Middletown Valley Bank

Today is Slam the Scam Day! If you receive a suspicious call, text, or email that mentions Social Security, ignore it and report it to oig.ssa.gov/report Report other government imposter scams to FTC.gov

Tax season is filled with new tax scams and fraud schemes every year. Protect yourself this tax season by reading below on how the IRS may contact you and the things they will never do. How the IRS May Contact You ? U.S. Mail – Verify the letter is legitimate at https://lnkd.in/gPEDCMi ? Email – The IRS will only email you with your permission, with a few exceptions such as criminal investigations. ? Text – They will only text you with your permission. ? Phone Call – They may call to discuss your case, verify information, or set up a meeting. ? Fax – They may fax to verify or request employment information. ? In Person – It is rare for the IRS to visit in person, and they will typically send a letter before visiting. What the IRS Will Never Do ? Contact you or ask for payment on social media. ? Accept gift cards or prepaid debit cards as payment. ? Threaten to contact law enforcement or immigration officials. ? Take your citizenship status, driver's license, or business license. ? Leave pre-recorded voicemails. ? Mail advertisements about tax debt resolution. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gU-iPH6c

Credit card fraud takes place when a physical credit card, card information, or account numbers are stolen and used to make unauthorized charges. When an individual is contacted by a scammer, it is common to be pressured to act immediately, as they do not want you to thoroughly think through the decision or to reach out to others. There are several different scams fraudsters use to commit credit card fraud, which are highlighted below. ? Interest rate deductions – Bad actors pose as customer service representatives from well-known credit card issuers to convince cardholders they are eligible for a limited-time promotion. ? Charity scams – Scammers take advantage of generous individuals by asking for charitable donations, especially after natural disasters and other newsworthy events. ? Public Wi-Fi scams – Do not connect to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, as criminals can gain access to your devices and steal your personal information, including credit card information. ? Online shopping scams – Fraudsters send fake links claiming to be from your card issuer that promise credit card rewards, but initiate malware downloads instead. ? Skimming and shimming scams – Bad actors install skimming devices to collect card data from payment terminals and card readers. Gas pumps and ATMs are common targets for this scam. ? Overcharge scams – Scammers call or email claiming you overpaid on your credit account and ask you to verify your card number for a refund. ? Phishing scams – Fraudsters reach out by email, text, or call posing as well-known businesses or organizations to trick you into providing sensitive information. In the case of credit card phishing scams, it is common for scammers to claim your card number was compromised to receive your personal information. Read more here: https://ow.ly/zIMx50USGy8

Cryptocurrency scams occur when scammers convince others to make crypto investments through fake apps and websites. Crypto investing is still a relatively new form of investing and, as a result, there are a lot of individuals who claim to be experts or know experts who can recommend investment strategies. As with any scam, there are common warning signs associated with crypto scams. Warning Signs ? Unsolicited contact by an individual you do not know. ? Individual encourages you to limit contact with your bank and financial advisor. ? Befriends you online and shares “can’t-miss” investment opportunities. ? Advises you to take immediate action and invest more money or pay fees. ? Misspells website links. How to Protect Yourself ? Perform thorough research before investing in anything. ? Take a step back when someone tells you to make an immediate decision. ? Do not send money to anyone you meet online or through an app and do not download unfamiliar apps. ? Do not pay for services that offer to recover your lost funds. ? Do not trust advice from anyone who claims an investment is a “sure bet,” as every investment involves risk. Read more here: https://ow.ly/jAAP50U0LI9

MVB's mortgage subsidiary, Mlend, is looking for a Mortgage Support Specialist to join the team at our Oakland Office! Learn more and apply here: https://ow.ly/OoKb50TVoPQ

Have you ever received a spoofing message over text? The fraudster sending the message typically wants to hide his or her true identity and get you to click on a link. Below are six common types of spoofing text messages. ? Fake Sender ID: The fraudster disguises himself or herself as a trusted business or individual to convince the recipient to click on a link. ? Unsolicited Bulk Texts: Similar to bulk emails, bulk texts could be sent on any topic with the hope that the recipient will click on the link. ? Harassing Texts: This could involve a lie to get you to send money to someone in need or blackmail. ? Corporate Espionage: Employees of a company are targeted in an effort to obtain valuable customer information or to receive a large ransom. ? Money Transfers: The scammer may claim you were overcharged on a recent purchase and ask for your bank account information to refund the difference. ? Identity Theft: Spoofers want any personal information they can get from victims and will do whatever they can to trick individuals into providing them with information such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, banking information, phone numbers, etc. Read more here: https://ow.ly/YtFX50TIi1e

We sat down with one of our longtime customers this week to talk about why he chooses to bank with MVB, what he thinks sets us apart, and why he is excited for the new Market Street Branch in Frederick!

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so let’s discuss some of the best ways you can protect yourself online. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has chosen the theme of ‘Secure Our World’ to promote ongoing cybersecurity habits and safe behavior online. The top four tips they offer for staying safe online include: ? Use strong passwords: Characterized by long, random, and unique characters, with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. ? Enable multi-factor authentication: Lowers the chances of getting hacked, as it requires users to take an extra step to log in after providing their username and password. Authentication is commonly received through text or email. ? Spot and report phishing attempts: Unsolicited messages asking for personal information are a common sign of phishing. Do not share your personal information or click on any links found in these messages. ? Keep your software up to date: Regularly check for updates if you have not enabled automatic updates on your device. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/OEn450TBIS0

We are wrapping up our blog and social media series on careers in banking by highlighting the duties of Core Support, Help Desk, and IT. The Core Support team provides the Bank’s internal departments with customer service through tier two technical support on many core and secondary programs. The department also aids in the build-out and implementation of many systems and various efficiencies. Help Desk serves as the first point of contact for Bank employees on all internal inquiries and issues related to technology and facilities. The team works closely with Core Support, Facilities, and IT by aiding in the research and resolution of problems reported by end users. Information Technology (IT) manages the Bank’s virtual network and desktop environments and is responsible for the planning, implementation, and control of all network, computer, and data communication. Additionally, IT administers new software, repairs hardware, and troubleshoots problems with the system and company-owned devices. The team works with many other departments, especially Help Desk, Facilities, and Core Support. We hope you have enjoyed our series on Careers in Banking these past three months and feel inspired to learn more about how banks function!

We are wrapping up our blog and social media series on careers in banking this month by highlighting the duties of those who work in Loan Administration, Loan Documentation, Loan Operations, Marketing, Retail, Core Support, Help Desk, and IT. This week's focus is on the Retail team. If you have ever stopped by an MVB branch, you have interacted with a member of the Retail team. Positions found at branches include branch managers, assistant branch managers, associate bankers, relationships bankers, senior branch bankers, and branch bankers. Managers are responsible for managing branch employees and overseeing the customer service needs and operational expectations of our branches. Those involved with customer service at the branches process transactions, assist with daily balancing operations, and help educate customers on the products and services offered at the Bank. The Retail Administration team oversees the people, operations, and revenue of the retail branches, working closely with Marketing, HR & Training, Customer Care, Deposit Operations, and Electronic Banking to support the needs of the branches and to find new ways to best serve customers.