Important Note: Bradford National Bank WILL NOT email our customers and ask for account information. If you receive such an email, please report them immediately by forwarding them to Bradford National Bank.

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Don't Get Caught Phishing!

FROM The Independent Community Bankers Association

The rise of email phishing scams has banks and other financial service companies scrambling to inform and protect customers. The scams, which often involve emails claiming to be from a bank or other financial institution asking recipients for their account numbers and other valuable financial information, are becoming a huge problem for the industry. Phishing increased by 50 percent in February alone. Even the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has been a target phishing. Experts say that the perpetrators of these scams are difficult to catch, and that the best defense against phishing is to build customer awareness.

PayPal, another victim of phishing, has created software that reviews transactions to see if they are phishing schemes. Cyota Inc. has developed Fraud Action, an anti-phishing solution that provides multiple layers of protection, including alerts.

Bradford National Bank suggests:
If you get an email from anyone requesting personal or account information, do not click on any included or attached links or provide any information. If you feel it is a valid request, call the requesting organization on the telephone to verify.

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Click Here For A Detailed Report on Phishing

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Visit The National Cyber Security Website

January 23, 2004 - The FDIC has issued a Special Alert: fraudulent emails being sent to bank customers. The fraudulent email, which appears to come from the FDIC, informs the recipient that all deposit insurance on their bank accounts has been suspended because of suspected violations of the USA Patriot Act. The emails attempt to obtain highly sensitive personal information, including bank account information, and say insurance will resume once the information is provided.

If consumers have received this or similar suspicious emails, they should report information to the FDIC at alert@fdic.gov.

For more information and to access the FDIC's alert, click here:
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2004/sa0504.html

Other Links:

http://www.wordspy.com/words/phishing.asp

http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/phishing.htm

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Watch For Tax Rebate Scams
The latest attempt to take advantage of confusing tax legislation is a telephone caller who tells an unwary individual that there is a quicker way to get this summer’s tax rebate. They ask you to provide your credit card number and you’ll be charged $39.99 and your tax rebate will be on its way. Or so people are being told. The people who have fallen for the scam have actually been charged even more than that fee, and they will not receive any special treatment when it comes to receiving their tax rebate.

Tax rebates will be mailed according to a predetermined schedule beginning on July 25. The timetable is as follows: Social Security numbers ending with 00 to 33 will be mailed on July 25, those ending in 34 to 66 will be mailed August 1 and those ending in 67 to 99 will be mailed August 8.

For more information, click here.

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Check Fraud
CHECK FRAUD is a growing industry and anyone can be a victim. All the con artist needs to take your money is a simple account number. Here are some steps to prevent check fraud:

If your checks are lost or stolen, report them immediately to your bank.

Hide your check inventory. Put them in a vault or other secure location.

Never issue checks to people you question. Here is a good rule of thumb: If you would not accept a check from a person, then don't give them one of yours.

Be discreet when writing checks in public places.

Never give your account number and bank name over the phone. That's all anyone needs to order worthless check in your name. Your bank will never call you to ask for your account number.

TO FURTHER protect yourself, here are a few items to remember when accepting checks:

—Always look at the check and not the person. A person passing a bad check will attempt to divert your attention away from the check.

—The check number. Ninety percent of all fraud occurs on checks numbered between 101 and 200.

—Time of the year. Seventy percent of all bad checks are passed in the months of October,
November and December.

—Look at the person's identification. If the ID has expired, then it is not valid. Does the photo on the ID match the person in front of you? Write down all ID information.

—Don't accept post dated checks.

—Perforation. The easiest way to spot a bad check is to look for a perforated edge. If there is no perforated edge, the check is a forgery. All checks have a perforated edge on at least one of its four sides. The only exception is federal government checks.

A FINAL THOUGHT When you are asked for an ID when cashing a check, remember that it is for everyone's protection. We understand that it can be inconvenient for you when asked to show an ID to cash your check. It's important for you to know why you are asked for an ID from time to time:

It's true that you may be known by one of more people on our staff. However, chances are you will be served by an employee who is not acquainted with you, and as a matter of policy, you will be asked to provide identification.

When personal checks are lost or stolen, some time will elapse before you become aware of their disappearance. In that span of time, your checks can easily be presented for cashing with a forged signature.

A valid ID with your picture helps us to make certain that your checks are being cashed by you and for no one else. (NOTE: A drivers license or ID card with an expired date is NOT a valid form of identification).

Now that you understand how identification for check cashing helps us both, we are certain you will want to join in the effort. If you present your identification at the same time you give us your check, you will be aiding us in the fight against fraud and theft, and you'll be saving time for yourself and others.
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ATM FRAUD

As automatic teller machine (ATM) usage continues to grow, so does ATM fraud. Millions of ATM transactions are conducted each day. Because of the volume, criminals have recognized that ATMs provide an opportunity for theft and fraud. However, if you take a few simples measures, you can protect yourself from theft.

Never give out your Personal Identification Number (PIN). A person with your card and PIN can take all of your money. If other people are in line to use the ATM, shield the keyboard when you enter your PIN. No banking or law enforcement official will ever ask you for your PIN.

—Do not write your PIN on your card or on paper in your wallet or purse.

—If you forget your PIN, Bradford National Bank can reprogram your card. All you have to do is bring it to our main bank.

—If your ATM card is lost or stolen, report it to your bank ASAP. Certain measures can be taken to stop that card from being used.

—Don't use an ATM until you have looked around the area. If there are people hanging around the machine, leave the area immediately. Come back later or use a different machine.

—Don't park your car at the ATM in such a way that it blocks your vision or would allow someone to block you in.

—When your transaction is complete, take your cash AND your receipt and leave. Count your cash only when you are back in your car.

—If someone demands that you give them your ATM card and PIN, do it. Report the incident to the police immediately and then your bank, but only when it is safe for you to do so.

—After you complete your transaction, if you feel someone is following you, drive to the police station or nearest business with a lot of people around.

Here are a few more safety tips.

~Know what you want to do before you approach the ATM.
~Always try to take another person with you when using an ATM.

~If you feel threatened while using the machine, press the "cancel" button and leave the area immediately.

~Always check your bank statement and reconcile your ATM transactions. If you discover fraud, contact your financial institution immediately.

~Do not stand directly behind other customers who are using the ATM. This will allow them to conduct their transactions privately and confidential.