Security Center

Identity Theft Prevention

What steps can I take to help protect my identity?

Review the privacy policy of businesses you deal with.

Periodically review your credit report with the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. 

Cross-cut shred all documents containing personal information before tossing them in with your garbage.

Review account statements and bills and make sure each transaction listed matches your records.

Use caution on the internet to avoid spoofed emails and websites.

Avoid being caught in a phishing scheme by declining to release unnecessary personal information to those who do not need to know the information.

When should I contact Bank of Ocean City?

Please let us know if you have a question or concern about the security of your relationship with us.

If you ever have reason to believe the security of your account number, online banking username, password, Visa Debit Card or Visa Debit Card PIN has been compromised, please contact us immediately at one of our branch locations.

Contact a Bank of Ocean City Officer or Manager immediately if you have been approached online, on the phone or even in person by someone representing Bank of Ocean City but attempting to gain your personal information and have a reason to suspect the encounter was not official Bank of Ocean City business.

What should I do if I suspect my identity has been stolen?

As soon as you believe you have become a victim of Identity Theft you can refer to the Federal Trade Commission or Better Business Bureau websites for additional support including the steps necessary for reporting Identity Theft.

Avoiding Social Engineering Attacks

Click here to learn more

Online Banking Security Tips

Click here to learn more

A Cybersecurity Guide for Business

Click here to learn more

A Cybersecurity Guide for Customers

Click here to learn more

Be Alert, Be Smart, Be Aware

As your trusted financial partner, Bank of Ocean City will never contact you via unsolicited emails, phone calls, text messages or any other medium to request your Online Banking credentials or personal information. We maintain your information on file and have no need to contact you to obtain this information. If you are ever in doubt that an email, phone call or text message is legitimate, contact us directly to verify the request. 

Scam Alert!

Fraudsters are using phone calls and text messages in an attempt to obtain your personal information.

Bank of Ocean City customers have reported fraudulent phone calls and  text messages requesting confirmation of a transaction. 

The scam usually involves a customer receiving a fraudulent text message in which they are prompted to reply to approve or deny a transaction. Once the recipient replies to the text, they may receive a call from the scammer posing as a bank representative or the scammer will continue to text in an attempt to obtain additional information.

The scammer will ask the customer to provide personal information such as a social security number or online banking credentials to verify additional transactions and stop further fraudulent transactions. The scammer may also instruct the customer to transfer the money back through a money transfer app, such as Zelle, to reverse the transaction.

Be extremely cautious with any text message you receive and never provide personally identifiable information, such as Online Banking Credentials or Social Security Number.

Tips to Stay Alert and Spot the Scam

Scammers can spoof legitimate phone numbers. Scammers can replicate legitimate phone numbers and impersonate a business, which can fool victims into falling for the scam. Your caller ID may even display a business name. If you receive a call, hang up and call the bank directly using the number on your debit card or bank statement. If you receive a text, do not respond and call the bank directly.

Never share sensitive or personal information with unidentified individuals. Scammers will attempt to convince individuals to provide their personal information, birth dates, PINs, Social Security and any other sensitive information over the phone. You should never provide confidential account information to unidentified individuals or to unsolicited callers.

Scammers will use aggressive and urgent language. Scammers will prey on your fears and claim you must transfer the funds before it’s “too late.” They will use aggressive language to scare you into acting quickly. Be sure to remain calm, ask questions and never be rushed into anything. If you receive a call like this, hang up and call your bank directly.

Banks will never use a money transfer service to stop fraud. This should be an immediate red flag. Banks will never call and ask you to stop a fraud by using a money app, such as Zelle or Venmo, or any other bank transfer service. If you get a call like this, hang up immediately.

Four Signs That It's A Scam

1. Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know.
Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility company, a tech company, a financial institution, or even a charity asking for donations. They use technology to change the phone number that appears on your caller ID. So the name and number you see might not be real.

2. Scammers say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE.
They might say you’re in trouble with the government. Or you owe money. Or someone in your family had an emergency. Or that there’s a virus on your computer. Some scammers say there’s a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify some information. Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes but have to pay a fee to get it.

3. Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately.
Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. If you’re on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story. They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted.

4. Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way.
They often insist that you pay by sending money through a money transfer company or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back. Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), tell you to deposit it, and then send them money.

What You Can Do to Avoid a Scam 

Block unwanted calls and text messages. Take steps to block unwanted calls and to filter unwanted text messages.

Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect. Legitimate organizations won’t call, email, or text to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers. If you get an email or text message from a company you do business with and you think it’s real, it’s still best not to click on any links. Instead, contact them using a website you know is trustworthy. Or look up their phone number. Don’t call a number they gave you or the number from your caller ID.

Resist the pressure to act immediately. Legitimate businesses will give you time to make a decision. Anyone who pressures you to pay or give them your personal information is a scammer.

Know how scammers tell you to pay. Never pay someone who insists you pay with a gift card or by using a money transfer service. And never deposit a check and send money back to someone.

Stop and talk to someone you trust. Before you do anything else, tell someone — a friend, a family member, a neighbor — what happened. Talking about it could help you realize it’s a scam.

Remember to STOP and THINK before you CLICK or REPLY!