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Security News

Monticello Banking Company not only strives to bring you the best in products and services, we are also dedicated to providing you with the greatest level of security and fraud prevention possible. That is why we provide this "Security News & Fraud Prevention" page on our website. You can now stay up-to-date on security news by reading the segments below and you can even view information on various fraud prevention topics by viewing our Fraud Prevention page.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For your convenience, a list of current mbc Debit Card blocks is now available for your review. If you have any questions, please contact your local office. 


The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns calls regarding missed jury iuty in which the caller asks for sensitive personal information such as your Social Security Number or date of birth, immediate payment over the phone, or payment with gifts cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers, are scam. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and do not respond. If you think the call may be real, hang up and call the court directly at a number you know is correct.
 
 
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), "[o]nly scammers will tell you to buy a gift card, like a Google Play or Apple Card, and give them the numbers off the back of the card."
 
 

Please be advised MBC is aware of scammers calling and emailing customers pretending to be an MBC employee. These scammers state fraud has been attempted on customers’ cards and online banking. They will then attempt to trick the customer into providing their personal confidential information and/or passcodes or text codes in order to reset passwords on the customers' accounts.

Please remember MBC will not ask you to provide confidential information or text codes to us during a call we initiate. If you receive a call or email you are unsure of, call your local office directly to speak with staff. 

Please read the below information regarding a very active and dangerous FB scam happening in messenger right now and share it with your friends and family. Remember, a bank representative would never call, text, or private message you to ask for your sensitive personal or account information, or any type of verification code.

**Do not send anyone on Facebook code that are texted to your phone!**

1. A FB (Instagram) friend will message you asking for your cell # and will tell you they are going to have a code sent to you to help them unlock their account (their account has already been compromised but you don’t know; you’re talking to the scammer not your friend.)

2. You receive this code and send it to the FB friend. You think, "Yay! I helped my friend!"

3. You may receive more codes and send to the FB friend.

4. Suddenly you can’t access your FB account, Instagram, Cash App, etc.

5. The scammer reset the password to your accounts with the information you gave them. You unknowingly gave the scammer the reset codes, and they changed all of your passwords.

6. Suddenly, you check your bank account to find money missing. When the scammer reset your passwords, they gained access to your FB pay.

7. They send money to another friend or family member, and then message them, "Oops! I accidentally sent you money. Can you send it back?"

8. The scammer changes the information on your FB account to receive money and has your money sent back to them and not you!

9. If you have Cash App and they reset that password, the same scenario will take place.

10. There are variations to this scam. Just be safe and don’t share information. The scammers will take over your account, and then use it to victimize someone else in your friends list.

Please protect yourself and save yourself some serious headaches. If you get a message like this don’t give them your cell number or any codes. It’s not your friend. Also remember, historically, fraudsters are extra active on holiday weekends because they know your local bankers are out of the office.
You’ve always been told never to give out your passwords, but did you know you should never share your username either? Sharing usernames and passwords is never a good practice, but it’s especially unwise with your myMBC and mobile banking accounts. Monticello Bank encourages you to use unique usernames and cryptic passwords to help ensure the safe access of your financial information at home or on the go.

Your username and password authenticate your identity, proving that you are you. You are responsible for any activity conducted under your username. If you share your sign-in information, that person now has access to your personal information, including your financial information. Even if someone else is logged in under your account, you are still responsible for what happens including payments made, fraudulent deposits, etc. By keeping your login information private, you’re making sure that your personal and financial information stay private as well.

Not only shouldn’t you share your username and password, make sure you log off when you’re not using your computer or mobile device. If you leave your devices unlocked and unattended, others can see your personal information and inappropriately access your information.

You and only you should know your myMBC username and password. Under no circumstances should you give out this information or allow anyone else to use your account. If you feel you may have mistakenly shared your myMBC username and/or password, login to myMBC immediately to change your username (myMBC ID) and password by choosing the Settings option.
Caller ID lets consumers avoid unwanted phone calls by displaying caller names and phone numbers, but the caller ID feature is sometimes manipulated by spoofers who pretend to be representatives of banks, creditors, insurance companies, or even the government. Often, you will not be able to tell if an incoming call is spoofed just by checking your Caller ID.

These fraudsters can even spoof the number of our Fraud Center. Remember, they will never ask for information, they'll provide the information to you.

Always be careful about responding to any request for personal identifying information. If you feel as if you are the recipient of a spoofing call:
  • Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother's maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious.
  • If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency seeking personal information, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book, or on the company's or government agency's website to verify the authenticity of the request.
  • Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately.
  • If you have a voicemail account with your phone service, be sure to secure it with a password. Some voicemail services are preset to allow access if you call in from your own phone number. A hacker could spoof your home phone number and gain access to your voicemail if you do not set a password.
If you feel your number has been spoofed, you may contact: www.consumercomplaints.fcc.gov
Credit card skimmers are devices affixed to card scanners, most prevalently those on ATMs and pay-at-the-pump gas pumps, designed to copy the data from the magnetic strip on the back of your card, along with your PIN, if you type it in for debit card transactions. The number of card skimming incidences rise every day.

Monticello Bank understands using ATMs and being able to pay by credit or debit card at the gas station are nice conveniences, so we’ve included a few tips to help you avoid having your card skimmed:
  1. Inspect the card reader and the area near the PIN pad.
    If you think the scanning device looks unusual or it doesn't match the machine's color and style, it might be a skimmer. It is unlikely the con-artists are operating more than one skimmer at the same station or bank, so look at the card readers on the gas pumps or ATMs around you. If they are different from the reader you are about to use, it is likely your scanner is equipped with a skimmer. Also check for glue or sticky substances on the card reader, another sign of a skimmer.
  2. Avoid using your PIN at the gas pump.
    Along with ATMs, self-service gas pumps are prime targets for skimmers. When you pay at the pump with your debit card, choose the credit option when running your card. This prevents you from entering your PIN which is what the skimmers need to withdraw cash from your account at ATMs. Note: When using the credit option, you may be asked to enter your ZIP code as verification.
  3. Keep an eye on your accounts.
    If you suspect that your card may have been skimmed, keep an eye on your account balance and report any suspicious activity immediately.
If you find a skimmer, contact the police immediately and take a photo of the device, if possible.

Please feel free to contact Monticello Bank at 606.348.8411 with any questions regarding this or any other scam.
Just ahead of Valentine's Day, learn useful tips on how to spot, avoid, and report Romance Scams with the article "Lucky in Love or Unlucky in a Scam" from EPCOR.