Shawn Dyer, Fraud Specialist at Montecito Bank & Trust, sounds the alarm about check fraud, which is on the rise. She urges people to utilize online banking so they can check the activity of their bank accounts frequently and pull up check images that may have been altered.

She also talks about the Tech Scam, which is still rampant. The scammer pretends to work for a tech company. They tell the victim that they are owed a refund and then accidentally overpay them . In reality, after gaining access to a person's login information, the scammer transfers money from their savings account to their checking account online. When the victim sees the balance, they believe the scammer really did pay them too much. Of course the scammer claims that if the money is not returned, they'll lose their job. The victim is sympathetic and wants to help out. They are instructed to make a cash withdrawal from their bank and deposit it through a bitcoin machine. Don't fall for this scam; your money will be gone forever!

Lastly, Vicki shares some Good News. A Russian Malware Developer who extorted a small fortune from US citizens was extradited to the US where he was convicted and sent to federal prison.

To talk to Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson about a scam or to tell your story on Scam Squad to warn others, call the Fraud Hotline at 805-568-2442.

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