Safety & Fraud Prevention

NOTE: Bank of Labor will never reach out to you asking for personal information.  If you receive any suspicious communication (text, phone, email, or social media), please do not click on any links and contact us immediately at 913.321.4242.

Scam tax document ripped in half

File These Tips to Spot & Stop Tax Fraud. 

The IRS estimates that Tax Fraud costs the US $1 trillion a year. Tax Fraud takes many forms, including:

If you suspect possible tax fraud, you can do something about it! The IRS has an online form you can submit to report suspected tax fraud: How Do You Report Suspected Tax Fraud Activity? | Internal Revenue Service

Learn more about how to spot and avoid Tax Fraud at:
Tax Fraud Alerts | Internal Revenue Service
Tax Return Preparer Fraud – Taxpayer Advocate Service

There’s Nothing Sweet About Sweetheart Scams. 

The author of Red Flags of Love Fraud shared 7 tips to help spot a Romance Scam Artist in a recent Reader’s Digest article. The story also includes steps to take if you think you may be a victim of a romance scam: How to Spot Romance Scams in 2022: Signs You’re Dating a Scammer (rd.com)

Heart-shaped candy with words Sweetheart Scams printed
Comedy and Tragedy theater masks

Friendly or Phony? 

ProPublica shares tips to help you avoid ‘friendly’ online chats that are crafted to lure unsuspecting consumers into fraudulent online investment get-rich-schemes.

It’s a scam technique known as ‘Pig Butchering’, in reference to fattening livestock before slaughter:

How Pig Butchering Scams Work | ProPublica

You Better Watch Out for
Holiday Scams. 

The FBI wants shoppers to be on the lookout for holiday scams.

Here are some of their top tips to help you stay safe throughout the season:

Holiday Scams 2022

Santa Claus doing a thumbs down and holding sign that reads Fraud Alert next to Ho Ho Uh-Oh?
Real Deal or Fake Steal - Black Friday shopping bags

Reduce Your Risk of
Shopping Scams. 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday can offer shoppers a deal, but thieves use the opportunity to steal information. The Better Business Bureau® warns of fake survey scams popping up around holiday shopping:

Survey scam gets a holiday twist | BBB®

Cell Phone Security is
Always a Good Call. 

The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has a checklist to help cell phone users reduce exposure to mobile device spam and fraud:

CISA Capacity Enhancement Guide. Mobile Device Cybersecurity Checklist for Consumers 

Cell Phone Spam Risk
Laptop open with ransom note reading want your data back?

It Pays to Protect Yourself from Ransomware.

Think of ransomware as digital ‘kidnapping’ of device files. Criminals install malware that makes your information unusable until you pay a ransom for them to decrypt your data. The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) provides a list of steps you can take now to help keep your information from being ‘snatched’ by cyber thieves.

Learn more at: Tips and Tactics: Ransomware | NIST.gov

Fraud Alert: Smishing
and Vishing.

Bank of Labor wants to inform you of two scams (known as “smishing” and “vishing”) that are on the rise.

Smishing involves fraudsters sending text messages containing a link that look as though they have been sent by the bank. Once the link is selected, fraudsters call pretending to be from the bank (this is known as “vishing”) and ask for online banking credentials (login ID/Password) and the One Time Passcode sent to your phone.

Bank of Labor will never ask you to provide this information through a text, email, or phone call. Be extremely cautious when responding to text messages, emails and phone calls that ask for personal information and/or banking credentials/account numbers.

Learn more at: Threat Advisory: Online Banking Advanced Social Engineering | SBS Cybersecurity

Cell phone with exclamation alert
Bank on Better Account Security. Umbrella protecting person from wrecking ball that say Account Fraud.

Customer Account Security.

Banks go to great lengths to ensure the security of customer accounts but there are measures customers themselves can also take to further reduce risk of any account fraud. Here are 5 tips from AARP® to help improve your account security: How to Prevent Bank Fraud and Secure Your Bank Account (aarp.org)

Brush up on School Safety Tips.

SchoolSafety.gov is a government program created to provide guidance and resources to help keep school communities safe. The website includes information on how schools and families can prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from a range of school safety threats, hazards, and emergency situations.

Learn more at: Find School Safety Resources | SchoolSafety.gov

Girl holding school books above head. Graphic reads Do your School Safety Homework
Outsmart Elder Fraud - Smart Elderly Man

Tips to Avoid Scams Targeting the Elderly.

Financial predators often zero-in on older adults. But Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s free “Money Smart for Older Adults” can help older adults, family caregivers and others outsmart and fight back against financial exploitation.

Protecting Older Adults from Fraud and Financial Exploitation | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov)

AARP also offers tips on how to recognize and report elder abuse fraud:
Protecting Yourself Against Consumer Fraud | AARP

Slam Email Scams.

The federal agency CISA (Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency) offers tips to help rescue you from email scams plus seven steps you can follow to zap other villainous email fraud attempts you may encounter down the road.

Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (cisa.gov)

Slam Email Scams Pop Art
FBI-Internet-Crime-Complaint-Commission-2021-Chart-Data

FBI Releases 2021 Internet Crime Report

In the past year, there’s been a 7% increase in internet crime with close to 6.9 billion in reported losses, according to the FBI’s recently released 2021 Internet Crime Report The top three cyber crimes reported by victims in 2021 were phishing scams, non-payment/non-delivery scams, and personal data breach. Victims lost the most money to business email compromise scams, investment fraud, and romance and confidence schemes. To report an online crime or view IC3’s annual reports and public service announcements, visit ic3.gov.

Contact Us

Need to reach us? Please contact us at the number below and our team will gladly assist you. If you would like to open an account or speak to a personal banker visit us at any of our locations located in the Greater Kansas City Metro Area.

Telephone

+1 913 321 4242

Address

756 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, Kansas 66101