Fraud Prevention
Keeping your personal and account information safe from fraud
Understanding Fraud and Your Account
Online fraud continues to become increasingly sophisticated and can pose significant risks to both individuals and businesses. At Crescent Bank, our Customers' security is a top priority. Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge and tools needed to recognize, prevent, and respond to various types of fraud to protect yourself and your account. Explore these resources to stay informed and secure in a rapidly evolving landscape of cyber threats and identity theft.
What Are Some Common Types of Fraud?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information like your account number or Social Security number without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. Review the tips below about keeping your information secure from identity theft.
Phishing is the attempt to acquire sensitive information by pretending to be a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. If you receive an email that looks like a phishing email, do not click on any links or provide any requested personal information.
Here are some tips for identifying a phishing email:
- Unsolicited email that requests personal identifiable information
- Urgent call to take action
- Email sender or links look suspicious
- Poor spelling and grammar
Ransomware is a type of malware that prevents or limits you from accessing your system, either by locking the system's screen or by locking files until a ransom is paid.
Paying the ransom is discouraged because there is no guarantee your system or data will be released and it can put you at greater risk of being a future target.
Account takeover is a type of identity theft where a third-party gains access to (or “takes over”) an online account, such as an email account, bank account, or social media profile. Learn more about account takeover at Nacha.org.
How Do I Protect Myself?
Online Banking Security
Follow these best practices to secure your online banking activities:
- Never share the username or password to your account
- Passwords should be difficult to guess and changed frequently
- Always send messages with personal or account information messages to Crescent Bank by secure mail through your online account and not by unencrypted email
- Avoid using public computers or public Wi-Fi to access your online accounts
- Do not provide any personal information to websites that do not use encryption or other secure methods of protection
- Ensure that your computer operating system is up-to-date and running the latest anti-virus software
Identity Theft Prevention
Make note of these important tips to protect yourself from identity theft:
- Be vigilant and take proactive steps to protect your personal information
- Use different and difficult to guess passwords for your accounts and do not write them down
- Secure confidential information you keep at home and shred all documents that contain personal or financial information before disposing of them
- Review monthly statements and your credit report carefully
- Cancel old and unwanted cards
- Do not leave your wallet, purse, or checkbook in your car
- Be skeptical of email messages from a party unlikely to send an email. Do not open suspicious emails or click on the links.
Security Resources
AnnualCreditReport.com – Request free annual credit reports from this centralized service. Each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies are required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months per the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Federal Trade Commission - Consumer Advice – Learn how to protect your privacy and Identity online and how to avoid online scams.
FBI.gov - How to be Crime Smart – Be aware of the latest scams and tips for avoiding internet fraud.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – The FBI’s central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime
FDIC Consumer Resource Center - Cybersecurity – The FDIC’s tips for avoiding identify theft and scams and how to report it
Nacha.org - Account Takeover – Learn what account takeover is and how to mitigate risk for this type of identity theft affecting businesses.
Customer Contact
Be cautious of unsolicited contact from individuals claiming to be from Crescent Bank. Crescent Bank will NEVER request personal information by phone, email, or text message. If you receive unsolicited contact from a Crescent Bank employee, your identity will be confirmed through a series of questions, but remember, Crescent Bank will NEVER ask for your log in credentials.
If you have any security concerns or need to report unauthorized transactions, lost or stolen cards, or other suspicious activity, please call us immediately.
Auto Loan Customers
1-866-208-8288
Mon - Fri 7am - 8pm CT, Sat 8am - 1pm
Banking Customers
1-877-831-3334
Mon - Fri 8am - 5:30pm CT
For lost or stolen debit or ATM cards:
1-800-500-1044
Evenings and Weekends