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Customer Security and Online Theft

There is frequent news about various attempts at online theft, from emails and phone calls trying to trick you into releasing personal information or user names and passwords, to viruses (malware) that capture keystrokes.

Email attachments and fraudulent websites can download viruses, so be cautious about the email you open and the sites you visit. Please note that Heartland Bank will not ask for user names or passwords, so be especially cautious if you receive such a request.

To protect your privacy and your financial information, it is important that you always download the latest browser versions and install – and update - antivirus software on your personal and business computers. Older browser versions can’t protect against new intrusions, nor can outdated antivirus software or no virus protection at all.

While there are layers of protection in place on the bank’s end, including firewalls and data encryption, banks cannot fully protect the account if a hacker has fraudulently obtained your username and password. Heartland Bank’s systems are completely secure and tested rigorously on a regular basis against intrusion. As a result, our systems have never been hacked.

What you can do: keep your browsers and antivirus software up-to-date and check your accounts online on a daily basis.

Fraudulent Work-at-Home Funds Transfer Agent Schemes

October 29, 2009 – The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is warning of an increase in schemes to recruit individuals to receive and transmit unauthorized electronic funds transfers (EFTs) from deposit accounts to individuals overseas.

These funds transfer agents, often referred to as "money mules," are typically solicited on the Internet by criminals who have gained unauthorized access to the online deposit account of a business or consumer. In a typical scenario, the criminal will originate unauthorized EFTs from a victim's account to a money mule's deposit account. The money mule is then instructed to quickly withdraw the funds and wire them overseas after deducting a "commission" (commonly eight to ten percent).

The money mule may be an unknowing accomplice in a fraud scheme.

Money mule schemes can take many different forms, but most involve receiving unauthorized EFTs into a deposit account and then withdrawing the funds or forwarding them on to another party via another EFT. The following are common scenarios:

Online job posting Web sites are used by criminals to locate individuals seeking employment with flexible work hours that can be performed from home. These work-at-home schemes often involve written employment contracts, job descriptions and procedures to legitimize the scam.
Advance fee scams promising large monetary rewards for acting as a financial intermediary can entice individuals to participate in this activity.
Mystery shopping jobs may be used that require the employee to assess the performance of money service businesses by completing EFTs and then evaluating the service using customer satisfaction forms.
Social networking sites may be used to recruit individuals to act as money mules. Criminals conjure up various imaginative stories to befriend and persuade individuals to receive and forward stolen funds.
Some hesitant or skeptical money mules have been intimidated, harassed and threatened by their criminal "employers" to process the funds transfers quickly and with secrecy.
The personal identifiable information provided by the money mule might later be used to commit identity theft or account takeover.

Information, alerts, and advice for consumers can be found on the FDIC website at www.fdic.gov.

Notice of Fraudulent Phone Calls to Obtain Bank Account Information

April 10, 2009 – We have been notified of recent fraudulent phone calls in which customers of Heartland Bank are being asked for banking information. The caller is saying they represent Heartland Bank and is asking for routing and account numbers from the customer’s checking account.

Please know that Heartland Bank would NOT request information in this manner, and you should NEVER provide your personal and/or banking information to any source that contacts you in this manner.

If you have questions, please contact your local branch or call our Customer Care Center at 309-662-4444 or toll free at 888-897-2276.

Notice of Fraudulent Phone Calls by Caller Representing Verification Office

April 10, 2009 – We have been notified of recent fraudulent phone calls in which customers of Heartland Bank are being asked for banking information. The caller is saying they represent The National Verification Office and is asking for banking information and account numbers. Customers are told Heartland Bank will follow up by mailing information to the customer.

Notice of Fraudulent Phone Calls

March 23, 2009 – We have been notified of recent fraudulent phone calls in which customers and non-customers of Heartland Bank are being asked for banking information. The caller is saying a deposit discrepancy was found and individuals are being asked for the amount of their last deposit.

Phishing Alert

February 26, 2009 – We have been notified of a recent scam in which customers and non-customers of Heartland Bank are being sent an e-mail. The e-mail message is asking them to update their personal information via a link that will take the user to a site that is not Heartland Bank's site.

Please know that Heartland Bank will NEVER send an e-mail to you asking for your personal information. If you receive an e-mail asking you to provide personal and/or sensitive information, do not click on any link and do not send information. Even if the e-mail appears genuine - do not continue.

If you have questions, please call our Customer Care Center at 309-662-4444 or toll free at 888-897-2276.

SBA Warns of Fraudulent Attempts to Obtain Bank Account Information from Small Businesses

February 18, 2009 – The U.S. Small Business Administration issued a scam alert today to small businesses, warning them not to respond to letters falsely claiming to have been sent by the SBA asking for bank account information in order to qualify them for federal tax rebates.

The fraudulent letters were sent out with what appears to be an SBA letterhead to small businesses across the country, advising recipients that they may be eligible for a tax rebate under the Economic Stimulus Act, and that SBA is assessing their eligibility for such a rebate. The letter asks the small business to provide the name of its bank and account number.

These letters have NOT been sent by or authorized by the SBA, and all small businesses are strongly advised not to respond to them.

The scheme is similar in many ways to e-mail scams often referred to as “phishing” that seek personal data and financial account information that enables another party to access and individual’s bank accounts or to engage in identity theft.

The SBA is working with the SBA Office of Inspector General to investigate this matter. The Office of Inspector General asks that anyone who receives such a letter report it to the OIG Fraud Line at 800-767-0385, or e-mail at OIGHotline@sba.gov.

New Phone Scams Hit Alabama and Virginia

October 14, 2008 – Heartland Bank has been made aware of a vishing (voice phishing) scam currently affecting credit union customers in Alabama and Virginia. Phones calls are being made using a random dialer and the recording states the call is being made by a local bank notifying the cardholder their card has been deactivated and they will need to input the card information in order to have it reactivated. The fraudsters do not know if the household they are calling is a customer of the bank targeted, they are counting on the volume of calls being placed to produce the desired results. They assume the odds are that they will contact some customers of the specified bank and of those customers some will enter their card information. Information at financial institutions has not been compromised and this is not a data theft. This is an attempt to contact people directly and prompt them to give their personal information.

While Heartland Bank is not currently affected by this scam, we would like to take this opportunity to remind our customers that we will NEVER contact them by phone or e-mail to request personal information such as your Social Security Number, account number, or credit card number.

Special Agent Harry Trombitas of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said people receiving the messages should report the information directly to the FBI at www.ic3.gov for investigation.

Anyone who provided their personal information to the fraudsters should go immediately to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website at www.ftc.gov/idtheft and follow the steps provided to minimize their losses and protect their credit.