The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office is alerting the community to a new banking scam tactic that has been reported in the area.
Scammers are contacting individuals and instructing them to download a banking app, often from a bank the person does not use, and to access an account. The fraudsters then direct victims to deposit cash into an ATM using the tap/mobile feature on their phone.
The District Attorney’s Office warns, if you are contacted by someone asking you to do the following:
- Download a banking app from a bank you do not use.
- Deposit cash into an ATM using a mobile banking app for any reason.
- Transfer funds to “protect” your money.
“Legitimate banks and government agencies will never ask you to access accounts for someone else, deposit cash into an account that is not yours, or move your money to protect it. Once cash is deposited, it can be quickly transferred out, making it extremely difficult to recover,” the DA said.
How to Protect Yourself
- Do not download apps at the direction of someone you do not know and trust.
- Never deposit cash or transfer funds for someone else.
- Do not share banking information, verification codes, or login credentials.
- If you are unsure, pause and verify directly with your financial institution using a trusted phone number.
If you believe you have been targeted or have questions about this or other scams, contact the Scam Hotline, 805-568-2442.
“We urge everyone to remain vigilant and to share this information with family and friends, especially seniors and vulnerable community members,” the District Attorney’s Office said.