The Grandparent Scam

A fraudster calls pretending to be a family member, often a child or grandchild, claiming to be in trouble and needing money immediately. They may already know some basic personal details about you and they'll often say they're stranded, in jail, or facing a medical emergency. They'll beg, ask you to keep it secret, and pressure you to wire money, send cryptocurrency, or buy gift cards.

If you send money this way, you likely won't get it back.

Sweepstakes, Lottery, and Charity Scams

Scammers claim you've won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes. The catch? You have to pay a "fee" to collect. Or they impersonate charitable organizations to win your trust before requesting donations.

Red flags to watch for:

• You don't remember entering anything
• A fee is required to receive your "winnings"
• Pressure to act fast and keep it confidential
• Poor grammar, spelling errors, awkward phrasing
• Sender email doesn't match the company they claim to represent
• The sender is based overseas

Government Impersonation Scams

Criminals pose as IRS agents, Social Security Administration officials, or other government employees and threaten arrest, deportation, or benefit suspension unless you pay immediately.

Remember:

• The IRS will always contact you by mail before calling about unpaid taxes
• The IRS will never threaten arrest for an unpaid bill
• The Social Security Administration will never threaten benefit suspension or demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or prepaid debit card
• Caller ID can be spoofed, so don't trust a call just because it shows "IRS" or "SSA"

Phishing Emails and Texts

Phishing attempts use fake emails or text messages designed to look like legitimate communication from your bank, retailer, or government agency. They lure you to fraudulent websites or forms to capture usernames, passwords, account numbers, and credit card information.

How to spot a phishing email:

• The sender address doesn't match the company, such as a Gmail address claiming to be from a bank
• Poor grammar, misspelled words, or unusual phrasing
• Names or titles that don't match real company personnel
• Urgent requests to "verify" or "update" your account information
• Links that don't go where they claim

Phone Spoofing

Phone spoofing is when scammers alter their Caller ID to disguise their real number, making calls appear to come from a local area code, a trusted business, or a government agency. 

Fraudsters may pretend to be an employee of the bank or a government agency. They are known to fake a caller ID number, voice recording or even the template of an email.

Beware of unsolicited callers requesting online banking credentials, pin numbers, usernames, passwords, access codes or even asking you for permission to access your computer. Always exercise caution and be aware that BCB Community bank will never ask you for this information.

Zelle and Payment App Scams

Zelle and similar payment apps move money instantly between bank accounts. Once a payment is sent, it is extremely difficult, and often impossible, to recover - which is exactly why scammers target these platforms. Zelle is designed for sending money to people you personally know and trust, not for purchases or payments to strangers.

The most common Zelle scams:

• "Move your money to a safe account." A caller, text, or email claiming to be from your bank's fraud department says your account has been compromised and instructs you to send money to yourself or a "secure" account via Zelle. The destination actually belongs to the scammer.
• Fake payment notifications and overpayment refunds. A scammer sends a fake notification showing you received money in error and asks you to refund the "extra" amount via Zelle. The original payment never actually happened.
• Marketplace and listing scams. A seller on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or another platform demands payment via Zelle for an item, rental, ticket, or deposit, then disappears once the money is sent.
• Fake utility or past-due bill scams. You receive a call or message claiming your utility, subscription, or service is about to be shut off and you must pay immediately via Zelle to avoid penalties.
• Account takeover via verification codes. A scammer poses as your bank and asks you to read back a verification code "to confirm your identity." Sharing that code can give them full access to your online banking and Zelle.

Red flags to watch for:

• Anyone claiming to be from your bank asking you to send money via Zelle
• Pressure to act immediately to "secure" or "verify" your account
• Requests for one-time passcodes or verification codes over the phone
• Sellers, landlords, or strangers insisting on Zelle as the only payment method
• Refund requests for payments you don't recognize receiving

Other Common Scams to Know

• Home Repair Scams: Criminals appear in person and charge for home improvement services they never deliver.
• Family or Caregiver Scams: Relatives or acquaintances exploit older adults for financial gain.
• Romance Scams: Fraudsters use fake online identities to build trust over time, then manipulate or steal from victims. Warning signs include attempts to isolate you from friends and family, requests for inappropriate photos or financial information, and repeated excuses for why they can't meet in person.
• ATM Skimming: Devices placed over real card readers or keypads capture your information. Signs include loose, crooked, or unusual-looking card readers and keypads, or hardware that appears to have been tampered with.

What BCB Will Never Do

Knowing how BCB actually communicates with you makes it easier to spot impostors.

• We will never call, email, or text asking you to update your account information.
• We will never ask for your Online Banking password or Security Access Code.
• We will never request personal or financial information over the phone.

If you receive a request like this claiming to be from BCB, treat it as fraud.

Verify before you trust.

• If a caller claims to be from your bank, the IRS, Social Security, or any other institution, hang up and call back using a number from your statement, card, or the organization's official website.
• For tax questions, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040.
• For Social Security questions, call the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213.
• Confirm any caller claiming to be a relative by reaching them on a known number or checking with another trusted family member.
• Search online for the contact information and offer. Others have likely posted warnings about active scams.

Don't let urgency drive your decisions.

• Scammers create panic intentionally. Slow down. It's not rude to say no, ask questions, or hang up.
• Never rush into a financial decision. If something feels off, it usually is.

Guard your personal information.

• Never give personal or account information over the phone unless you initiated the call to a number you trust.
• Be cautious of unsolicited calls, mailings, emails, and door-to-door offers.
• Never send money, gift cards, gold, jewelry, wire transfers, or personal information to unverified people or businesses.
• Never send money to someone you've only communicated with online or by phone.

Use Zelle and payment apps only with people you trust.

• Send money via Zelle only to people you personally know. The platform is not designed for purchases from strangers and offers no purchase protection.
• Never use Zelle to "move money to a safe account" at the direction of someone claiming to be from your bank. No legitimate bank will ask you to do this.
• Never share a one-time verification code with anyone, even if they say they're calling from your bank.
• Double-check the recipient's email or phone number before sending. Once a payment is sent, it is extremely difficult to recover.

Inspect ATMs before you use them.

• If a card reader, keypad, or any other part of the machine looks loose, crooked, or tampered with, don't use it. Use a different ATM and report the suspicious machine to the bank.

Secure your devices and connections.

• Keep antivirus software, firewalls, and malware protection up to date.
• Enable pop-up blockers. If you see a pop-up or locked screen, disconnect from the internet and shut down the device.
• Never open email attachments from unknown senders, and be cautious of forwarded attachments.
• Look for https:// and the padlock icon when entering information on a website.

If you think you've already been scammed.

• Contact your bank immediately to place protections on your accounts.
• Monitor your accounts and personal information for suspicious activity.

Make Vigilance a Routine

• Review your account statements and transaction history regularly for unfamiliar activity.
• Sign up for account alerts so you're notified of activity in real time.
• Keep contact information for your bank, credit card companies, and other financial institutions saved in a place you can find quickly.
• Stay informed about emerging scams. Tactics evolve constantly, and what's common today may look different next year.

Build a Habit of Independent Verification

• Treat any unsolicited contact — call, text, email, in person — with skepticism by default, even if it looks legitimate.
• Bookmark the official websites and customer service numbers for institutions you do business with so you always have a trusted way to reach them.
• If something doesn't feel right, it's worth a second look. Asking questions is always reasonable.

If You Suspect Fraud, Report It

Reporting general fraud, including attempted fraud, helps protect you and others. Here's what to do next:

If you suspect you've come in contact with potential fraud, please contact our call center as soon as possible. Please take note of our operating hours to ensure you're reaching out to us at a time when an associate will be available to assist you.

BCB Call Center Phone Number: 1-800-680-6872 

BCB Call Center Hours:

Monday-Friday: 8AM-6PM

Saturday: 9AM-1PM

Sunday: Closed

Reminder About Reporting Debit Card/ATM Fraud 

• Federal Trade Commission: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov
• IRS phishing reports: phishing@irs.gov