Below find reported scams in our community and beyond...
- KNOWN SPOOFED WEBSITE: themiltonbank.com
We have identified that an overseas company has taken over the website domain (address) that Milton Banking previously used. Know that site is NOT owned or operated by Ohio Valley Bank or the former Milton Bank. The address is themiltonbank.com. For your protection, DO NOT VISIT THIS SITE!!
- LOAN TEXT SCAM:
This scheme arrives via text message to your phone. The text states that details of your recent loan request are ready to review. A link is attached that will take you to a phishing site and will try to collect your personal data.
- CARD BLOCKED TELEPHONE SCAM:
Person receives an automated phone call in which they are told that their debit or credit card has been blocked or that there is a problem with the card. The listener is then directed to press 1 for more information. The caller proceeds to try to illicit account numbers and private information from the listener.
- LIFE ALERT/MEDI-ALERT TELEPHONE SCAM:
Persons have reported answering their phones only to receive what is essentially a recorded message urging them to sign up for Medi-Alert or Life Alert. Those reporting the message say that they have received multiple calls of this nature and note that the originating number appearing on their caller ID is masked by the scammers to be Ohio Valley Bank or another bank or credit union. Ohio Valley Bank does not endorse or sell medical alert services.
- UTILITY TELEPHONE SCAM:
A person identifies him/herself as a representative from American Electric Power or another utility. The scammer tells the resident that their check payments went through the bank, but the utility did not receive the money. The scammer then goes on to say that the resident must pay over the phone or their electric will be shut off. This kind of intimidation tactic is often used with telephone scams. Furthermore, the scammer says that payment must be made with a prepaid cash card over the phone. This should be a red flag. Companies typically do not require payments to be made only by a prepaid card.
- LOTTERY & SWEEPSTAKES SCAM:
The potential victim is sent a notification that they have won money. However, to obtain the supposed winnings the "winner" is told that he/she must pay taxes up front or some other fictitious fee. Sometimes the scammer does not require money up front, but asks for the winner's account number, supposedly to deposit the winnings, but actually to steal funds from the account.
- FOREGIN CITIZEN NEEDS HELP SCAM:
The email is supposedly from a citizen of another country. He/She writes that they need your help to gain access to their funds that they cannot touch because of the country's regulations. He/She offers to greatly compensate you for your help. All they need is your account number, supposedly to transfer the funds, but actually to steal funds.
- ONLINE AUCTION SCAM:
In this scam, the victim is the seller. The buyer sends a cashier's check to the seller for an amount larger than the purchase price. The buyer asks that the difference is sent back to him/her and usually tells the seller that they can keep a little extra for the trouble. Even though it is a cashier's check, that does not mean it is safe. This check is later found to be counterfeit and the seller is out the money they sent back to the buyer. - COMPUTER TECH SCAM:
By pretending to be a computer technician, the scammer obtains access to (or gets the victim to) install software on the victim's computer that logs key strokes or scrape s images of the victim's login credentials for financial institutions. This allows the fraudster to gain access to accounts, whereby they transfer monies to other accounts that they control.