Skip to main content

SCAM WARNING - Fraudsters are calling clients, spoofing the Bank's phone number and posing as MB&T employees. These fraudsters ask for Online Banking passwords and one-time PINs. We will never ask for this information. Please hang up & call your branch, Relationship Manager, or our Service Center (805-963-7511) immediately.

SCAM WARNING - Bankers never ask for your Online Banking password or one-time codes. Learn More

Fraud Protection

Reporting Fraud and Identifying Theft

Steps to securing your account.

An elderly person holding a phone with a lock icon in front of a computer in the background.
<

Fraud on your account? Let's fix it together.

Discovering fraud on your financial accounts can feel overwhelming, but you're not alone. With the right steps, you can regain control, minimize damage, and protect yourself moving forward. We're here to guide you through the process so you can feel secure knowing your finances are safe.

  1. Contact us as soon as you notice any unauthorized activity. Our team will secure your account and help you dispute fraudulent transactions.

    Call us at (805)-963-7511 Visit a branch

  2. Review recent transactions carefully to identify all unauthorized charges. Make a list of suspicious activity for the bank so we can investigate.

  3. Enable real-time alerts for your accounts to stay informed of any future activity. These notifications can help you quickly detect and respond to suspicious transactions. You can set up alerts in Online Banking, and through CardControl in the MB&T mobile app for debit and credit card activity.

  4. Consider placing an identity theft alert or a freeze on your credit report with major credit bureaus. An identity theft alert will inform anyone who obtains your credit report that you are a victim of identity theft and will require them to contact you at a phone number you provide when your credit report is accessed by a third party. A freeze prevents fraudsters from opening new accounts in your name while you resolve the issue.

    Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 Experian: 1-888-397-3742 TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

  5. Report the fraud or identity theft to the FTC, FBI, and local law enforcement.

    • Visit identitytheft.gov to report the incident to the FTC and to obtain helpful information on how to recover from an identity theft or fraud incident. Printed copies of the Identity Theft Repair Kit are also available at all of our branches.
    • If the fraud or identity theft occurred via the internet, file a report with the FBI at https://www.ic3.gov/
    • Filing a report with local law enforcement can help document what occurred and can help law enforcement tie together related crimes. Many local law enforcement agencies allow you to file these reports online, for example:

    City of Santa Barbara Police: https://santabarbaraca.gov/government/departments/police-department/online-police-reporting-system
    Santa Barbara County Sheriff: https://www.sbsheriff.org/home/make-a-report/
    City of Ventura Police: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1069/File-a-Police-Report
    City of Oxnard Police: https://www.oxnard.gov/police-department

Additional Resources

Want to learn more ways to stay safe from fraud? Here are some more topics to explore.

A man's hand holding a phone displaying a secured lock on the top.
Fraud Protection Tools

Your security is important to us. Check out the tools we have in place to protect your sensative information.

Learn more
Locked screen and credit card on top of a keyboard.
Fraud Prevention 101

Check out our library of information and resources to help you, and your business, combat fraud.

Learn more
A hand holding a phone displaying fraud text alert messages.
Fraud Text Alerts

We proactively look for, and alert you to, potentially fraudulent card activity so you can rest easy.

Learn more