Blue Ridge Bank | Special Promotions

New scams to hit the area:

# 1

The latest "Smishing/Vishing”, (SMS/Text Message), scam is affecting T-Mobile cell phone users and states the following:

Security@mazuma.org/alerts

Your Mazuma Credit Union account has been closed due to suspicious activity. Please call us at (818) 942-7090

Several other banks and credit unions have reported a similar fraudulent message using their name. Remember to NEVER respond to these messages. Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. will NEVER ask you to verify personal information via e-mail, nor will we call you and request information over the telephone.

If you believe you have mistakenly given your personal information to a fraudster, please call our Customer Service Center at 816-795-9933.

# 2

There was a story in The Kansas City Star about a woman who was contacted by the IRS about back taxes she owed, for five jobs she never had. Scam artists steal your Social Security number and name. They use this information when they obtain a job to avoid paying taxes.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9.9 million Americans were the victims of identity theft last year.

Tips to avoid Identity Theft:
* Check your credit reports.
* Scrutinize bank and credit card statements.
* Review W2s and Social Security Administration statements to see whether there's income you don't know about.
*Protect your Social Security number and other sensitive information. Don't use your Social Security number as a password or account number, and be careful who you share it with.
*Carefully dispose of sensitive mail and documents. Shred receipts, credit card offers, insurance forms, used checks and bank statements.
*Be careful who has access to personal documents, purses, wallets, computers or bank records.
*Be cautious when responding to promotions.

What to do if it happens

* File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. www.ftc.gov or www.consumer.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-438-4338.
*File a report with local police in the community where the identity theft took place.
*Place fraud alerts on your credit reports, including a statement that creditors should get your permission before opening any new accounts in your name.
*Close the accounts that you know, or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

For a free annual credit report visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.