Skip to Main Content
Online Access

Online Access

BankSouth offers immediate and easy access to your mobile and online banking. You can also apply for and review your ReadyLoan mortgage application.

Learn More

Banking Resources

Banking Resources

Every financial situation is unique. Explore our many resources available to you to make wise decisions when it comes to managing your money.

Be Smart With Money

Mortgage

Mortgage

For over ten years, BankSouth has helped thousands of families finance their homes.  We know how daunting this may be, but we take the worry and hassle out of the process.

Learn MoreStart Your Application

Fraud Watch June 2024: Job, Impersonation, and Luxury Online Shopping Scams

Jun 27, 2024 Fraud Prevention , Personal
job offer scams

In today’s digital age, various scams are increasingly targeting unsuspecting individuals of all ages. Job scams exploit job seekers with fake offers to steal personal information or money. Impersonation scams involve fraudsters posing as trusted figures to deceive victims into providing sensitive details. Additionally, luxury online shopping scams lure consumers with enticing deals on high-end products, often resulting in counterfeit goods or lost money. Stay informed to protect yourself from these common threats we cover in this month’s Fraud Watch.

Top 3 Ways to Keep Your Money Safe:

  1. Do not give your login credentials to anyone — including anyone claiming to be from BankSouth.
  2. Don’t share your personal information or account numbers. BankSouth and other financial institutions will never ask for your account number, personal information, or login credentials over the phone or email.
  3. Avoid clicking on any links in any unsolicited emails or text messages. When in doubt, don’t click.

Job Opportunity Scams

This is one of the toughest job markets we have seen in a while. According to a recent survey, 70% of job seekers say their current search is more difficult than their last one. For this reason, job scams are becoming more prevalent. Scammers impersonate real companies or create fake ones then post the jobs online. To protect yourself, be cautious when filling out the application with personal information including your social security number or banking details under the guise of pre-employment checks. Do your research by researching the company, avoid unsolicited job offers, and be extremely vigilant if you receive any requests for money or personal information.

Impersonation Scams

Impersonation scams involve fraudsters posing as trusted well-known people or companies to deceive their victims into providing sensitive information or money. They may tell you they are anyone from government officials, tech support representatives, or even family members that are in need of money right away — with the help of deepfake AI software, voices can now be matched to that of your friends and loved ones. Scammers use a variety of communication methods from phone calls, emails, text messages, to direct messages on social media. The messages are often convincing to cause you to act quickly, leading you to share personal information, send money, or give access to personal accounts. Before you know it, you have given the crooks money or access to your money.

To protect yourself, resist the urge to act immediately and always verify the identity of anyone before sharing any kind of sensitive information or sending money to them.

Luxury Online Shopping Scams

Seeing luxury items such as handbags, home décor, and fragrances marked down significantly can be tempting. Scammers are very good at creating sophisticated websites, social media accounts, and other online stores that mimic actual luxury brand e-commerce experiences designed to deceive shoppers to purchase fake or non-existent products.

How do you know if a site is fake? The biggest red flag that a site is a scam is as you’re checking out, it asks you to pay via money order, pre-loaded money card, or even a wire transfer. Once you send the money, it’s very unlikely you will see your money again or receive your items.

Stay Protected From Scams

We see fraud attempts almost every day. While we do our best to keep every customer protected, there are ways you can prevent fraud from happening to you.

Stay one step ahead and bookmark our help article on avoiding and reporting scams. We update this article regularly to keep you in the know of the latest scams.

  • Recently reported scams
  • Tips to avoid scams
  • How to report a scam
  • What we WILL and WILL NOT ask for to verify your identity

More tips to avoid fraud can be found here.


Source of this month’s scam information:

Job scams:
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/16/finding-a-job-is-getting-harder-even-in-a-strong-labor-market-heres-why.html

Impersonation scams:
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-warns-against-scams-targeting-seniors-joins-other-federal-agencies-to-recognize-special-awareness-day

Luxury online shopping scams:
https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Scams-and-Fraud/Online-Shopping-Scams

Recent Posts

View our latest news and get the latest industry updates on our blog.

How Our Programs and Products Empower the Next Generation At BankSouth, we believe in equipping young people with the tools they need to build a secure financial future. From innovative banking tools to financial education programs that resonate with kids,...
United Way of the CRRA Donation 2024 – Alan and Riley Rabun, Debra Taylor and Sharon Simons of BankSouth Mortgage and Jim Strickland and Kenny Dray of BankSouth presented team members at United Way of CSRA with a check for $18,050 to support relief efforts in the Augusta region due to Hurricane Helene.
GREENSBORO, GA – The devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Helene has impacted families and communities across Georgia, leaving many in urgent need of support. In response, the BankSouth Foundation launched a matching donation program for BankSouth and BankSouth...
After a natural disaster, the primary concern is often rebuilding and getting life back to normal. Unfortunately, scammers often exploit these vulnerable times, targeting people when they are most in need of help. This guide will help you recognize common...