Fraud & Security

Common Scams & Red Flags

Learn how to spot common scams and keep your personal and account information safe.

Don't Fall Victim to Fraud: Stay Vigilant and Informed

Every day, regular people like you lose their hard-earned money to scams. Learn how to spot suspicious texts, emails, and phone calls. 

We will never unexpectedly contact you and ask for personal information. Please call us at 800-651-9111 if you think you have been scammed or notice fraudulent activity on your account. 

Reduce Your Risk of Fraud

  • Set up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
  • Never click on a suspicious link requesting personal information.
  • Do not use the same username, pin, or password for multiple online accounts.
  • Use a lengthy, complex password or passphrase that incorporates special characters.
  • Avoid accessing your online banking accounts via a wireless network.
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Read More About Scams

Ever heard of the Frozen Account Scam? Learn how to protect yourself from it on our blog.

Read More

Red Flags It's a Scam!

Be on alert when you receive an email, text message, phone call, or mobile payment you are not expecting—it could be a scam. Never click links, open attachments, or share personal info before verifying the source. If you spot any of these red flags, please call us at 800-651-9111. 
account alerts

Unfamiliar Contact Information

Unusual caller ID, email address, or phone numbers.
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You Feel Rushed

Urgent warnings or requests and scare tactics.
spelling errors dictionary

Spelling Errors

Watch for misspelled words or odd grammar.
requests personal information identification

Requests for Personal Information

We’ll never ask for your personal information.
suspicious links phishing

Suspicious Links

Banks rarely, if ever, send links via text.
anytime access funds

Overpayment Claims

This is a tactic scammers use to trick you into sending them money.
account alerts

Unfamiliar Contact Information

Unusual caller ID, email address, or phone numbers.
fast approval

You Feel Rushed

Urgent warnings or requests and scare tactics.
spelling errors dictionary

Spelling Errors

Watch for misspelled words or odd grammar.
requests personal information identification

Requests for Personal Information

We’ll never ask for your personal information.
suspicious links phishing

Suspicious Links

Banks rarely, if ever, send links via text.
anytime access funds

Overpayment Claims

This is a tactic scammers use to trick you into sending them money.

Protect Yourself from Common Scams

The banking industry is witnessing a significant surge in text message and phone call scams. These criminals are impersonating Isabella Bank and other financial institutions to deceive you into revealing sensitive personal information.

Be vigilant: these requests are fraudulent. Never share your personal or account details with anyone.

Fraudsters are relentless in their development of scams to outsmart the existing authentication controls put in place to protect your account information. Here are some recent and common scams to look out for.

Tax Scams:

Scammers pose as IRS agents, using phone calls, emails, or text messages to demand immediate payment, threaten legal action, or request sensitive information. It’s important to know the IRS will never call, email, or text you demanding payment or threatening arrest. Instead, they will always contact you first through an official letter by mail. You can verify any IRS contact by calling 1-800-829-1040.

Bank Fraud Text Message and Phone Call Scams:

The banking industry has seen an increase in the number of text message and phone call scams. In ongoing scams, they are impersonating Isabella Bank and other financial institutions in an attempt to mislead consumers into sharing their personal and account information. Please be aware that these attempts are scams, and it is important that YOU DO NOT provide any information to them. As your trusted banking partner, Isabella Bank understands the importance of protecting your personal and account information. We have many layers of security in place to keep our customers’ information safe and protecting that information is paramount to all of us.

Human Voice Replication: 

This is a sophisticated scam where criminals use artificial intelligence to replicate human voices, impersonating family members or trusted individuals to deceive you into revealing sensitive information or sending money. 

Money Mules Fuel Fraud:

What are money mules? Money mules are people who receive and move money obtained by victims of fraud. Some money mules know they’ve been recruited to assist criminal activity, but others become money mules without realizing their activity is benefiting fraudsters.

Keystroke Logging/Virus Attacks: 

Keylogging is a method by which fraudsters record your actual keystrokes and mouse clicks. Keyloggers are "Trojan" software programs that target your computer's operating system (Windows, Mac OS, etc.) and are "installed" via a virus. These can be particularly dangerous because the fraudster has captured your user ID and password and anything else you have typed while online. If you are like most other users and have the same ID and PIN/Password for many different online accounts, you have essentially granted the fraudster access to any company with whom you conduct business. 

Phishing:

Phishing is a scam where fraudsters request personal information from users. While requests are most commonly in the form of an email from an organization you may or may not do business with, they could also be from a phone call, text message or letter. The request is made to look exactly like it came from the organization, complete with company logos and other convincing information. The request usually states that the company needs you to update your personal information or that your account is about to become inactive or frozen, all in an effort to get you to supply your information. Please remember no reputable business will ever contact you in these ways requesting that you update your personal information, including account numbers, system passwords or Social Security Numbers. 

Scammers Can Attack from Many Different Angles

Visit the American Bankers Association’s Banks Never Ask That website to learn more about the communication methods scammers use.
Learn More
senior man on a phone call reading his credit card looking confused

Phone Calls

Scammers may try to impersonate the bank over the phone. Don't give any information out unless you made the call yourself.
woman looking at her phone at a suspicous message

Text Messages

Keep info safe by not responding & deleting suspicious text messages.
man viewing his computer laptop screen suspiciously

Email

Most Phishing attempts are done via email, the most frequently used tool. Don't click on any links. Verify before you trust.
man looking at his phone concerned about something he just read

Mobile Payment Apps

Be cautious if you receive a request for money from a stranger. This can happen in apps like Venmo, CashApp, etc.
senior man on a phone call reading his credit card looking confused

Phone Calls

Scammers may try to impersonate the bank over the phone. Don't give any information out unless you made the call yourself.
woman looking at her phone at a suspicous message

Text Messages

Keep info safe by not responding & deleting suspicious text messages.
man viewing his computer laptop screen suspiciously

Email

Most Phishing attempts are done via email, the most frequently used tool. Don't click on any links. Verify before you trust.
man looking at his phone concerned about something he just read

Mobile Payment Apps

Be cautious if you receive a request for money from a stranger. This can happen in apps like Venmo, CashApp, etc.
Learn More
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Learn About Our Contact Policy

Isabella Bank's Contact Policy

We will never contact you and ask for personal information. Please contact us directly before providing information to anyone who contacts you on an unsolicited basis. 
Contact Us

Recent Articles 

How to Protect Yourself from Voter Registration Scammers

Woman smiling holding toddler son wearing "I Voted" stickers inside of election site.

In an election year, scams and misinformation about voter registration increase. Voter registration fraud happens when scammers pretend to be election officials or campaign workers to trick you into giving them your personal information. This can lead to identity theft and financial disaster. It’s important to vote but be cautious if someone offers to help you register or join a campaign. Let’s look at how voter registration fraud works and how you can protect yourself.

What Is a Voter Registration Scam?

In this scam, fraudsters take advantage of people wanting to vote and support candidates. Scammers pretend to be helping with voter registration or campaign support. They use social media, emails, phone calls, or even visit you in person. These scammers ask for personal details like your full name, address, Social Security number, and other sensitive information. They then use this information to steal your identity and commit financial fraud, which can cause serious problems for the victims.

Example of the Scam

Izzy receives a phone call from someone claiming to be from a nonprofit organization helping people register to vote. The caller asks for her full name, address, and Social Security number to complete the registration process. Trusting the caller, Izzy provides the information. Later, she discovers unauthorized charges on her credit card and realizes her identity has been stolen.

Tips for Protecting Yourself

  • Verify the source. Be cautious of unsolicited offers to help with campaign support. To verify legitimacy, go to the Federal Election Commission’s website at fec.gov/data and search to see if a political action committee (PAC) is registered. 
  • Use official channels. You can register to vote through the official vote.gov website. Don’t trust links to website addresses provided in unsolicited emails or texts.
  • Guard your personal information. Never share your Social Security number, financial details, or other sensitive information with someone you do not know or trust. Official voter registration does not require such detailed personal information.
  • Report suspicious activity. If you encounter a potential scammer, report them to local election officials or law enforcement authorities. You can also contact the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov for more information.
  • Stay informed. Educate yourself about common voter registration scams and stay vigilant during election seasons. You can find reliable information on official government websites and trusted news sources.

If You've Been Scammed

  • Contact us. If your account information has been compromised or you believe you’ve mistakenly paid a scammer, let us know. 
  • Report the scam to the FTC. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your local law enforcement agency. 
  • Report the scam to your state attorney general. You can find their contact information at naag.org.
  • Monitor your credit. Carefully review your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) for any suspicious activity. Consider enrolling in a credit monitoring service (offered by credit bureaus or third-party providers) to get alerts about changes to your credit report. You can also place a fraud alert or credit freeze on your accounts to make it more difficult for scammers to open new accounts in your name.
  • Change passwords. Change your passwords for all online accounts, especially those related to your finances or personal information. Create strong passwords that are at least 12 characters long, include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid using easily guessed information like your name or birthdate. Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) whenever possible for added security.

Reach Out

Contact us to learn more about safeguarding your financial information and securing your accounts. Our team is always here to help. 

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