Keep your account safe and your identity secure. If you are a victim of Identity Theft here are some tips:
- Report stolen identity to credit bureaus
- Ask for them to send a free credit report
- Ask for names and phone numbers for any credit grantors that are fraudulent
- If card has been used, get new cards
- Notify your financial institution
- Close existing account(s) and open a new account
https://consumer.ftc.gov/identity-theft-and-online-security
What do I do if I receive a suspicious phone call claiming to be from ChoiceOne Bank?
We will never call you to request your social security number, login information, account number, or an activation code. If you receive an unexpected phone call that appears to be from ChoiceOne Bank seeking personal information, follow these steps:
- Be suspicious
- Hang up
- Call customer service 888.775.6687
What do I do if I receive suspicious email claiming to be from ChoiceOne Bank?
We will never email you to request your social security number, login information, account number, or an activation code. If you inadvertently provided personal information and feel your account may be in jeopardy, please contact customer service 888.775.6687.
Although fraudsters use various tactics in their attempts to deceive, there are common elements you can look for:
- Awkward greeting or salutation
- Typos
- Incorrect grammar
- Strange or unfamiliar links
- Compelling or urgent language
- Misspelled company name
What are financial scams I should be aware of?
Advanced Fee Scams – based on the concept that the victim is promised a benefit (prize, lottery winnings, inheritance) but must pay in advance for some fee before the victim can receive that benefit. Variations of this scheme include business opportunity/work, credit card interest reduction, work from home online scams and romance schemes.
Bank and Financial Account Scams – involve tricking individuals into providing their debit card, credit card or financial account information so that scammers gain unauthorized access to those account and siphon off funds. Some of these techniques include:
- Phishing – use of email and websites that pretend to be legitimate banks, financial institutions, credit card companies and manipulate the victim into disclosing personal and financial data.
- Vishing – telephone equivalent of phishing; fraudsters call prospective victims and pretend to be the victim’s bank to trick them into disclosing details during the call.
- SMiShing – texting equivalent to phishing.
Types of Scams:
IRS Scams: Scammers call potential victims demanding cash payments for unpaid taxes via prepaid debit cards, money orders, Western Union/Money-gram or wire through their bank. According to the IRS, the agency will first contact taxpayers by mail, not by phone, concerning taxes owed and it will never as for payments using a prepaid debit card, money order or wire transfer.
Online Dating Scams: Scammers troll media sites in search of romantic victims-usually claiming to be Americans traveling or working abroad. Here is how the scam works. You are contacted online by someone who appears interested in you. They may have a profile and email you pictures. For weeks, even months you may chat back and forth forming a connection. You may even be sent flowers or other gifts. Ultimately, your new “friend” will request money. There will be repeated hardships that only you can help alleviate. You may also be sent checks to cash or forward a package. In addition to losing your money, you may have unintentionally taken part in a money laundering scheme by cashing phony checks and sending the money overseas and by shipping stolen merchandise.
Grandparent Scam: A grandparent receives a call from a “grandchild”, typically late at night or early in the morning. The caller claims to be traveling out of the country and is in a bad situation (arrested for drugs, car accident, mugged) and needs money wired ASAP. The caller does not want his or her parents called. A variation is the caller claims to be an arresting police officer, lawyer or doctor and requesting money.
Online Shopping Scams: These can take many forms. Some scammers will pose as genuine sellers and post fake ads at much lower prices. After you pay, the items never arrive. Other scammers will pose as buyers and send a check for more than the required payment and ask for a refund. You send the refund, and the check comes back as fraudulent. You are out the item and the amount of the refund.
Debit Cards
- To report a lost or stolen card during business hours, please contact our Customer Service Center at 616.887.7366 or toll-free at 888.775.6687.
- To report a lost or stolen card after business hours, please call 800.472.3272.
- To activate a new card or change the PIN on an existing card, call 800.992.3808.
- If you report a lost or stolen card after hours, please also contact ChoiceOne Bank at 616.887.7366 or toll-free at 888.775.6687 during business hours so we can take additional security and operational steps. Your safety and security are our top priority.