Don’t get played: Adapting to fraud threats in an ever-changing world
posted on 19 January 2026
By Daniel Arens, Hazen Star Editor
When it comes to fraud and threats to your personal and financial accounts, it is almost difficult to know where to begin.
Technology, finance and the online world are all places that are constantly evolving and ever in flux. This means the tools and strategies that scammers use to target people, and the tools and strategies organizations, businesses and agencies use to combat these scams, also change continually.
In the midst of these changes, it is important for people to take charge of their own accounts, taking the time to make sure transactions are made and recorded correctly.
At the same time, as fraud becomes more prevalent and more difficult to identify, people need to recognize that there is no shame in asking questions, double-checking information and seeking help if you are suspicious of fraud or have yourself fallen victim to a scam.
Acknowledging a difficult reality
“I want to put this out right now,” Christie Huber Obenauer, CEO and president of Union State Bank, said. “This whole fraud thing has gotten to be such a leashless monster now. Maybe it always had been, but entering the spaceless and digital age has changed the breadth and depth of this.”
She added that staying ahead of the curve when it comes to fraud seems nearly impossible, feeling like institutions are always playing defense as fraud activity continues to evolve.
Ginny Cheatley, a member of USB’s Fraud Team, said a key takeaway in addressing the issue of fraud is to normalize talking about this. She said people need to recognize that they are not alone in falling victim to fraud and they should not feel shame in talking about their situation with banks or agencies that can help them.
“Education and awareness are really key to fighting a lot of this as well,” Michelle Harm, another member of the USB Fraud Team, said.
“Fighting fraud is a shared responsibility between the banks, in our relationships, people on people,” Kate Weigel, USB marketing officer, added. “It takes all of us.”
This issue is one which extends across the nation, for all kinds of businesses and throughout the banking industry.
“I completely agree that fraud has increased in the digital age,” Wayne Hoffner, resource officer with The Union Bank, said. “We are seeing more check fraud, cashier check fraud, than we have seen before. But it’s also more wire fraud, more emails: There is an uptick in everything.”
Hoffner said all banks, credit unions and lending institutions will need to go through continuing training and education to stay on top of current fraud concerns.
A snapshot in 2024 numbers
The numbers around fraud can be frightening. In 2024, there were 2.6 million fraud reports and $12.5 billion reported lost, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Harm said estimates are that this is only about half the actual numbers, since many fraud instances go unreported.
Comparisons show the recent increase as well. In 2020 there was $90 million lost and 38,000 reports related to job scams and employment agency losses. In 2024, those numbers soared to $501 million lost and 105,000 reports. Losses to investment scams climbed from $3.8 billion in 2022 to $4.6 billion in 2023 to $5.7 billion in 2024.
Fraud can also come in any and all different forms. The highest losses per person that are reported come from phone call scams; the highest losses overall come from social media; and the highest number of reports come from emails. Fraud also is not simply something that only elderly people who are not “tech-savvy” fall prey to. In 2024, 44 percent of reported fraud involving the actual loss of money was reported by 20-29-year-olds, compared to 24 percent by 70-79-year-olds.
All of these numbers come from the FTC, based on reports to Consumer Sentinel.
Tips and tools of the trade
Despite the prevalence and severity of fraud, there are things people can do to help protect themselves.
Prevention tips from Fraud!Org, a project of the National Consumer League, include: knowing who you are dealing with in any transaction you conduct; paying the safest way (like using credit cards for online purchases, since charges can be disputed); guarding your personal information by not providing any credit card or bank account information unless you are certain of the person you are interacting with; staying safe online by not sending personal information over email; be cautious about unsolicited emails, deleting suspicious emails and trusting that any authentic requests will get ahold of you another way; resist pressure and be suspicious of any “company” or “charity” that demands you act immediately; make sure offers include all information; get off credit marketing lists that are targeted by identity thieves; and check your credit reports regularly.
Harm said there are signs for identifying likely scams, including getting an unexpected contact and receiving a message that produces or is designed to produce high emotion and a sense of urgency. Taking time to pause and reflect on suspicious contacts can help protect you.
Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication and automatic software updates are tools that can help protect your information.
Awareness is key in all of this.
Like Hoffner, Harm noted that check fraud is a growing issue. Physical checks can be stolen directly out of a rent box or from the mail. When paying bills, Huber Obenauer said it is better to set up direct deposit or use an automated payment system rather than sending a physical check.
Online scams can be complex. Hoffner said one example of what he is seeing is online selling, where a person receives contact that they will be wired money for a sale, but the person is only selling it for a fraction of that, so the person has to pay the difference.
“That is how you whitewash money,” he said.
Emails are another common form of fraudulent activity.
“People will get emails telling them they have a package, and they will go, ‘Oh my gosh, I got a package! I have to click to receive it.’ Don’t click it!” Harm said. One thing you can do is check the sender’s name by hovering your cursor over the sender (the “From:” box) and making sure the actual email address is valid.
Weigel said scammers often count on producing feelings of fear and shame, targeting people with things like sending money to get grandkids out of prison or threatening to release sensitive or obscene information about the person unless money is sent. This produces fear in the request that something very bad can happen if the money is not provided and shame in reporting the issue, because of the sensitivity of the topic.
“One of the trends we are seeing with this is there is a little bit of a loss of innocence with it,” Huber Obenauer said. “We pride ourselves that we are trust each other in small-town North Dakota. In certain corners of the world, we can’t do that. Our culture is changing and society is changing, and we have to be suspicious.”
“It is sad that it has come to this, but it’s the reality,” Harm added.
An ongoing conversation
These examples of fraud are just the tip of the iceberg, not even getting into stablecoins, cryptocurrency and other new forms of finance.
“We are evolving into these things, but it will always be changing,” Huber Obenauer said.
In order to fight fraud, it is important that people remain educated and aware of the possibility of scams, taking the time to double check with a bank, a business or law enforcement if a call or email or message comes in that seems suspicious, as well as monitoring credit card reports and bank statements regularly to ensure transactions and receipts all appear correct.
Because this is a continually changing issue, this article is only capable of doing a broad overview. In order to encourage ongoing conversation in the future, Central Nordak Publishing is looking at options for utilizing space in future newspaper editions where banks, businesses and agencies can offer tips or notify about specific issues related to fraud from their unique perspectives, as well as an opportunity for sharing about real issues that have impacted people right here in our own communities.
This is still a work in progress and will be an ongoing section, designed to encourage further discussion among people and organizations and providing continuing awareness and education to the public. More information will be published about the format of this service as details are ironed out.
Further resources
More resources are available for identifying and combating fraud are available at the following:
• FDIC Money Smart
• CFPB Money Smart
• North Dakota Consumer Protection
• www.ic3.gov/crimeinfo/elderfraud
• North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions
• https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources
• North Dakota Secretary of State, Registered Charities Information
• United States Federal Trade Commission
• United States Internal Revenue Service
• Better Business Bureau
• Charity Watchdog Organizations
• www.charitywatch.org
• National Elder Fraud Hotline (USDOJ) 10 a.m.-6 p.m. EST (1-833-372-8311)
Cutline [photo submitted by Kate Weigel]:
Union State Bank recently created a Fraud Mitigation Team to help people targeted by fraud schemes or scams. The team is working to provide more education to people and to assist both USB customers and anyone else who is affected by fraud to identify fake requests or contacts and to respond help people navigate their options if they have fallen victim to a fraud scheme. The team consists of (left to right) Ginny Cheatley, Megan McCabe and Michelle Harm.
When it comes to fraud and threats to your personal and financial accounts, it is almost difficult to know where to begin.
Technology, finance and the online world are all places that are constantly evolving and ever in flux. This means the tools and strategies that scammers use to target people, and the tools and strategies organizations, businesses and agencies use to combat these scams, also change continually.
In the midst of these changes, it is important for people to take charge of their own accounts, taking the time to make sure transactions are made and recorded correctly.
At the same time, as fraud becomes more prevalent and more difficult to identify, people need to recognize that there is no shame in asking questions, double-checking information and seeking help if you are suspicious of fraud or have yourself fallen victim to a scam.
Acknowledging a difficult reality
“I want to put this out right now,” Christie Huber Obenauer, CEO and president of Union State Bank, said. “This whole fraud thing has gotten to be such a leashless monster now. Maybe it always had been, but entering the spaceless and digital age has changed the breadth and depth of this.”
She added that staying ahead of the curve when it comes to fraud seems nearly impossible, feeling like institutions are always playing defense as fraud activity continues to evolve.
Ginny Cheatley, a member of USB’s Fraud Team, said a key takeaway in addressing the issue of fraud is to normalize talking about this. She said people need to recognize that they are not alone in falling victim to fraud and they should not feel shame in talking about their situation with banks or agencies that can help them.
“Education and awareness are really key to fighting a lot of this as well,” Michelle Harm, another member of the USB Fraud Team, said.
“Fighting fraud is a shared responsibility between the banks, in our relationships, people on people,” Kate Weigel, USB marketing officer, added. “It takes all of us.”
This issue is one which extends across the nation, for all kinds of businesses and throughout the banking industry.
“I completely agree that fraud has increased in the digital age,” Wayne Hoffner, resource officer with The Union Bank, said. “We are seeing more check fraud, cashier check fraud, than we have seen before. But it’s also more wire fraud, more emails: There is an uptick in everything.”
Hoffner said all banks, credit unions and lending institutions will need to go through continuing training and education to stay on top of current fraud concerns.
A snapshot in 2024 numbers
The numbers around fraud can be frightening. In 2024, there were 2.6 million fraud reports and $12.5 billion reported lost, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Harm said estimates are that this is only about half the actual numbers, since many fraud instances go unreported.
Comparisons show the recent increase as well. In 2020 there was $90 million lost and 38,000 reports related to job scams and employment agency losses. In 2024, those numbers soared to $501 million lost and 105,000 reports. Losses to investment scams climbed from $3.8 billion in 2022 to $4.6 billion in 2023 to $5.7 billion in 2024.
Fraud can also come in any and all different forms. The highest losses per person that are reported come from phone call scams; the highest losses overall come from social media; and the highest number of reports come from emails. Fraud also is not simply something that only elderly people who are not “tech-savvy” fall prey to. In 2024, 44 percent of reported fraud involving the actual loss of money was reported by 20-29-year-olds, compared to 24 percent by 70-79-year-olds.
All of these numbers come from the FTC, based on reports to Consumer Sentinel.
Tips and tools of the trade
Despite the prevalence and severity of fraud, there are things people can do to help protect themselves.
Prevention tips from Fraud!Org, a project of the National Consumer League, include: knowing who you are dealing with in any transaction you conduct; paying the safest way (like using credit cards for online purchases, since charges can be disputed); guarding your personal information by not providing any credit card or bank account information unless you are certain of the person you are interacting with; staying safe online by not sending personal information over email; be cautious about unsolicited emails, deleting suspicious emails and trusting that any authentic requests will get ahold of you another way; resist pressure and be suspicious of any “company” or “charity” that demands you act immediately; make sure offers include all information; get off credit marketing lists that are targeted by identity thieves; and check your credit reports regularly.
Harm said there are signs for identifying likely scams, including getting an unexpected contact and receiving a message that produces or is designed to produce high emotion and a sense of urgency. Taking time to pause and reflect on suspicious contacts can help protect you.
Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication and automatic software updates are tools that can help protect your information.
Awareness is key in all of this.
Like Hoffner, Harm noted that check fraud is a growing issue. Physical checks can be stolen directly out of a rent box or from the mail. When paying bills, Huber Obenauer said it is better to set up direct deposit or use an automated payment system rather than sending a physical check.
Online scams can be complex. Hoffner said one example of what he is seeing is online selling, where a person receives contact that they will be wired money for a sale, but the person is only selling it for a fraction of that, so the person has to pay the difference.
“That is how you whitewash money,” he said.
Emails are another common form of fraudulent activity.
“People will get emails telling them they have a package, and they will go, ‘Oh my gosh, I got a package! I have to click to receive it.’ Don’t click it!” Harm said. One thing you can do is check the sender’s name by hovering your cursor over the sender (the “From:” box) and making sure the actual email address is valid.
Weigel said scammers often count on producing feelings of fear and shame, targeting people with things like sending money to get grandkids out of prison or threatening to release sensitive or obscene information about the person unless money is sent. This produces fear in the request that something very bad can happen if the money is not provided and shame in reporting the issue, because of the sensitivity of the topic.
“One of the trends we are seeing with this is there is a little bit of a loss of innocence with it,” Huber Obenauer said. “We pride ourselves that we are trust each other in small-town North Dakota. In certain corners of the world, we can’t do that. Our culture is changing and society is changing, and we have to be suspicious.”
“It is sad that it has come to this, but it’s the reality,” Harm added.
An ongoing conversation
These examples of fraud are just the tip of the iceberg, not even getting into stablecoins, cryptocurrency and other new forms of finance.
“We are evolving into these things, but it will always be changing,” Huber Obenauer said.
In order to fight fraud, it is important that people remain educated and aware of the possibility of scams, taking the time to double check with a bank, a business or law enforcement if a call or email or message comes in that seems suspicious, as well as monitoring credit card reports and bank statements regularly to ensure transactions and receipts all appear correct.
Because this is a continually changing issue, this article is only capable of doing a broad overview. In order to encourage ongoing conversation in the future, Central Nordak Publishing is looking at options for utilizing space in future newspaper editions where banks, businesses and agencies can offer tips or notify about specific issues related to fraud from their unique perspectives, as well as an opportunity for sharing about real issues that have impacted people right here in our own communities.
This is still a work in progress and will be an ongoing section, designed to encourage further discussion among people and organizations and providing continuing awareness and education to the public. More information will be published about the format of this service as details are ironed out.
Further resources
More resources are available for identifying and combating fraud are available at the following:
• FDIC Money Smart
• CFPB Money Smart
• North Dakota Consumer Protection
• www.ic3.gov/crimeinfo/elderfraud
• North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions
• https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources
• North Dakota Secretary of State, Registered Charities Information
• United States Federal Trade Commission
• United States Internal Revenue Service
• Better Business Bureau
• Charity Watchdog Organizations
• www.charitywatch.org
• National Elder Fraud Hotline (USDOJ) 10 a.m.-6 p.m. EST (1-833-372-8311)
Cutline [photo submitted by Kate Weigel]:
Union State Bank recently created a Fraud Mitigation Team to help people targeted by fraud schemes or scams. The team is working to provide more education to people and to assist both USB customers and anyone else who is affected by fraud to identify fake requests or contacts and to respond help people navigate their options if they have fallen victim to a fraud scheme. The team consists of (left to right) Ginny Cheatley, Megan McCabe and Michelle Harm.