Customer impersonators targeting HELOC accounts in Oklahoma

OBA’s Fraud Division has issued an alert regarding traveling customer impersonators currently in Oklahoma.

Presenting counterfeit U.S. Military ID and targeting HELOC accounts is the latest trend for this fraud scheme and it’s causing financial institutions substantial loss.  Alerts on CrimeDex indicate the HELOC withdrawal request may result in outgoing cash, cashier’s checks, or wires.

Loss mitigation:

• Talk to your call and customer support employees about being extra cautious of any calls or balance inquiries involving HELOC accounts.
• If front-line employees do not know the customer personally, anyone presenting a U.S. Passport Card or U.S. Military ID (your bank should not have a copy of any customer’s military ID on file as federal law prohibits the copying of most military identification cards) attempting to withdraw funds, especially from a HELOC, should require a second form of identification and verbal verification from the customer (make sure the customer’s phone number of record has not been changed in the previous 30 days!).

Below are several of the individuals in Oklahoma from the past week: