Avoiding Fraud

We highly encourage every Plastiq member to familiarize themselves with the increasing risk of online fraud and what to watch out for to ensure the security of your account. Protect your account details and payment information by noting the common red flags of fraud in emails, texts, or phone calls. 

We also suggest taking a moment to learn about what additional steps you can take to secure your account against bad actors. 

Email Fraud ("Phishing")

One of the most common types of online fraud is called "Phishing." Phishing is when a fraudster attempts to obtain private personal or business information via email. The emails often present themselves as urgent requests from a familiar business or colleague, asking you to provide them with information, click a suspicious link, or download a malicious file.

Complying with their request can give them access to your account or computer so they can steal your payment information and private personal/business details. 

Identifying a Phishing Attempt

• Check the sender's email address. Does it look misspelled, unfamiliar, or otherwise suspicious?
  
  
• Were you expecting an email from Plastiq? Does it address you by name?
  
  
• Is the message full of spelling and grammatical errors? 
  
  
• Is it asking you to respond urgently with private information? Does it advise you to avoid reaching out to Plastiq to confirm the request?
  
  
• If the email includes a link, is it a Plastiq URL? Does it seem strange, misspelled, or reference another website other than Plastiq?   

If you're uncertain whether or not a message you received is an authorized communication from Plastiq, please reach out to our support team. Feel free to forward the email in question to help us investigate. 

Phone Fraud

Plastiq does not conduct customer service or marketing outreach via text messages or phone. Plastiq will only send you an automated text or call if you're utilizing the 2-step authentication security feature to provide you with your authentication code. 

Fraudsters can contact you via text message to present themselves as an automated request or account activity notice from a familiar business (such as Plastiq or your bank) to trick you into providing sensitive account or payment details. Do not respond to text messages that request such information. 

If you receive an unexpected phone call from someone claiming to represent Plastiq, do not provide them any personal information or account details. Inform the caller that you will follow-up with Plastiq directly and end the call. Contact our team and let us know if you receive a suspicious call so our team can investigate.

Red Flags

• Is the caller or text asking for your username, password, or full card number? Plastiq will never verify your identity by asking you these details. 
  
  
• If you're feeling suspicious about the nature of an unrecognized call, do not answer. If you're speaking with the caller, do not divulge any personal or account information and hang up. You can contact Plastiq directly to verify the authenticity of that call. 
  
  
• Fraudsters have methods to trick your Caller ID and present themselves as legitimate calls from a familiar business. If you accept the call, do not provide them any personal or account information- let them know you will contact Plastiq directly to verify the request and hang up.

If you've received a suspicious phone call from someone claiming to represent Plastiq, please reach out to our support team so our team can investigate further.