As financial institutions strengthen their fraud prevention tools, scammers are shifting focus — targeting individuals and businesses directly with sophisticated scams.
At Parke Bank, your safety is our priority. We’re sharing four common scams affecting our community — and tips on how to protect yourself.
1.Check Fraud
Scammers are stealing, altering, and forging checks — and even sending fake ones to trick victims into unknowingly signing contracts.
Protect Yourself:
Monitor your accounts regularly for suspicious transactions by using Manage My Card.
Avoid mailing checks when possible
Businesses: ask us about our Positive Pay Service, a proven defense tool against fraudulent checks.
- Pig Butchering Scams
Criminals use fake websites or apps to lure victims into fraudulent investments, especially involving cryptocurrency. They often use deepfakes, AI-generated voices, and realistic impersonations to build trust.
Protect Yourself:
Be skeptical of unsolicited investment offers
Verify apps and website before downloading or investing
Double check URL’s for subtle misspellings or odd variations
- Ransomware Attacks
Businesses are being targeted with ransomware that evades security software. These attacks often begin with phishing emails and can quickly compromise an entire network.
Protect Your Business:
- Train employees to recognize and report phishing emails
- Regularly update antivirus and endpoint detection systems
- Restrict software permissions on workstations to prevent unauthorized activity
- Wire Transfer Scams
These scams often involve fraudsters pretending to be family members in distress, government agents, or even romantic partners — convincing victims to wire money urgently.
Protect Yourself:
- Never wire money to someone you don’t know
- Be cautious of anyone pushing urgency or secrecy
- Remember: No legitimate agency will request payment via wire transfer
Let’s Fight Fraud Together
Parke Bank is committed to helping you stay informed and protected. If something doesn’t feel right — stop and call us directly at 1.866.PARKEBK(727.5325). Our team is always here to help.