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Fraudulent Emerald Bank Bank look-alike emails asking for personal and confidential information have recently been sent to some Emerald Bank customers. These emails are not from Emerald Bank Bank. Do not respond to these emails or click on any links or attachments contained within them. Emerald Bank Bank will never ask you to provide your Online Banking sign-in ID or Online Banking password by email. Click on the links below to see examples of recent fraudulent emails sent to Emerald Bank customers.
How to Report Email Fraud
If you believe you have received a fraudulent email, please forward the email immediately to
and then delete the email.
If you have already responded to an email you believe is fraudulent, please contact a Emerald Bank representative immediately.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is "phishing"?
The term "phishing" comes from the way in which internet scammers "phish" for your personal financial information. This involves sending fraudulent emails that appear to be from a legitimate company that you recognize and do business with, such as a financial institution, in order to trick you into surrendering private information that can be used to initiate fraudulent transactions or complete an identity theft.
In many cases, the fraudulent email will warn you of a serious problem with your account that needs immediate attention, and will threaten to suspend or close your account if your personal information is not updated within a given time frame. The email then directs you to click on a link to a phony website where you are asked to update personal information, such as your Social Security number, passwords, credit card information, bank account numbers and contact information.
Any email you receive that appears to be from Emerald Bank and requests updated personal information, such as your Social Security number, account number, secret codes, or passwords, is fraudulent. The link contained in the email is NOT to Emerald Bank Bank's website, even though it may imitate our style and graphics.
Who is sending these fraudulent emails?
Often times these email comes from outside the United States such as internet servers located in South America, Eastern Europe, Russa, and China. The FBI has a department that investigates these kinds of emails (and crimes) on a full time bases.
What is the subject of these emails?
The subject line of the email can vary. Any email claiming to be from Emerald Bank Bank that asks for customer information should be forwarded to
immediately. Delete the email after it has been forwarded to us.
What is the "Account Manager" or "Transfer Agent" scam?
One of the newest email scams is the "Account Manager" scam, which offers to let you become an "Account Manager" or "Transfer Agent" for a third party, usually in another country.
Scammers will try to solicit you through an email or web advertisement, offering to let you work from home and be an "Account Manager" or "Money Transfer Agent" for them. In turn, they will let you earn commissions for your trouble and offer to increase your fee the more transfers you complete for them. Money is then transferred out of an unsuspecting person's account and into yours. Then you are asked to send the money to them through Western Union under the impression that you will keep a percentage of the money they have deposited into your account.
If you agree to become an Account Manager for the scammers, you have no idea where the money is coming from or where it is going. It could be used for a variety of illegal purposes, including terrorism, and you could be prosecuted if caught. Do not believe any emails or web advertisements offering to let you earn money by transferring cash.
If you receive an email or see an advertisement offering to make you an "Account Manager" or "Money Transfer Agent," forward it immediately to your local Secret Service office or the national Financial Crimes Division at 950 H Street, Washington, D.C., 20001 or fax to 202-406-5031.
How do I protect myself from fraudulent emails (phishing)?
Emerald Bank Bank will never ask you to provide your Online Banking sign-in ID or Online Banking password by email. Use the following tips for preventing email fraud and identity theft.
- You should be suspicious of any email that appears to be from Emerald Bank Bank containing links to websites asking for confidential information.
- Never provide personal information in response to an unsolicited request, whether it is in an email or over the phone. If you believe the request may be legitimate, contact the financial institution yourself using contact information that you have verified. Do not use phone numbers contained in emails you believe may be fraudulent.
- Delete emails from unknown senders without opening them. Do not open attachments; this may release a virus in your computer to track your personal information.
- Never send an account number, secret code, or password by email.
- Choose a secret code and password that is known only by you and keep it in a safe place. Consider changing your secret code and password on a regular basis.
- Review all account statements, including online statements, regularly to verify all charges are correct and to check for any suspicious activity.
If you are suspicious of any email you receive that appears to be from Emerald Bank Bank, contact us immediately.
If I have replied to an email I believe is fraudulent, how do I report my card as stolen?
Phone a Emerald Bank representative in your area to report your card as stolen.
I have already replied to one of these emails and given out my personal account information. Who else should I contact if I think I have been a victim of phishing?
After you have contacted Emerald Bank and alerted us to the situation, you may also want to contact one of the three major credit bureaus and discuss whether or not you need to place a fraud alert on your file. This will help prevent thieves from opening a new account in your name.
Equifax
800-525-6285
P.O. Box 740250
Atlanta, GA 30374
Experian
888-397-3742
P.O. Box 1017
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
800-680-7289
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634
You may also want to report all suspicious contacts to the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft, or 1-877-IDTHEFT.
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