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SECURITY CENTER

Your security is our top priority. At Bank of China U.S.A. (“BOCUSA”), we employ a range of security measures to protect your information, but there are additional steps you can take to ensure your safety. 

If you have any questions on our latest banking services, please visit our branches and speak to a Customer Service Representative or contact us by phone in order to avoid any potential fraud. You can also click here to contact us. Below are some important tips to help keep your account and personal information safe.

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE

Protecting yourself from fraud starts with taking proactive steps to safeguard your personal information and accounts. By following these simple yet effective measures, you can reduce the risk of becoming a victim and stay one step ahead of potential threats.

Report to BOCUSA: If you suspect that your BOCUSA banking information has been compromised, please report the incident immediately to BOCUSA at [email protected] or call BOCUSA Corporate and Personal Banking Services at 1 (212) 935-3101 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST Mon – Fri).

Regularly monitor your account and review statements to detect and address any unauthorized transactions promptly.

Make sure your contact information is current: We need to reach you quickly if we detect unusual activity on your account. Please review and update your contact details to ensure everything is accurate.

Protect your mail and avoid sending checks in the mail when possible. The safest way to protect against check theft is to make payments online. Letters addressed to utility companies or tax authorities may make them a target. Use a gel pen, such as a Uni-Ball 207, to write checks to combat “check washing.” If you must send a check by mail, use the mailbox inside of a USPS facility rather than at a curbside USPS mailbox or your residential outgoing mail. Consider signing up for Informed Delivery by USPS, a free service that provides you with daily notifications about the mail you're set to receive.

Protect your personal information by going paperless: Minimize the risk of fraudsters accessing your information through paper statements that may be stolen in the mail by opting-in for electronic statements.

Secure your new or replacement debit card: Always check your mail promptly and handle it with care, especially if you're expecting a new debit card delivery. Like any item sent through the mail, newly issued debit cards may be intercepted during transit. Let us know if you feel like it hasn’t arrived on time.

Carefully Verify Payment Information: If you are making payments by phone or computer, please carefully verify the payment information.

Do not lend or sell your account: BOCUSA urges customers not to sell or lend their accounts to others for money or for a job, as they may be abused for unlawful purposes and customers may expose themselves to the risk of criminal or civil liability.

Be cautious when sending payments to parties abroad, including to Hong Kong and China. If fraud or a scam is involved, recovering the funds can be extremely difficult due to differing international regulations and the challenges of cross-border law enforcement.

Protect Your Computer Against Malware
Malware, or malicious software, refers to programs like viruses and spyware that infect your computer to steal sensitive personal information.

To protect your computer:

  • Keep your browser updated with the latest security patches.
  • Ensure your home computer has up-to-date anti-virus software.
  • Avoid downloading files from file-sharing or social networking sites.
  • Do not open downloads or email attachments from unknown sources.
  • Refrain from clicking on suspicious pop-up ads, especially those requesting sensitive information.

 

IDENTIFY FRAUD AND SCAMS

Explore key red flags, common scam typologies, and emerging trends to help safeguard yourself against fraud. While this information provides a strong foundation, staying vigilant is essential as new threats continue to evolve.

Behavioral Red Flags

Sense of urgency—pressure to act immediately!

Element of secrecy (“don’t tell your family or law enforcement about this”).

Offers that are too good to be true (investment returns, job offer, etc.)

Emotional manipulation (pretending to fall in love and then urgently ask for money).

Transaction and Payment Red Flags

Unusual payment method requested (payment method requested is difficult to trace or reverse like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers).

Overpayment scams (scammer gives you a check for more than the agreed amount and ask for the difference to be refunded—the check you deposited later bounces).

Advance payment request—pay upfront for a prize, loan, or job that never materializes (“pay a processing fee to claim your prize”).

Communication Red Flags

Unsolicited Contact: Unexpected calls, emails, or texts from someone claiming to be a trusted entity like BOCUSA or a government agency.

Requests for Personal Information: Fraudster asks for sensitive information like your Social Security number, account details, or passwords (“verify your identity by providing your online banking password” [banks never ask for your password]).

Poor spelling or grammar: Messages containing typos, awkward language and phrasing (note—artificial intelligence is helping fraudsters improve their writing).

Suspicious Situations

Requests from “family members” or “friends” in trouble (“I’m stranded abroad without any money”).

Requests for Remote Access: Fraudster asks to access your computer or for your to download an app on your phone to fix a problem (“Download this app so I can resolve the issue”).

Beware of bogus phone calls, text messages, and emails—please verify with the Bank when in doubt.

Whether it’s a scammer impersonating BOCUSA or a real call, stay safe by ending unexpected calls and calling BOCUSA Corporate and Personal Banking Services at 1 (212) 935-3101 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mon – Fri).

Phone Scams

Don't trust Caller ID—scammers can make any name or number appear—even if it looks like BOCUSA’s number. Always be cautious of incoming calls. Scam calls often create a false sense of urgency, pressuring you to act immediately or threatening you—stay calm, hang up, and contact BOCUSA directly. Protect your personal information by avoiding calls that request sensitive details like financial or personal data. If you receive such a request, hang up immediately and do not provide any information.

Scam Texts

To avoid text scams, be cautious of texts from strange numbers or ones using urgent warnings.Scam texts may try to create panic or ask for personal information like passwords or account numbers—real banks won’t do this. Watch out for odd grammar or spelling mistakes, and don’t click on suspicious links. Always verify by calling BOCUSA.

Scam Emails 

To avoid email scams, be cautious of unusual email addresses, misspelled words, and scare tactics. Watch for suspicious URLs; we’ll never ask you to log in via email. And never open unexpected attachments, as we don’t send them without a request—they could contain harmful malware.

Scam Websites

Ensure you’re on the official BOCUSA website by visiting www.bocusa.com. Fraudsters may create fake websites that mimic the real one to steal customer information. These counterfeit sites are often linked in phishing emails or texts, so always double-check the web address before entering any personal or financial details.

Romance/Investment Scams (“Pig Butchering”)

Be wary of unsolicited messages from strangers or long-lost contacts, especially via text or social media, urging you to invest in platforms that don’t exactly match official websites. Avoid sending payments to romantic interests who ask for money or encourage you to invest in cryptocurrency, often promising guaranteed profits. Scammers frequently pose as online love interests through apps like WhatsApp and dating apps. If someone you’ve met online is pushing you to make financial transactions, especially involving investments, it’s a major red flag for a potential scam.

Recognize Impersonation Scams

Impersonation scams often involve fraudsters posing as government officials, such as embassy representatives, customs officers, law enforcement, or even BOCUSA employees. The banking industry, including BOCUSA, has recently observed a significant increase in bank impersonation scam calls. Scammers may attempt to impersonate BOCUSA employees, by spoofing our official phone number, (212) 935-3101, or other numbers affiliated with the Bank, to gain your trust or reduce your vigilance. They may manipulate caller IDs to mask their identity and fabricate false allegations, such as involvement in identity theft or criminal activity. Fraudsters may present fake documents like arrest warrants to seem legitimate and even ask you to sign confidentiality agreements to prevent you from seeking help. A common tactic is pressuring you into transferring money under the guise of "cooperating with an investigation" or securing your funds. If you feel pressured, it’s a red flag.

To learn more about the latest scams, and get advice to help you avoid, report, and recover from them, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s scams page.