Fraud & Security

For after hours assistance, please call the following number that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:  1-888-297-3416.

To report your lost/stolen debit card using Bryant Bank Online or the Mobile Banking App,  select the Card Management tile on your Dashboard and then select Report lost/stolen for the specific card that has been lost or stolen.  You can also use Card Management to immediately turn your debit card off when and if this situation occurs!

To report a lost or stolen credit card, please call the following number:

Personal Card:  1-800-558-3424

Business Card:  1-866-552-8855

• Check your account daily and utilize the “Alert” feature available with Bryant Bank’s Online Banking.
• Familiarize yourself with a local Information/Technology company/professional in case a problem occurs.
• Always lock your workstation when it is unattended.
• Do not leave an Internet or Mobile Banking session unattended for any period of time. Always sign out or log-off.
• Contact Bryant Bank immediately if you suspect fraud or a breach of your account or systems.

• All computers and networks should be equipped with updated and reliable Antivirus, Malware, and Spyware detection software.
• Set your antivirus software to automatically update to the newest version so the software’s list of viruses can stay current. The automatic update option can usually be found in the software’s configuration settings.
• Use the antivirus, malware, and spyware software to scan emails.
• Beware of unusual system performance, such as program failures, multiple browser window popups or random computer restarts, which could indicate that someone is attempting to take control over your computer or mobile device.
• Keep your computer Operating System (OS) current.

• Keep login credentials (user ids, passwords, and any security devices) confidential and in a safe place.
• Do not store the credentials on your mobile device.
• Do not keep written login and password information in any place where others can view or access (desk, kitchen, common areas).
• Do not use “easy” passwords. Choose complex passwords. An example might be to use the first letters in a phrase or favorite saying. When possible, use a unique combination of upper case, lower case, numbers, and special characters.
• Change your password periodically.
• Bryant Bank representatives will never ask for your login password.
• Treat your mobile device the same way you do a desktop or laptop computer. These devices allow you the same access to the internet and can also expose your information if not treated correctly.  We encourage you to enable an automatic screen lock after a period of inactivity (recommend 1 minute).

• Beware of suspicious emails from unknown addresses or someone unlikely to send you an email, such as the IRS.
• If you accidentally open a suspicious email, do not click on any of the links or attachments within the email.
• If a suspicious email is opened and/or the links within the email are clicked, immediately contact an Information Technology professional to check your device.
• No business or bank should ever ask you to provide user credentials or personal information in response to an email.

• Shred all documents containing personal information.
• Review bank and credit card statements promptly and carefully.
• Periodically check your credit report for any unusual changes.
• Only divulge personal information to someone you are positive of their identity and only if you initiated the contact.

• Protect ATM cards and PINS.
• Report a lost or stolen card immediately.
• Choose a PIN different from your address, telephone number, and date of birth.
• Observe card readers, if they appear damaged or modified, don’t use them.

Learn more about wire transfer safety here.

Here are some common ways scammers try to convince people to wire money:

Fake Check Scams

Someone sends you a check and tells you to deposit it. They tell you to wire some or all of the money back to them or to another person and will put pressure on you to do that immediately. In a few days, the check you deposited will be returned to the bank and debited from your account balance. You will most likely not be able to recover any funds that you sent to the scammer.

Scammers make up lots of stories to try to convince you to deposit a check and wire money:

• They say you’ve won a prize and need to wire money back to cover taxes and fees.

• They say it’s part of a mystery shopping assignment to evaluate a wire transfer service.

• They overpay you for something you’re selling online, then ask you to wire back the extra money.

• They say you got a job you applied for online and they send you a check to buy supplies but ask you to wire back part of the money.

Romance Scams

Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and apps. They strike up a relationship with you and work to build your trust, sometimes talking or chatting several times a day. Then, they make up a story — like saying they have an emergency — and ask for money. A romance scammer might also contact you through social media sites.

Family Emergency Scams

You get an unexpected call from someone who pretends to be a friend or relative. They say they need cash for an emergency and beg you to wire money right away. They might say they need your help to get out of jail, pay a hospital bill, or leave a foreign country. They often ask you not to tell anyone in your family. Their goal is to trick you into sending money before you realize it’s a scam.

Apartment Rental Scams

You respond to an ad for an apartment with surprisingly low rent. Before you’ve even seen the apartment, you apply and are told to wire money — maybe for an application fee, security deposit, or the first month’s rent. After you wire the money, you find out that there is no apartment for rent, or that the scammer put their contact information on someone else’s photo or rental ad. Scammers run a similar scam with vacation rentals.

Real Estate Scams

Real estate wire scams target people in the closing process of buying or refinancing a home. A scammer gains access to a legitimate email account to impersonate a realtor, escrow officer, attorney, or lender and then provides fraudulent wiring instructions to funnel the money directly into the scammer’s account.

To help avoid this scam:

• Know what to expect before closing on a loan by confirming the process with your lender. If you receive a last minute change or urgent request to wire money to avoid losing the property, contact your lender.

• Before wiring money, confirm instructions with your lender or title company by calling a phone number you trust. Do not call a new number or respond to an email with new instructions.

Tech Support Scams

Tech support scams happen when someone contacts you claiming to be from a well-known technology company and requests remote access to your computer.

Sometimes the caller says they have identified a problem and offers to fix your computer for a fee. If you give them access, they may install malicious software to steal your personal or financial information.

Other times, the scammer offers a “refund” for a discontinued service or an accidental overcharge. If you give them access to your online banking, they will make it appear as if they’re sending you a refund, but they’re actually transferring money from your own accounts. Often, the refund is for much more than promised (e.g., $40,000 instead of $400), so the scammer makes a plea for you to send the extra money back so they don’t lose their job. They may ask you to wire money to a foreign country, purchase gift cards, or mail cash.

To help avoid this scam:

• Never give control of your computer to anyone who contacts you. If you receive a call about a computer problem, hang up. If you suspect something is wrong with your computer or believe the scammer obtained access to it, disconnect it from the internet immediately and bring it to a reputable company for a malware check.

• Don’t trust phone numbers provided to you in an email, voicemail, or pop-up ad. If you want to call the company, use the customer service number on their official website. Note: Scammers sometimes purchase ads and create fake customer service websites that will show up in search results.

• If you are asked to wire money from a recent deposit or overpayment, discuss the situation with a banker or trusted friend or family member. Be truthful about the situation, since many scammers direct you to lie about why you’re sending the money.

• Review your account activity to spot signs of fraud, such as an online transfer from your own savings, credit card, or home equity line of credit. If you’re unsure of the descriptions used for a transaction, ask a banker to help since many scammers will add a memo to make the transfer appear legitimate.

• Set up alerts in your online banking to notify you when certain activity occurs. You can set up alerts in online banking by selecting the account from your dashboard and then selecting Alert Preferences or from the Menu by selecting your name > Settings > Bryant Bank > select the account and Add alert.

Online Shopping Scams

Online shopping scams can be difficult to spot because scammers often create realistic websites and social

media ads with great deals, fake assurances, and bogus warranties for their products. Typically, the scammer requests payment through a mobile payment app or wire transfer because they are usually irreversible.

If you wire money to the scammer, you’ll never receive the product and will likely not get your money back.

To help avoid this scam:

• Know that anyone can set up a realistic website and social media ad. Scammers will sometimes purchase ads to direct you to their website, so research the seller or product before you buy.

• Watch out for deals that are too good to be true. A deep discount could be the sign of a scammer trying to lure you in, only to tack on additional fees once you make the first payment.