Money Transfer Job Offer Fraud

Be cautious of job offers that involve money transfers because they are designed to propagate fraud.  Here’s how it works: Crooks break into the bill-pay account of innocent victims and send money to people who responded to offers like the example shown below and become unwitting “mules” in a chain of fraud. When the bill-pay money is credited to the mule’s account (either by ACH or by check), his “job” is to withdraw it and send it elsewhere by Western Union, Money Gram or Green Dot.  The crooks pick up the cash at the other end to complete the circle of fraud.  The mule keeps 20% thinking that he has performed a valuable service.

Any “job” that involves the transfer of money from your account elsewhere is designed to promote fraud.  Do not get involved.

As for the victims who had their online account broken into, one or two things probably happened:  1) they gave their user name, password, and challenge question answers to an online contact, or 2) a backdoor virus allowed cyber-crooks to gain access.

We always counsel our customers to NEVER give their online banking credentials to an online contact, no matter how good looking he/she is.  No honest person would EVER ask for that information.  If that information is divulged, the contact will break into your online account and send money to mules who think their job is to transfer the money elsewhere.

If you’re a customer of State Bank of Southern Utah and you have revealed your online login credentials (user name, password, or answers to challenge questions), please call us at (435) 865-2394.