BEWARE OF CALL FORWARDING SCAMS

The financial services industry is experiencing an increase in call forwarding scams.

How Call Forwarding Scams Work:

• You receive a call from someone claiming to be from AllNations Bank about an urgent problem with your account.
• During the conversation they ask you to enter a special code on your phone (like *72 or *401) plus a 10-digit number to secure your account.
• This activates call forwarding, redirecting all your calls to the scammer’s phone.

Scammers then receive your phone calls to obtain information such as your username, password, and authentication codes.

Protect Yourself:

• Never follow instructions to enter *72 or *401 or any other special code plus a phone number from an unexpected caller.
• Never provide your account information to someone claiming to be from AllNations Bank. We have your account information – we do not need you to provide it.
• Be skeptical of any unexpected calls or texts claiming to be AllNations Bank.
• Be skeptical of requests to enter codes to fix an account problem.
• Don’t rely on Caller ID, it can be faked.
• Be skeptical of urgent requests.
• Monitor your accounts regularly.
• If you receive a call that is the slightest bit suspicious, hang up and call a known AllNations Bank phone number to verify. Call your banker, your local branch, or a number on our website like 405-893-2240.

Debit Card Fraud occurs when your card information is obtained, and transactions are made without your knowledge or approval.

1. DO NOT reply to any unsolicited email, pop-up message or phone call asking for personal and/or financial information. Legitimate businesses should never ask for this information online.
2. DO NOT open any email link or attachment if you suspect the message is fraudulent — be suspicious.
3. DO review account statements regularly to verify all transactions.
4. DO use anti-virus software, anti-spyware and a firewall — and keep them up to date.

Generally accepted password standards today include:

1. Be unique from other business or non-business accounts.
2. Don’t reuse passwords.
3. Consist of at least ten (10) characters.
4. Be composed of each of the following:

• Lower case letters
• Upper case letters
• Numbers
• Special characters

Avoid using the following:

1. Common dictionary words.
2. Repeating characters.

User information (i.e.: username, first name, last name, phone number, family, towns, state, or institution name).

Although AllNations Bank takes precautions to protect your account from unauthorized online access, you must also have the appropriate security practices in place to ensure your information remains safe. Here are some suggestions for keeping your computer secure and safe enough for online banking.

• Choose a strong password that is at least ten characters long and consists of numbers, letters, and special characters.
• Make sure your computer has a firewall to help prevent unauthorized access to your computer by restricting allowable communication.
• Install malware protection and anti-virus software. These programs detect and respond to threats that may reach your computer through an e-mail attachment or website.
• Regularly update your security programs; otherwise, they will be ineffective against the latest threats.
• Make it a habit to monitor account activity frequently and notify us immediately if you notice suspicious transactions.
• Keep login information safe. Do not share your login information with anyone.
• Be wary of unsolicited e-mail or text messages. Do not open unsolicited e-mails or texts  sent to you from senders you do not recognize or even pretend to be from a business or bank.
• Use public Wi-Fi connections with caution. Public networks are often unsecure, and information passed through them is not encrypted.
• Protect your phone or tablet with a password – the more complex your password, PIN, swipe pattern or other form of authentication can be the better.

May 15, 2024

 Attorney General Drummond, OG&E partner to warn customers about solar scams

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 15, 2024) — Attorney General Gentner Drummond and OG&E are partnering to warn Oklahomans about scams involving solar energy equipment and services.

Drummond encouraged Oklahomans to remain vigilant in protecting themselves against phone scams.

“Fraudsters are always finding new ways to separate unsuspecting individuals from their money, and this latest phone scam is no exception,” he said. “Oklahomans should be cautious with high-pressure tactics in phone or door-to-door solicitations, even when they purport to be connected to a reputable company. Always verify.”

OG&E customers have alerted the electric company to a recent increase in automated phone calls. One call promises thousands of dollars in rebates for OG&E customers in the wake of “new energy policy” and “mandates.” The caller then asks customers to sign-up for a solar energy program saying it will “support our new mandate.”

The other call features someone claiming to be with OG&E and threatening to cut off the customers’ service if they don’t pay their bill immediately over the phone. Customers also have reported to OG&E an increase in door-to-door salespeople trying to sell solar equipment and falsely claiming to be partnering or working with OG&E.

“We never call our customers and ask them to pay their bills, nor do we go door-to-door to enroll them in special programs or services. Despite any claims, OG&E does not have any solar panel installation partners, nor do we recommend or partner with any company selling solar generation equipment,” said Aaron Cooper, manager of corporate communications. “We understand the frustrations and impact of scams, and we want our customers to be aware and protect themselves from falling victim to the latest scam. We appreciate the Attorney General and his team for their work to protect Oklahomans from these types of scams.”

The Consumer Protection Unit of the Attorney General’s office offers tips to avoid falling victim to this scam:

• No reputable company will pressure you to sign up immediately;
• No reputable company will demand payment upfront or in a certain format (e.g. wire, Venmo/CashApp/Zelle, gift cards, cryptocurrency);
• Ignore numbers you don’t recognize;
• If you believe the offer might be real, go to the OG&E website and call the customer assistance line to verify;
• If you miss a call from an unknown number, do not call back; and
• Remind elderly friends and neighbors who may be vulnerable to these types of scams about ways to avoid becoming a victim.

Anyone who believes they may be victimized by a phone scam should contact the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General at consumerprotection@oag.ok.gov or (833) 681-1895.

Editor’s Note: Audio recordings of the scam calls are available upon request by contacting OG&E at ogenews@oge.com or (405) 553-3616.

Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim.

Tips for Avoiding Romance Scams:

• Be careful what you post and make public online. Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
• Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.
• Go slowly and ask lots of questions.
• Beware if the individual seems too perfect or quickly asks you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.
• Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.
• Beware if the individual promises to meet in person but then always comes up with an excuse why he or she can’t. If you haven’t met the person after a few months, for whatever reason, you have good reason to be suspicious.
• Never send money or gift cards to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.

Learn more from FBI.GOV

Please know that AllNations Bank Employees will NEVER ask you for your internet banking password, your full social security number, or your debit card PIN.  You should request these requests as fraud, including phone calls, letters, texts, or emails.   

Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated and are able to send convincing emails and text that appear to be from the bank when they aren’t.  We will never send you a text message to confirm a transaction.  Block the sender, then delete the message.

Additionally, we did not send an email about signing up for bill pay fraud alerts.  Please be cautious when you see an email that is portraying it is from the bank. Do not click on links.   Hover over to see where the link leads you to.  In most cases it is fraud. Do not call the phone numbers in the email. Block the sender and delete the message.