Search
Search

Fraud

Fraud

Fraud is constantly evolving,

so be on guard for anything that seems suspicious.

Since money sent to crooks is often gone forever, STOP, THINK, and GET ADVICE first from your state or local protection agency.

Debit Card Fraud

Recently, there has been a dramatic increase in fraudulent transactions involving debit cards nationwide. Learn what you can do to prevent Debit Card Fraud.

The "Heartbleed" Bug

Queensborough's website and online banking systems have not been impacted by the "Heartbleed" bug or "Open SSL" technology security vulnerabilities. The bank follows the strictest security guidelines and has extensive procedures in place to combat fraud.

Fake Check Scams

An official-looking envelope arrives in the mail with a check or money order for $20,000 inside. The letter says you have won $4 million in a sweepstakes or lottery. You just need to wire $3,000 for taxes to claim the rest of your winnings. Is this your lucky day?
NO! It is a fake check scam that will cost you thousands.

No matter the story, fake check scams always involve someone giving you a genuine-looking check or money order and asking you to wire money somewhere in return. After you deposit or cash the check or money order and send the money, you learn that it was phony.

Now the crook has the money and you owe it back to your bank.

Your bank confirms that the check or money order is legitimate before letting you have the money, right?

Wrong. Federal law allows you to get the cash quickly, usually within 1-2 days. But your bank cannot tell if there is a problem with a check or money order until it goes through the system to the person or company that supposedly issued it. This can take weeks. you are responsible because you are in the best position to know if the person who gave you the check or money order is trustworthy.

How can you protect yourself?

There is no legitimate reason why anyone would give you a check or money order and ask you to send money anywhere in return. If that is the deal, it is a scam. Phony sweepstakes, lotteries and grants, work-at-home schemes, foreign business deals and other scams are not new and do not always involve fake checks - sometimes the crooks simply ask you to send money. But using realistic-looking checks or money orders makes their stories more convincing.

Where can you learn more?

Consumer Federation of America
www.consumerfed.org/fakecheckscams

National Consumers League
www.fraud.org

Federal Trade Commission
www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm
1-877-382-4357
U.S. Postal Inspection Service

www.deliveringtrust.com
1-877-876-2455 (select option 4 for mail fraud)

Logged in as . Login