promised easy money for working at home. All you have to do is process payments: your employer will send you checks which you deposit into your account. You then wire them the money minus your “pay.” You’re responsible for the full amount when the check returns. Legitimate businesses don’t work this way; they deposit payments into their own account.

Peer-to-Peer Payment (P2P) Application Scams
Peer-to-peer payment (P2P) apps like Venmo, CashApp, PayPal and Zelle make paying for things a breeze. You can transfer money from your bank account or from one payment account to another in real time. Unfortunately, P2P payments are also becoming popular to scammers. Scams are increasingly coming from an individual impersonating a financial institution via text and/or phone. Here are some tips on how to stay safe using P2P apps:

• Do not use P2P service to purchase products online. If the retailer requires payment via P2P payment service, it is likely a scam.
• Only pay with P2P services you know. P2P payments are meant to be used between friends and family or someone you know well, and not someone you recently met online. 
• Double- and triple-check the address, username, or phone number of the person you are trying to send money to.
• Opt-in for stronger security such as a personal identification number.

Utility Scams
If you get a call from your utility company threatening to shut off your service unless you pay them immediately, it is probably a scam. The caller may tell you to pay them by wiring money, or to give them the numbers of a reloadable card or gift card. Scammers tell you to pay this way because it’s hard to track that money, and almost impossible to get it back. Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to avoid a utility scam:

• Hang up and call the utility company yourself using the number on your bill or the utility company’s website - even if the person who contacted you left a call-back number.
• Never wire money or pay with a reloadable card, gift card or cryptocurrency to anyone who demands it. 

Romance/Online Love Scams
You’ve met someone special online, but he or she has a problem. They live in a foreign country and have a check in U.S. dollars that they aren’t able to cash. Or they claim to have a medical or other emergency, and need your help getting a check cashed. Or they promise to come to the U.S. to be with you and need you to cash a check to cover travel expenses. If you agree to cash the check, you will be responsible for the entire amount if the check returns. You should never cash a check for someone unless it is a family member or a person you have known for a long time.

Internet Purchase/Mystery Shopper/Online Shopping Scams

• You sell an item on the internet, but the buyer sends you a check for an amount greater than the purchase price. The buyer asks you to wire back the extra amount. By the time the check is returned, you have already wired the money from your account. You will be responsible to pay back the full amount of the check. If you sell on the internet, only accept checks for the exact amount of the purchase. Request a cashier’s check rather than a personal check but remember that even a cashier’s check is not a guarantee of authenticity.
• You are sent a large check to cash, so that you can return the funds to “test” a wire transfer service. Or you are asked to buy a few small items at a store and send back the remaining money. In either case, if the check is returned, you will need to pay the money back.
• You post something for sale on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or another site, and a scammer posing as a buyer says they want to buy the thing you have for sale. When it comes time to pay, they insist on paying you through a mobile payment app. They send you a fake notification and hope you send the item before you realize it’s a scam, or they say there was an issue and accidentally paid you twice and ask you to refund one of the payments. 
• A scammer says they want to verify you’re a real person by sending you a text message with a Google Voice verification code and asks you for that code. The scammer then creates a Google Voice number linked to your real phone number and uses that to rip off other people. If someone tracks that Google Voice number, it’ll be linked to your real phone number.  
  

Lottery Scams
You receive a large check, along with a letter stating that you have won a lottery, usually located in a foreign country. The instructions tell you to deposit the check and wire a portion of it back to cover fees or taxes on your winnings. By the time the check is returned, you have already wired the money from your account. You will be responsible for the total amount of the check. Keep in mind that it is against the laws of the United States to buy or sell lottery tickets across the border, so any letter claiming that you have won a foreign lottery is a scam.

Tech Support Scams
Tech support scammers want you to believe you have a serious problem with your computer, like a virus. They want you to pay for tech support services you don't need, to fix a problem that doesn’t exist. They often ask you to pay by wiring money, putting money on a gift card, prepaid card or cash reload card, or using a money transfer app because they know those types of payments can be hard to reverse.

Gift Card Scams
Someone might ask you to pay for something by putting money on a gift card, like a Google Play or iTunes card, and then giving them the numbers on the back of the card. If they ask you to do this, they’re trying to scam you. No real business or government agency will ever insist you pay them with a gift card. Anyone who demands to be paid with a gift card is a scammer.

Department of Revenue Property Tax/Rent Rebate Scams
A scammer claiming to work for the Department of Revenue calls and says your application for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program has been approved. The caller then asks if you would like the rebate direct deposited into a bank account, and asks for your personal banking information. The Department of Revenue does not collect banking information over the phone. 

Home Warranty Scams
If you get an unexpected letter or notice to purchase a home warranty from The Northumberland National Bank – beware! The letter may ask you to purchase a home warranty, or claim your current home warranty “may be expiring” or “may have already expired.” The letter is deceptive and is NOT affiliated with The Northumberland National Bank.

The letter may also ask for a response by a certain date and threatens that failing to respond could result in a potential loss of coverage. Solicitations that use threatening language or unnecessary urgency are almost always scams.

Some information about mortgages, such as your bank's name, is public record and can be found online, and scammers use your bank's name to appear legitimate. If you are interested in purchasing a home warranty with a legitimate company, we strongly encourage you to check with the Better Business Bureau
or search for the specific warranty/contractor with the PA Attorney General.

If you receive any correspondence regarding your mortgage, deed, a home warranty, or any bank accounts, and you are unsure if it is from The Northumberland National Bank, it is always best to call us directly at 888-877-6623 and verify, BEFORE responding to the information provided on the solicitation.