Cybercriminals are after your money. To gain access to bank accounts and credits card, Cybercriminals are using clever schemes to defraud millions of people every year. They often combine new technology with old tricks to coerce people into sending money and providing sensitive personal information.

You can take steps to protect yourself from Cybercriminals seeking your money and personal information.

• Spot imposters. Cybercriminals pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official or a company you do business with like your bank or internet service provider. Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request — whether it comes as a text, a phone call or an email. If you believe it may be a legitimate request, contact the requestor directly to confirm the request.
• Do online searches. Type a company or product name into your favorite search engine with words like “review”, “complaint” or “scam.” Or search for a phrase that describes your situation, like “IRS call.” You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them as scams.
• Don’t believe your caller ID. Technology makes it easy for Cybercriminals to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see aren’t always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, do not respond. Instead, if you believe it may be a legitimate request, contact the requestor directly to confirm the request.
• Hang up on robocalls. If you answer the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up. These calls are illegal, and often the products are bogus. Don’t press 1 to speak to a person or to be taken off the list. That could lead to more calls.
• Don’t deposit a check and wire money back. M&T is required to make funds available from check deposits within days; however, the availability of funds does not guarantee a check’s authenticity. Therefore, be cautious of any demands requesting urgent or immediate action and always wait an extended period of time before accessing funds from unfamiliar check deposits.