TYPES OF FRAUD

Checking Account Fraud - The unauthorized use of a checking, savings or money market account. This generally happens when checks are stolen, copied, altered or counterfeited and used to transfer money, withdraw cash, or pay for merchandise or services that the actual account holder did not authorize.

Account Takeovers - Are when criminals using stolen and counterfeit personal identification take over an account to remove funds before the original owner or bank can detect the unauthorized activity.

Online Fraud - Such as Phishing which is when you receive forged emails purporting to be from someone (an individual, company or bank) you know and trust attempting to get you to reveal sensitive information like user IDs, passwords, account numbers, Social Security Numbers or other sensitive data. Spoofing is emails that ask you to supply, confirm or update personal information by clicking on a link in the email. The link will connect you to a webpage or login that appears to belong to the company mentioned in the email. This is referred to as a "spoofed" site. Often the site looks just like the company's site. It may be a pop up or an embedded image over the actual site. In both cases the goal of the criminals is to get you to enter your personal data so they can steal your information to access your accounts, financial information and/or your identity.

Identity Theft - Identity theft involves acquiring key pieces of someone's identifying information, such as name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number and mother's maiden name, in order to impersonate them. This information enables the identity thief to commit numerous forms of fraud which include, but are not limited to, taking over the victim's financial accounts, opening new bank accounts, purchasing automobiles, boats, applying for loans, credit cards and social security benefits, renting apartments, and establishing services with utilities and phone companies. Boston Private Bank has developed an Identity Theft Tool Kit, which contains what we believe to be sound guidance from law enforcement officials as to what a person or business should do to mitigate the risk or consequences of identity theft.