Fraud Prevention with ESL: Common Scams to Be Aware Of

Fraud can happen to anyone. It’s becoming more common in everyday moments, from texts and emails to online interactions. But the more you know what to look for, the easier it is to stay one step ahead of fraud.

Familiarize yourself with some of today’s most common scams and how to spot them, along with ways to protect yourself and your information. By taking the time to understand the warning signs, you can make more confident decisions and play an active role in safeguarding your information.

Types of Scams

Impersonation Fraud

Impersonation is when a fraudster pretends to be a legitimate source from a business, bank, the government, or law enforcement, to name some examples.

Impersonation fraud often shows up in the form of an unsolicited email, text, or link.

Relationship Scams

In this type of fraud, a criminal uses a fake identity to gain trust and build a relationship. They use the illusion of an interpersonal connection to steal money or information from you. This type of criminal tends to move slowly, but eventually, they’ll ask you for money.

Tech Support Fraud

With tech support fraud, a criminal impersonates a company and states that your device is infected with a virus. They lead you to believe that there is a real problem with your technology and that you need to reach out to them immediately for support.

Wire Transfer Scams

This type of fraud involves a scammer creating elaborate scenarios and fake emergencies to trick you into sending money via wire transfer. They might also send a fake check and ask you to cash it to send them the money.

How to Safeguard Yourself from Fraud

While scams can take many forms, most rely on the same tactics — urgency, pressure, and requests for personal information. Remembering to pause and knowing how to respond can make all the difference.

Ways to Prevent Fraud

Small steps like these can go a long way toward protecting your accounts.

Take a moment before you act.
If something feels urgent or unexpected, pause. Fraudsters often rely on pressure to force you into making quick decisions.

Verify before you respond.
If you receive a message from a bank, company, or even someone you know, use a trusted phone number or website to confirm it’s legitimate.

Avoid clicking unfamiliar links or attachments.
Especially if they come from unknown or suspicious sources. Remember, ESL will never ask you to click a link to verify your information.

Keep your personal information private.
Never share passwords, account numbers, or sensitive details over email, text, or phone — unless you’re certain who you’re communicating with.

Watch for unusual payment requests.
Requests for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency can be a sign of fraud.

Trust your instincts.
If something feels off, it’s worth taking a closer look or asking for help.

Fraud Prevention with ESL

At ESL, helping you protect your financial well-being is part of our commitment to the community. That means providing not just financial tools, but also guidance and support to help you navigate situations like fraud.

If something doesn’t seem right, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Our team is here to help you review suspicious activity, answer questions, and take steps to help secure your accounts, if needed.

Key Takeaway:
Staying informed is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself, and ESL is here to support you every step of the way.

Concerns? If you think your account is at risk, call us at 585.336.1000 or 800.848.2265. You can also visit your local branch and start an in-person conversation.

Questions? Email us at Fraud_Prevention@esl.org.