Fraud Alerts






































Be Aware

See below for more details on recent fraud alerts and common financial scams

Scammers may pose as:

  • Crypto advisors
  • Trading platforms
  • “Friends” from social media
  • Financial experts or investment coaches
  • Celebrities or online influencers
  • Wealth management firms

Red Flags:

  • Pressure to act quickly
  • Requests to keep the investment secret
  • Promises of guaranteed profits
  • Fake account balances showing large gains
  • Fees or taxes required before withdrawals

Protect Yourself:

  • Research the company through trusted sources.
  • Never invest based solely on social media recommendations.
  • Be cautious of anyone promising high returns with little or no risk.
  • Talk with a trusted financial professional before sending money.

According to the FTC, any investment promising guaranteed returns, high profits with little effort, or little to no risk should be treated as a major warning sign. Investment scammers frequently use social media, direct messages, and fake investment platforms to lure victims. 

A concise closing line that would fit your flyer:

If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Stop. Verify. Talk to your banker before sending money

 

SCENARIO:

Scammers claim: 

  • Your bank is stealing from you 

You are instructed to wire your money immediately to a safe account 

They often will tell you not to trust bank employee 

Keep the transaction secret 

 

This is always a scam.  No bank or government agency will ever ask you to move money to protect it. 

If it sounds too good to be true, it is. 

If You’re Unsure — Stop the Wire 

We are here to help.

If anything feels rushed, secretive, or unusual, talk to a banker before sending money. A short conversation could prevent a major loss. 

 

As technology progresses and our world changes, consumers must keep up to date with the newest types of scams that may target them. One type of scam uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. Scammers can impersonate your family and friends using AI technology to ask you for money or personal information. They do this by manipulating videos and recordings found on social media to produce realistic-sounding voice recordings or even videos. These are called voice cloning or deepfakes. During these scams, you’ll typically receive a call from what sounds like a panicked loved one asking for money.

Signs It’s a Voice-Cloning Scam:

  • You are contacted out of the blue.
  • You are pressured to act immediately, with no time to think.
  • The caller is urgently requesting money, usually through a wire transfer, gift card, payment app, or cryptocurrency. These methods of payment make it nearly impossible to get a refund once you’ve been scammed.
  • The caller is requesting personal or private information from you.
  • You are told to keep the caller’s request a secret.

How to Respond

  • Ask questions. Caller ID can be faked. Although a scammer may sound like a loved one, they won’t be able to answer personal questions that only your real loved one would know the answer to. You can ask them to confirm details that aren’t publicly available.
  • Be skeptical. Hang up and call the person back, but don’t simply redial the number that called you – call their trusted number. If you can’t reach that loved one directly, try to reach out through another family member or friend.
  • Stop and think. Urgency is one of a scammer’s most powerful tools in getting you to do what they want. You can take control of the situation by pausing for a moment to consider the situation rationally.
  • Be wary of what you share on social media. Scammers learn information about you and your loved ones through personal information shared online. Be mindful of the information you share, and make your accounts private so only trusted friends can see your posts.
  • Report the scam. You can report scams online to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC will use your report to investigate and bring cases against other frauds, scams, and bad business practices.

Signs It’s a Deepfake Scam:

  • Look for signs of an altered video including jerky or unrealistic movements, shifts in lighting or skin tone, strange or no blinking, and shadows around the eyes.
  • Listen for inconsistencies. Is the speaker doing something totally out of character, like asking for your money or personal information? Deepfake videos often feature strange word choices, stilted language, and choppy sentences.
  • The caller requesting money, usually urgently and through a hard to trace method like a wire transfer, gift card, payment app, or cryptocurrency.

How to Respond

  • React the same way you would any time you think you might be getting scammed. Stop to think and be skeptical of any information. Find a way to research or verify the claims in the video.
  • Flag the video. If you see this video on social media, you should report it to the platform.

SCENARIO:

Someone you met online (dating site, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) asks for money. 

Common signs: 

  • They claim to love you quickly 

  • They say they can’t meet in person 

  • They ask for secrecy 

  • They need money for travel, medical bills, or an emergency 

If you’ve never met them in person, do not send money. 

SCENARIO:

A pop‑up or caller claims your computer is infected or your bank account is compromised. 
They may: 

  • Ask you to download software 

  • Tell you to move money to a “safe account” 

  • Stay on the phone while you complete the wire 

No legitimate company or bank will ask you to wire money to fix a computer or protect your account. 

SCENARIO:

Scammers pretend to be: 

  • IRS 

  • Social Security 

  • FBI 

  • Sheriff’s Office 

  • U.S. Marshals 

They may claim: 

  • You owe taxes 

  • Your identity was stolen 

  • You will be arrested unless you pay immediately 

Government agencies will never demand a wire transfer. 

SCENARIO:

You’re told you won money or a prize — but must pay fees or taxes first. 
Red flags: 

  • You don’t remember entering 

  • They ask for secrecy 

  • They pressure you to act quickly 

You never have to pay to receive a legitimate prize. 

SCENARIO:

A contractor or repair person: 

  • Demands full payment upfront 

  • Changes payment instructions suddenly 

  • Provides a new account number “due to an issue” 

Always verify payment instructions using a known phone number 

SCENARIO:

You receive an email that appears to be from: 

  • A vendor 

  • A title company 

  • A contractor 

  • Your employer 

The email asks you to wire money to a new or updated account. 
Scammers often hack or spoof email accounts. 

Always confirm changes using a verified phone number — not email. 

SCENARIO:

Someone calls claiming to be: 

  • A grandchild 

  • A relative 

  • A lawyer or police officer 

They say your loved one is in trouble and needs money immediately. 
They often beg you not to tell anyone. 

Always verify with another family member before sending money. 


 If you believe you have been the victim of financial fraud or a scam, contact Farmers Bank & Trust and your local law enforcement agency immediately. Time is critical.

 

For the latest information on fraud trends, scam alerts, and consumer protection guidance, visit the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Alerts website.
FTC CONSUMER ALERTS

  

Report a Scam

Did you know the Federal Trade Commission will use your report to investigate and bring cases against other frauds, scams, and bad business practices?