Beware of Billing Fraud and other Fraudulent Behavior

There have been many reports of attempts to bill banking customers fraudulently or otherwise defraud them. Citibank urges you to be on the lookout for attempts such as the following:

“Authorities calling” fraud

A swindler pretending to be a police officer, lawyer, etc., calls you and says something like, “Your son has caused an accident, and a certain amount of money must be paid for a private settlement.”The swindler then instructs you to transfer the money for this.

Fictitious purchase billing fraud

A swindler bills you by email or postcard for usage fees for a pay- website, etc., that you do not remember having visited.

Money-lending fraud

Swindlers send you a false DM (direct mail) or email promising to “lend you money,” etc., under the pretense of being some sort of financial institution. If you contact them, they require you to transfer money in the form of a guarantee fee, etc.

Refund fee fraud

A swindler contacts you to inform you that you are owed a refund for taxes, medical care expenses, etc., and, after warning you that you will lose your right to receive the refund unless you complete certain procedures, directs you to an ATM. There you are given instructions by mobile phone, etc., requiring you to make a money transfer.

Proxy overseas remittance fraud

You receive an email message or sealed letter informing you that you will be paid a reward if you allow the sender to use your account to make an overseas remittance. If you agree, you will find it impossible to contact them after paying the transfer charges and service fees.

*Even if a reward is actually remitted to you, you may find yourself charged as an accessory to crime if the remittance was illegal.

How to stay alert:

• Do not transfer requested funds unless you have thoroughly confirmed whether high-amount cash transfer requests or billings reflect legitimate financial obligations.
• Never follow directions concerning ATM operation procedures given over a mobile phone.
• Never respond to suspicious email messages or offers from strangers.