Behavioral Red Flags of a Scammer Page Article Common Tactics Used by FraudstersClaiming to be a Long-Time Customer or Member - Fraudsters often claim to be long-time customers or members to create a sense of familiarity and trust, making it more likely that tellers will approve transactions without thorough verification.Using a Stolen Identity - Fraudsters may use stolen identities to pose as legitimate account holders, often with fake identification documents or hacked personal information.Impersonating a Bank Employee or Regulator - Fraudsters might impersonate bank employees or regulators through phishing emails or phone calls, claiming to be from the bank's fraud department and asking tellers to approve transactions.Creating a Sense of Urgency - Fraudsters often insist that a transaction is urgent, creating pressure to approve the transfer quickly without verifying details, claiming financial disaster or critical deadlines.Providing a Convincing Explanation - Fraudsters give believable reasons for the transaction, such as medical emergencies or business expenses, to persuade tellers to approve the transfer without questions.Signs of Fraud: 12 Red FlagsDiscrepancies in Customer or Member InformationMultiple accounts with methodical spelling variations on the same name (e.g., William Smith, Will Ian Smith).Multiple accounts with different names using the same contact information.Accounts with inconsistent personal details, such as an invalid social security number.Multiple accounts using minors’ personally identifiable information (PII).Transactions Inconsistent with Customer’s ProfilePoint-of-sale (POS) transactions inconsistent with the account holder’s address or typical habits, especially if they occur at wildly varying locations or without time for travel.Payments or received funds that don’t match an account holder’s lifestyle or expected behavior, such as unusually high deposits quickly withdrawn or immediately paid back.Public benefit payments to individuals who do not qualify and whose spending is not on behalf of a legitimate recipient.Repetitive purchase returns, disputes, and/or chargebacks exceeding reasonable activity for the account holder.Signs the Customer is Being Pressured or ManipulatedThe account holder says they have to send large or repetitive sums of money to a loved one, especially if the situation is urgent or secretive.The account holder believes they are in personal danger if they do not perform a transaction or make a withdrawal.An account holder appears to be unduly influenced by a third party, such as a new friend, family member, or caretaker, who may be in-person, on the phone, or repeatedly mentioned.The account holder makes repetitive transactions they cannot explain or seem agitated about.