ALERT - FRAUDULENT MAILINGS

Please note: Evans National Bank has received word from some of our customers that they have received mailings either loan pre-approvals or the ability to lower their interest rates.  The letters do not have addresses on them and instruct the cutomers to call an 800 number located in California.  Some of the letters are signed by "The Loan Audit Department" and indicate the letter is from "Evans Nat'l Bk".

EVANS NATIONAL BANK DID NOT SEND OUT MAILINGS FOR PRE-APPROVALS OR MAILINGS TO LOWER INTEREST RATES ON PRE-EXISTING LOANS.  IF YOU RECEIVED SUCH A LETTER, PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND- YOU MAY BECOME THE VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT.  IF YOU HAVE ALREADY RESPONDED, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR BRANCH IMMEDIATELY.

YOU ARE ALSO WELCOME TO CONTACT THE EVANS NATIONAL BANK SECURITY DEPARTMENT AT 716.926.2034.

Thank you,

Carol Ann Czora
Assistant Vice President / Security Officer

 ALERT - FRAUDULENT MONEY ORDERS

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has faced the challenge of a growing number of fraudulent money orders being presented to financial institutions. In response, the USPS has launched a positive pay solution, which enables consumers, businesses or financial institutions to verify US Postal Service money orders.  To use the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone system, call 1-866-459-7822 and input the serial number (11 digits), dollar amount (6 digits), and the Post office ID (6 digits).   The money order has to be issued at least 48 hours prior to the inquiry and no older than 90 days.  You can only enter one money order at a time.  There are restrictions on the number of money orders verified per call.  If the money order does not match the USPS database, refuse to cash and, if possible, confiscate the money order from the customer and provide them a copy or receipt of the money order. If customer does not wish to relinquish the money order, suggest that they take the money order to the local Postmaster and let them know it could be fraudulent.

E-MAIL AND INTERNET FRAUD

One of the most common e-mail scams is called “phishing” (pronounced “fishing”).  Phishing involves an unsolicited e-mail sent to you with the intention of capturing personal information – such as your Social Security number, your Online Banking login and password, your account numbers, etc.   Such e-mails may even appear to come from legitimate companies and could be disguised to come from Evans National Bank, your credit card company, or your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

If you should receive a suspicious e-mail message that appears to come from Evans National Bank – please do the following:

• Do NOT OPEN or RESPOND to a suspicious e-mail message
• Forward the e-mail message to emailfraud@evansnational.com
• Then delete the message from your personal e-mail box

If you have already responded to a suspicious or fraudulent e-mail, please call Evans National Bank Security Department at 716.926.2000.

Please remember - Evans National Bank will NEVER request personal information about you, your account, your Social Security number, user names or passwords via e-mail or pop-up messages!

How to Identify a Suspicious E-mail     

Criminals who send suspicious or fraudulent e-mails use many means to disguise fraudulent e-mails.  Sometimes their messages ask you to respond directly.  While other times they may ask you to link to a website that may appear legitimate but is in actuality fraudulent.  Either way, they will generally ask you to provide sensitive, personal or financial account information.  The following tips are usefully in spotting suspicious or fraudulent e-mails.  Beware of e-mails:

• With a threatening or urgent tone to their message such as an e-mail that claims your account may be closed if you fail to respond immediately
• Requesting personal or financial information such as an e-mail that claims Evans National Bank has lost important information about your account or account activity and needs you to forward such information to another website
• With improper grammar and/or misspellings

Avoiding Computer Viruses

Current anti-virus software is your best defense against viruses; use anti-virus software to regularly scan your computer to keep your computer free of viruses.

• Update your virus software regularly using the automatic update option if possible
• If your virus protection/spy-ware identifies a virus or spy-ware, follow the procedures to delete it and then change your Online Banking password.
• Keep your browser and computer operating system up to date with all security patches
• Regularly check and download security updates using the automatic update option if possible
• Utilize spy-ware detection software to identify and delete unknown spy-ware on your computer, which may monitor and collect your keystrokes and send personal information unknowingly to third parties 
• Use ad-ware to block pop-up ads and related spy-ware attachment
• Do NOT CLICK on LINKS from suspicious or unknown senders
• Do NOT OPEN attachments from suspicious or unknown senders
• NEVER log onto your account through a link provided in an e-mail, even if it looks as if it came from Evans National Bank - instead open a new browser window, type in the known Internet address for Evans National Bank and logon your account that way

SCAMS AND FRAUD ALERTS 

Please click on a link below for current scams and fraud alerts. Information for consumer and businesses is also provided through some of the websites below to assist in reporting scams.

• FDIC - Common Cons... and How to Avoid Them
• Federal Citizen Information Center
• Federal Trade Commission
• Internal Revenue Services Criminal Investigations Unit Tax Fraud Alerts
• National Fraud Information Center
• Better Business Bureau
• Consumer Protection Association of America
• HHS Office of Inspector General
• Office for Victims of Crime
• Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice
• Internet Fraud and Complaint Center
• IFCC Warnings
• Fraud Watch International

Detecting Counterfeit Currency
Local businesses normally receive counterfeit currency during regular daily activities -- as payment for goods and/or services. The business then will attempt to deposit the counterfeit currency into its business account. If the counterfeit is identified at the time of deposit, the bank will debit the deposit and confiscate the counterfeit. The United States Department of the Treasury investigates all counterfeiting offenses and they are aided by local law enforcement agencies.

For more information about counterfeit currency, visit the US Treasury Departments site at:
http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/know_your_money.shtml 

Currency Checklist
The following checklist is the simplest method for examining a suspected counterfeit bill for authenticity:

• Compare the bill with a genuine bill of the same denomination and series:
  Look for differences rather than similarities;
• Look for the red and blue fibers imbedded in the paper:
  Counterfeit paper will not display these fibers, or the paper will be spattered with red and blue ink to resemble the fibers. The simplest method for determining if the red and blue marks are fibers is to attempt to pick one out of the paper with a pin. If the fibers are real, they may be removed;
• Scratch the surface of the portrait's clothing:
  The portrait's clothing is printed using several layers of lines -- and scratching this surface creates noticeable vibrations felt by a fingernail;
• Compare the three-dimensional quality of the printing:
  All items depicted on the bill should display a depth of background and this optical illusion "thrusts" items in the foreground towards the viewer;
• Look for the imbedded security thread on newer currency:
  This thread is removable and is easily detected with a magnifying glass;
• Examine the microline printing on newer currency:
  This tiny printing is evident on the portrait "frame" and other areas using a magnifying glass;
• Examine the portrait for clarity of form and line:
  With few exceptions, all items depicted on the bill are comprised of a series of lines made upon metal plates -- and then printed using a process called "intaglio" printing. The viewer should be able to see each line clearly by using a magnifying glass; and
• Examine the edges of the Treasury seal for a clear-cut, distinct form:
  The Treasury seal is printed in a solid color beneath the worded denomination, on the right-hand side of the face of the bill. The worded denomination is comprised of a series of lines, and is designed to allow the viewer to read the words "The Department of the Treasury" and the number "1789" on the seal.

If discrepancies are noted in any of the mentioned characteristics, the bill should be confiscated immediately, if it's possible. The bill should not be returned to the person passing it, and the local law enforcement agency should be contacted for assistance.

The Federal Reserve Bank number is repeated in the upper and lower left and right corners on the face of the bill. These numbers are helpful in cases involving claims made by the public for redemption of burned or mutilated notes, when only portions of the note may be identified. This number also corresponds to the alphabetically matched letter of the Federal Reserve District issuing the bill as follows:

• A / Boston
• B / New York
• C / Philadelphia
• D / Cleveland
• E / Richmond
• F / Atlanta
• G / Chicago
• H / St. Louis
• I / Minneapolis
• J / Kansas City
• K / Dallas
• L / San Francisco

Other important features of each bill are:

• No bill will bear the portrait of a living person and all currency contains the words "In God We Trust" on some portion;
• Each bill bears two identical serial numbers on its face, preceded by a letter matching the letter inside of the Federal Reserve seal;
• The letter preceding the serial number and the letter inside the Federal Reserve Seal must match its numerical equivalent printed on the inside four corners of the face of the bill; and
• The series number is always found on the lower portion of each bill, issued only when a major revision in design occurs. A minor revision is noted by the appearance of a letter printed with the series year.

Important Features For Comparison

• Federal Reserve seal and corresponding letter;
• Type of currency;
• Serial number;
• Federal Reserve number;
• Treasury seal;
• Series;
• Face plate number; and
• Portrait.

Portraits & Back Designs

Raised Notes
Raised notes are created by cutting the corners from a genuine bill (normally a $20 or $50) and pasting them over the corners of a $1 bill's face. This creates the optical illusion of a genuine bill, as most people who handle money count by the corners rather than by the face of the bill that displays the portrait.

Another type of raised note is manufactured from a $5 or a $10 bill, by drawing lines on the zero of the number "0" to create the optical illusion of a $50 or a $100 bill. The proper prevention technique to counter this activity is to count the money twice: once from the front and once from the reverse of the bills.