COVID-19 solutions Fraud Protection

Protect your finances from fraud.

It’s critical to be caring for your physical safety right now—but what about your financial safety? With so much uncertainty and so many heightened emotions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s an easy time to be the victim of a financial scam.

Help keep your finances and personal information safe by learning about fraud prevention.

Do’s and don’ts of fraud prevention

Always remember: BB&T, now Truist, and SunTrust, now Truist will never use phone calls, text messages, or emails asking you to provide, update, or verify personal information, such as passwords, Social Security numbers, PINs, or credit or check card numbers.

Don’t give in to COVID-19 scams

There are already reports of scams involving Economic Impact Payments (EIP) and Paycheck Protection Program loans, as well as fake at-home coronavirus testing kits or vaccines. Criminals work fast to take advantage of scary situations.

Understand your EIP benefits

Economic Impact Payments are now being distributed through direct deposit. For those without bank information on file with the IRS, checks will soon be arriving by mail. Find out how your payment will arrive, and how much it will be for by logging onto the IRS’s Get My Payment website. Beware of fake checks with extra payments, requests to return overpayments by personal check, money order, or gift card, or urgent requests for personal information in order to receive your payment.

Don’t be a victim of social media

Don’t give in to pressure

Many scammers will create a sense of urgency to take advantage of you. This is especially effective during these difficult times when many people are emotionally vulnerable. Beware of high-pressure or time-sensitive asks for financial or personal information.

Don’t send money to strangers

Don’t send checks, money orders, gift cards, cash, or wire transfers to anyone you don’t know. Beware of emotional grandparent scams or enticing fake check scams.

Proofread messages you receive

Email (phishing) and text message scams can often be identified by poor grammar or misspellings. They may also direct you to legitimate-looking links. To view the real URL of a hyperlink, hover your mouse over the linked text. Don’t trust an email that doesn’t sound right or is directing you to an unknown website, even if it looks like an official communication.

Don’t download attachments

If you don’t know or can’t confirm the sender of an email, don’t download any attachments they sent you. This is especially true of files ending in .zip, .exe, .doc, .pdf, or .xls.

Be suspicious

Many phishing scams will come from authentic-looking email addresses or cleverly disguised caller ID numbers. If you can’t verify a request on your own, reach out to the company that claims to have sent it.

Learn more about protecting yourself and others from scams

Share what you know—and help others along the way. You can report suspected or confirmed scams at the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. You can also email the IRS to report phishing scams at phishing@irs.gov.

The Federal Trade Commission provides up-to-date information on the latest scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The more you know about fraud, the less likely you are to become a victim. Learn more at BB&T Privacy and Security Central and SunTrust Fraud and Security Center.

Listen to our podcast about pandemic-related fraud and phishing. Benjamin Tuttle from our Cyber Security Awareness team shares valuable tips and advice about how to stay safe.

Take action

Contact your bank right away if you believe you are a victim of fraud.

If you believe you’ve received fraudulent contact from BB&T, now Truist, or SunTrust, now Truist, please tell us. These could include phishing calls, emails, text messages, and pop-up windows—even fraudulent social media posts.

Heritage BB&T clients

Call (800) 226-5228 or send email to InternetFraud@BBandT.com

Heritage SunTrust clients

Call (800) 447-8994 or send email to EmailAbuse@SunTrust.com