Beware Phone Bank Fraud Scammers
As many of you know, I fell victim to a scam the end of December. I received a call from the individual on a cloned Regions Fraud Alert Line, catching me completely off guard. Below, I share my story.
LisaLifeJourneys - As the saying goes, "Life is a Journey."
First lesson learned, if getting an important phone call while preoccupied, hang up and have them call back or get a number. Do not talk!
I fell victim to impersonation fraud, which started on December 26, 2023. While stopping at a Raceway in Corbin, KY to refuel, I used my Regions Bank Card without entering my PIN, opting instead to select credit. The first pump I attempted didn't work, so I switched to another one, which did. I selected credit again, fueled up, and continued my journey home to my Tiny Home in Lyerly, GA. Phone bank fraud scams involve scammers pretending to be bank call centers or fraud departments. They may use spoofed phone numbers to trick victims into thinking their bank is calling them. The scammers may then ask for personal information to access their victims' online banking accounts. BTW, The imposter call happened on December 29, 2023, three days after the getting gas. I later learned it began at the gas pump on December 26
Here are some tips to avoid bank fraud scams:
Don't rely on caller ID
Don't share private account information
Ignore requests to send a payment or transaction requests you didn't initiate
Don't give information over the phone
If you receive a bank phone call scam, you should hang up immediately and contact your bank. You can also tell your bank on a reliable customer service channel and alert the cybersecurity managers. 7 Ways to Avoid Imposter Scams
VERY IMPORTANT!
Reach out to your local authorities and provide a comprehensive report. This can be accomplished via phone, and within a few days, you can retrieve a written copy from the police or sheriff's department.
File a report with the FTC by completing the online form and keep it updated regularly. Share this report with the credit bureaus and banks involved. You can contact them directly very easily. Below I will add links to the three credit bureaus. You can either attach the report or utilize the ID number of your report for some of these institutions.
These two steps are crucial for the incident to be classified as a "True Crime." Ensure that these actions are taken promptly, but after contacting the banks and Apple Support if you utilize Apple products.
How it happened.
So essentially, the Region’s impersonation fraud led to identity theft. My caller ID said Regions Fraud Alert Line, the caller ID!! The scammer claimed my Apple Wallet had been compromised because of the skimmer incident at the gas station. Unbeknownst to me, he was likely the one who obtained my information from whoever owned the skimmer, as they often sell skimmed information to fraudsters.
He manipulated the scam by cloning the bank's phone number with Regions caller ID. He emphasized the urgency, stating that someone had obtained my information from a skimmer and that my Apple Wallet was compromised. He made me believe it was critical to access my Apple ID immediately to halt any unauthorized activity. Caught up in an online Zoom training, my judgment was clouded. He promised to recover my account and stop the alleged charges in Ft. Worth, Texas. After regaining access to my Apple ID, he assured me that he would prevent the individual he identified as the fraudster from opening an account to make purchases at the Apple store in Ft. Worth. He explained that once we removed my Apple card from my phone, all fraudulent activity would cease. Feeling flustered, scared, and overly trusting of this individual, I divulged my personal information. This marks the moment when someone falls victim to the scam. Later, I will discuss how one can overcome feelings of "shame" and "embarrassment" after being deceived. It wasn't until I interrupted the training to address the supposed security breach that I began to question the situation. Taking a moment to collect myself, I realized something was amiss and took action.
Important actions I took as I realized something was amiss in this conversation with a “fake” Regions banker.
I eliminated the distraction by exiting an online Zoom training session for a company I work with as an independent contractor. I raised my virtual hand, interrupted the training, and excused myself. Understanding, they let me leave the meeting.
Leaving my desk, I moved to my bed, feeling something wasn't right. Doubts about the authenticity of the person I was dealing with grew as I pressed him for verification of his role at Regions and the urgency for immediate action. Upon standing up, I noticed that after disclosing my Apple ID and password, I checked my iPad Pro and found a phone number starting with the area code 561, associated with the West Palm Beach area. When I mentioned it to him, the line went dead.
Realizing the severity of the situation, I promptly contacted Apple. Their advice was to involve the police, as they observed that my Apple ID had been changed to another email. Subsequently, I discovered that obtaining this phone number was crucial evidence for Apple.
Unfortunately, once the Apple ID is changed, Apple cannot internally revert it. It is crucial to note that with the assistance of an Apple Support Lead Specialist, who dedicated three weeks to my case, we managed to recover my Apple ID through my iCloud email address. The fraudster did not have access to it, confirming the ownership of the phone as mine alone. By January 22, 2024, Apple and I successfully regained control of my Apple ID, removing the fraudster's email information in the process. (This issue has since been addressed in a recent update since my fraud attempt to the version of iOS 17.4, requiring a mandatory hour wait before any Apple ID changes can be made.)
Apple updates Stolen Device Protection in iOS 17.4 beta with the option to always require a security delay - 9to5Mac Link to article here
The swift actions I initiated with the banks affected by this fraudulent attempt through my Apple Wallet underscore the importance of acting promptly in such situations. The term "immediate" is paramount here, particularly when faced with suspicion or when someone contacts you claiming to represent a financial institution regarding your account. I cannot emphasize this enough.
I have been thoroughly impressed by the fraud department at Apple Goldman Sachs, Regions, the expertise of a protection software program called Aura, and the assistance of all the credit bureaus during this very difficult time. It has now been 2 months since this happened to me. I can affirm that every cent of money that was fraudulently taken or attempted to be taken has been returned to me by Regions and Goldman Sachs. I did not lose any money through this ordeal. My credit will be completely cleared within 90 days and has not significantly changed, as I promptly placed freezes and fraud alerts on any open accounts, as well as on any attempts for someone to impersonate me when trying to open any account in my name. Through Aura, I have ongoing alerts set up if any personal information is detected in any phishing attempts or if my email address or personal information were to appear on the dark web. This is a continuous protection service that costs only $15 per month, and it is worth every penny. Additionally, for an extra $5, I have included their "call protection" service, which is the most effective and easiest to adjust if needed. I have tried Verizon service and RoboKiller, and neither is as effective as the Aura call protection service.
AURA PROTECTION - What is Aura?
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ID Theft Protection Plans
Individual & Family Plans Available $1 Million Insurance and optional up to $5 Million Insurance
Aura is an identity theft protection service that offers a variety of features:
Financial fraud protection
Aura monitors your information against billions of data points to alert you to fraud.
Identity theft protection
Aura offers $1,000,000 in insurance to cover eligible losses and fees due to identity theft.
Aura offers antivirus software, including real-time malware protection, anti-ransomware, and virus scans.
Password manager and smart vault
Aura's family plans include parental control software, such as:
Device management
Cyberbullying and online predator protection
Remote monitoring of children's devices
Aura monitors changes to your credit report across the 3 major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
Aura's spam call protection features can block known spam (or scam) callers and filter unwanted messages
If you decide to enroll with Aura, they offer what they term their "White Glove Service," which is included in the $15 per month plan. With this service, you will be assigned a dedicated case manager who monitors your account, although the system itself is continuously surveilling. When you contact White Glove, any staff member in the department can promptly assist you. This company truly impresses me, and I cannot emphasize enough how much more secure I feel with this ongoing service. I liken it to a utility bill, a necessary expense for peace of mind. For me, especially during this frightening and challenging period, it has been indispensable. It's important to recognize the need to seek assistance. Support is available, and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the helpfulness of people in the support departments of the companies you interact with if you encounter such situations. They handle these issues daily. Apple assures that they are actively addressing the issue, and they believe that the new iOS 17.4 update will significantly reduce such incidents. If this feature had been in place when it happened to me, it likely wouldn't have occurred. I'm unsure how this type of fraud could happen with Apple since iOS 17.4 if it's promptly caught and reported, especially within an hour.
The white glove department will also call if very concerning to discuss with you the next steps if needed.