Alerts of Importance to Georgia Banks

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Identity Theft

Please note:  GBA has announced the formation of FinCrime.com, an online database wherein our members and law enforcement will be able to post messages such as the one above as well as post follow-up investigatory information.  We will be phasing out these faxed Alerts soon.  FinCrime.com is a complimentary member service, so sign up today. 

(May 12, 2004)

The Roswell Police Department alerts the membership to mail theft and check fraud:

The Roswell Police Department needs to identify this person.  Checks have been stolen from the mail and a chemical used to remove the original payee information. The checks were altered and cashed at bank drive through windows. She tends to use the number two and three teller lanes. She drives large SUV's that may have dealer tags. In some instances she has had a child in the vehicle.

(March 25, 2004)

Bank ATMs Converted to Steal IDs of Bank Customers
A team of organized criminals is  installing equipment on legitimate bank ATMs in at least 2 regions to steal  both the ATM card number and the PIN. The team sits nearby in a car receiving  the information transmitted wirelessly over weekends and evenings from  equipment they install on the front of the ATM (see photos). If you see an  attachment like this, do not use the ATM and report it immediately to the bank  using the 800 number or phone on the front of the ATM.

The equipment used to capture  your ATM card number and PIN is cleverly disguised to look like normal ATM  equipment. A "skimmer" is mounted to the front of the normal ATM card slot  that reads the ATM card number and transmits it to the criminals sitting in a  nearby car.

At the same time, a wireless  camera is disguised to look like a leaflet holder and is mounted in a position  to view ATM PIN entries.

The thieves copy the cards and  use the PIN numbers to withdraw thousands from many accounts in a very short  time directly from the bank ATM.  More

(March 22, 2004)

ABA Daily Newsbytes Special Alert
A fraudulent e-mail purporting to be from the American Bankers Association is asking consumers to provide personal account information, including their Social Security numbers and credit card information. ABA did not - and would not - authorize such a communication. Similar so-called "phishing" incidents have been increasingly common on the Internet, targeting banks and other institutions - and even the FDIC recently. ABA is working with law enforcement officials to identify the source of the e-mails and to disrupt transmission.

The association advises consumers: 

• Never give out personal financial information to anyone unless you have initiated the call, e-mail or contact;

• If you have responded to this bogus email, contact your financial institution immediately to protect your account; and

• Forward fraudulent e-mails that use ABA's name to alert@aba.com.

ABA members may want to alert their customer service representatives and other customer-contact personnel to the existence of the fraudulent e-mail so that they can answer customers' questions. Read more.

(December 8, 2003)

Paula Adams, Assistant Vice President at First Bank of Dalton, alerts the membership to fraudulent checks:

"We have received two bogus checks with our bank name and routing number 061209756 (our routing number is 061104877). Makers of the checks are A-1 Guttering Inc and North American Carpet MiIIs."

 If you have information about these checks, please call Paula Adams at (706) 226-5377.