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Check your online statements daily to catch fraud fast! Real-time access helps spot unauthorized charges within critical windows—set up alerts to stay protected and keep fraud at bay.
“Check your online statement at least once per day; it may help keep fraud away.”
Checking your online statement once a day could be your best defense against fraud’s tricks! Financial institutions spend six to seven figures annually to offer you real-time statements that you can access through your internet browser or smartphone app. By reviewing these statements regularly, you can quickly spot any spooky irregularities and alert your financial institution before they turn into real nightmares!
The key to most payment systems is timing, whether it be timing to return payments or shut down an access device to prevent future fraudulent payments. Fraud happens quickly, which is why it’s imperative that your organization looks at real-time account activity once per day.
Let’s run through a few examples:
Unauthorized Checks
Per Reg CC and UCC 4, financial institutions may return checks within 24 hours of being presented to the paying institution. During this timeframe, your financial institution can file a breach of warranty or an indemnity request while waiting for the response of said requests.
Unauthorized Debit Card Activity
If a cardholder notices fraud on their account and contacts their financial institution immediately, the institution may close the card immediately to prevent future fraudulent payments.
Unauthorized ACH Debits
Per the ACH Rules, corporate debits posted to your organization’s account may only be returned by your financial institution within 24 hours of the settlement date. While some ACH transaction types may have an extended return window, it’s still best to review online statements daily and notify your financial institution of unauthorized transactions immediately. After realizing your organization has received a fraudulent transaction, you can also consider obtaining a new account.
Unauthorized ACH Credit/Wire Transfer Received in Error
Your organization could have tax issues if a credit that isn’t yours is accepted and is spent as income. By checking accounts daily, your organization can request any credits be returned promptly.
To help catch fraud in real-time, here are a few additional tips:
- Utilize the alerts component from your online platform.
- Fraud scores from your card processor may assist with detecting unusual debit card patterns.
- Turn on wire transfer notifications for incoming wires.
- Check on FedPayments® reporting (or reporting services similar to it) for next-day ACH payment reporting.
This spooky season, keep the fraudsters in check by looking at online statements daily and receiving alerts in a timely manner!
Heartland Bank is a family-owned bank located in 15 communities across the heart of Nebraska. Its vision is to improve the lives of customers, associates, and communities. Heartland Bank is a six-time recipient of American Bankers' Best Banks to Work For award.
