Phishing

Phishing is the most common way for scammers to get a hold of your personal information and try to take over your accounts. Here’s how it works. You may receive a random text or email that claims to be from USPS, UPS, or even a message that seems to be from our bank. The message will often create some sense of urgency: a package can’t be delivered, your account is going to be frozen, etc. The message will ask you to click on the link to sign into your account/input your debit card/credit card information or provide some other personal information.The login or landing page may look very real. Often you may notice that there are typos or errors in grammar. The scammer will have installed software on the site that captures any info you type in and they can use that information to login to your real account pretending to be you and commit fraud. They might use your debit card/credit card to purchase items, or they may log into your bank account to transfer money out. They will also use the information to create synthetic ids and open fraudulent online bank accounts.The best way to avoid this is not to click on emails or texts that contain links to your accounts unless you are absolutely certain they came from who they say they came from. (For example, you know that you just selected the “change my password” button which prompted the company to send a link to your registered email address. If you receive an unexpected email asking you to click on a link to log in, it’s best to simply delete it. If you think it might be a legitimate email or call, double check by calling back the vendor or the bank and ask them if there’s something they need you to do. You can also go directly to a company’s website and login there. By logging in at the same website or app you always use to log in, you can feel reasonably certain that you’ve logged into your real account. Remember, Ponce Bank will NEVER ask you to share personal information through email, text or phone. Here at Ponce your safety is priority one and we want to make sure ALL of our customers and community members are Keepin’ Safe.

Pet Scams

If you’relooking for a new pet, you may be tempted to find your new furry friend online.Beware that some sellers are creating fake listings on Facebook Marketplace,Craigslist, even super-legit looking websites, in order to tug on yourheartstrings and steal your money. That cute looking puppy picture may be fake.Watch out for sellers who will only take payment via Crypto, Zelle or Cashappand who ask for payment in advance prior to “shipping” your pet. Other redflags include, asking for gift cards for payment, sellers seeking wiretrasfers such as Western Union or Money Gram, and sellers who ask you to senda wire after only sharing a few pictures of the pet.Thesescammers don’t stop once you’ve paid them for the pet and the shipping. Onceyou’re hooked, they may call and ask you to cover extra fees such as insurance,aspecial crate for shipping, vaccination shots, etc. They’ll keep this upuntil you finally realize that you’re being scammed and are never going to getto smell that puppy breath you were so looking forward to.Try to do abackground search on any pet seller or website. Negative reviews, or no reviewsat all could be a red flag. The American Kennel Club is a good resource tosearch the legitimacy of a site selling dogs. And remember, a local animalshelter is always a great option for finding a loving pet that will be thrilledto find ahappy new home. You’ll be able to cuddle before you commit!Here at PonceBank your safety is priority one and we want to make sure ALL of our customersand community members are Keepin’ Safe.

If you’re looking for a new pet, you may be tempted to find your new furry friend online.Beware that some sellers are creating fake listings on Facebook Marketplace,Craigslist, even super-legit looking websites, in order to tug on your heartstrings and steal your money. That cute looking puppy picture may be fake.Watch out for sellers who will only take payment via Crypto, Zelle or Cash app and who ask for payment in advance prior to “shipping” your pet. Other red flags include, asking for gift cards for payment, sellers seeking wire transfers such as Western Union or Money Gram, and sellers who ask you to send a wire after only sharing a few pictures of the pet. These scammers don’t stop once you’ve paid them for the pet and the shipping. Once you’re hooked, they may call and ask you to cover extra fees such as insurance, a special crate for shipping, vaccination shots, etc. They’ll keep this up until you finally realize that you’re being scammed and are never going to get to smell that puppy breath you were so looking forward to.Try to do a background search on any pet seller or website. Negative reviews, or no reviews at all could be a red flag. The American Kennel Club is a good resource to search the legitimacy of a site selling dogs. And remember, a local animal shelter is always a great option for finding a loving pet that will be thrilled to find a happy new home. You’ll be able to cuddle before you commit!Here at PonceBank your safety is priority one and we want to make sure ALL of our customers and community members are Keepin’ Safe.

Card Cracking

Card cracking is a financial scam that targets people using social media platforms. Scammers use tempting messages offering quick and easy ways to make money. Unfortunately, in addition to being a victim of the scam, you can unintentionally become an accomplice. The story these scams use may differ, but usually involves promising the victim a share of the money in return for their help. The scammer then deposits counterfeit or forged check sat ATMs, branches, or through mobile transactions and immediately withdraws the funds. The check will come back as “fraudulent” and the victim is left with the responsibility of owing the bank and face possible criminal charges To avoid falling prey to card cracking scams, here are some helpful tips: 1. Limit your online communication to people you know and trust.Avoid responding to anyone you don’t know who offers you a way to make money.Remember, there’s not such thing as a free-lunch and if an offer sounds to good to be true it probably is! 2. Do not respond to online solicitations for "easy money." While card-cracking advertisements may suggest that making quick cash is safe and legal, it's important to remember that “easy money” is rarely legitimate. 3. Always keep your account and PIN private. Sharing this information with others can put you at risk of fraud. 4. It's essential to tell the truth when reporting fraud claims to your bank. Filing a false claim makes you an accomplice to fraud, and banks have advanced detection techniques to investigate any suspicious claims. 5. If you encounter suspicious posts or ads that seem linked to a scam, report them to the social media site. You can find a drop-down menu near the post to report it quickly. Remember, Ponce Bank will NEVER ask you to share personal information through email, text or phone. Here at Ponce, your safety is a priority, and we want to make sure ALL of our customers and community members are Keepin' Safe.

We want to help you avoid scams.

Phishing

Pet Scams