New: A Statement on Fraud from Our Chairman & CEO
Read Michael Scaief’s perspective on today’s fraud environment and why fraud prevention has become a shared responsibility for every individual, family, and business.
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A customer receives a text message claiming their account has been locked.
The message warns that immediate action is required to restore access. A link is provided, and the customer is encouraged to respond right away.
The situation feels urgent, and that’s exactly the point.
Fraudsters understand that people make different decisions when they feel pressure. The more urgent a request feels, the less likely someone is to stop, ask questions, or verify what is happening.
That’s why urgency remains one of the most common tools used in fraud schemes.
Many fraud schemes are designed to create pressure before there is time to think.
The objective is often the same: create pressure before there is time to verify the request.
The more pressure someone applies, the more important it becomes to slow down and confirm what is happening.
Be cautious when a request includes:
Urgency alone does not mean something is fraudulent, but it should be a signal to slow down before proceeding.
One of the simplest ways to reduce fraud risk is to create a pause between receiving a request and taking action.
Before responding, ask:
A few extra minutes spent verifying a request can help prevent a much larger problem later.
Urgency is one of the most common tools fraudsters use.
When a request involves money, sensitive information, or immediate action, pause before proceeding. The more pressure someone applies, the more important it becomes to verify what is happening.
