Important Updates for Our Customers About Coronavirus (COVID-19)

You are able to see the credit in your PNC Online Banking transaction history and on your account statement. It will appear as a credit labeled as “IRS TREAS.”

Using PNC Online Banking, you can easily monitor your account balance or set up account level alerts to be notified when you receive a direct deposit. To set up alerts, log in to Online Banking, select “Alerts” at the top of the page, and then click “Add/Edit Alerts” to set up your preferred Alerts. And, you can check balances and transactions through our mobile banking app.

Paper Checks

If direct deposit information is not available or incorrect, you may receive or have received a paper check in the mail.

We encourage you to use our safe self-service options.

• Mobile Deposit: You can quickly, easily and safely deposit your paper check while at home through the PNC Mobile app on your tablet or mobile device. If you don’t have the PNC Mobile app, visit our Mobile Banking page to learn more about mobile banking and how to download the correct app for your device.^[1]
• ATMs: PNC customers can access your money fee-free at nearly 18,000 ATMs across the country. Visit our locator page to find a PNC or PNC Partner ATM near you where PNC customers can access money fee-free.

Scammers are attempting to cash in on the government stimulus package by texting, emailing and calling people claiming to have a relief check or economic impact payment available. In some cases, the scammer asks for personal information, including bank account information and social security numbers. PNC will never ask you for personal or financial information via email or text message.

Stay informed with our scam & fraud alerts.

You will need the following information to complete the setup process:

1) Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (SSN)
If you are a small business with an Employer Identification number (EIN) you may enter this where we ask for Federal Tax Identification number.

In some cases PNC generates a default number that you may use to set up access to Online Banking. If PNC generated a default number then you should have received it in the mail shortly after opening your account.

If you do not know your default number for setting up access to online banking call us at 1-888-PNC-BANK (762-2265)

2) Online Access PIN
Your Online Access PIN is four digits. You may have set your PIN when you opened your account or received it in the mail.
If you do not have your Online Access PIN call us at 1-888-PNC-BANK (762-2265).

3) PNC account number
Any PNC Bank checking, savings, money market, mortgage, loan, or activated credit card account number.

Fraudsters Take Advantage of Widespread Job Loss to File Fraudulent Claims for Unemployment

Beginning mid-2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation^[9] (FBI) reported a spike in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic, slowing the delivery of benefits to people in real need. Using personally identifiable information stolen in past years through a variety of data breaches, the fraudsters file a claim using the names and personal information of people who have not lost their jobs.

Warning signs

A majority of U.S. states tax unemployment benefits as personal income. Often the first indication of this type of fraud occurs when the victim is notified that he/she owes taxes on unemployment benefits fraudulently paid out in their name, or when they are contacted by an institution for penalties resulting from the fraudulent activity. Be on alert for these additional warning signs:

• Notification when you apply for unemployment that a claim is already open in your name;
• Communications received about unemployment insurance forms when you have not applied for benefits;
• Unauthorized transactions on your bank account related to unemployment benefits;
• An alert by your employer that a claim has been opened in your name, as employers are notified when any former employee applies for jobless benefits; and
• Unsolicited inquiries related to unemployment benefits.

Follow the money

Unemployment scammers typically arrange for benefit payments to be deposited into bank accounts they've opened. Unfortunately, before the fraud is detected, the benefits have often been paid, deposited to an account that the criminal controls, and cashed out through various means. On occasion, the payment is deposited into the real individual’s account instead. In this situation, emboldened fraudsters may call, text or email to try to encourage the recipient to send some or all of the money to them. They may pretend to be a representative with the state unemployment agency and claim the money was sent by mistake.

If you receive unemployment benefits that you never applied for:

• Report it to your state unemployment agency and ask for instructions. (Find your state's unemployment insurance program);
• Don’t respond to any calls, emails or text messages telling you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards; and
• Notify your employer.

Protect your personal data and accounts

If you suspect that a fraudulent claim for unemployment insurance has been applied for in your name, that means that your personal information has been compromised; a bad actor is using your personal information, including Social Security numbers and dates of birth, to file the fraudulent claim. Take steps to protect your accounts and your data:

• File a police report;
• Notify your bank about potential fraud and follow their instructions;
• Report the fraud to your state unemployment insurance agencies (Find your state's unemployment insurance program);
• Report the fraud to your employer;
• Place a free one-year fraud alert on your credit reports by contacting any one of the three nationwide credit reporting companies online or through their toll-free numbers. The bureau you contact must tell the other two;
  • Equifax: 800-525-6285
  • Experian: 888-397-3742
  • Trans Union: 800-680-7289
• Visit IdentityTheft.gov to report the fraud to the FTC and get help with the next important recovery steps;
• Monitor your credit card and bank statements every month and question any unfamiliar charges, no matter how small; and
• Request an Identity Protection (IP) PIN from the Internal Revenue Service to protect you against tax refund-related identity theft. The IP PIN authenticates you as the valid filer of the return. Go to www.irs.gov/ippin  for more information on how you can apply to receive one

Be on Alert for Vaccine-related Scams

Fraudsters take advantage of anxious consumers through phishing, vishing and social media scams

The Federal Bureau of Investigations and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have issued fraud alerts about criminals targeting vaccine distribution and consumers anxious for immunity from the disease. Telephone scams have already been reported, offering people a chance to avoid long lines or move to the head of the line to receive a vaccine for a fee. In addition, COVID-19 vaccine fraud may include the sale of unapproved, illegally marketed vaccines or counterfeit versions of approved vaccines. Here are some tips to help avoid such scams:

• Do not give cash or any other form of payment to individuals offering to move you to the head of the line. Fraudsters are using telemarketing calls, emails, text messages, social media platforms and door-to-door visits to perpetrate vaccine-related scams. You will not be asked for money to enhance your ranking for vaccine eligibility.
• Do not share your personal, financial or medical information with anyone other than your known and trusted medical professionals. Contact your medical provider using known and verified channels (phone number, online message portal) to confirm if they are, in fact, requesting such information. Scammers may try to obtain this information with the promise of putting you on a vaccine waiting list and then use the information to fraudulently bill healthcare insurance or to commit identity theft.
• Do not buy any kind of coronavirus vaccine on the internet or from an online pharmacy.  For guidance on the vaccine, turn to trusted resources such as your doctor or local health department.

Be alert to fraudulent emails, text messages and phone calls

Scammers are attempting to cash in on the government stimulus package by texting, emailing and calling people claiming to have a relief check available. In some cases, the scammer asks for personal information, including bank account information and social security numbers. PNC will never ask you for personal or financial information via email or text message.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Checks

• No business/service can get you a larger check or a check faster.
• No third party is being used by the IRS to “hold” or sort checks.
• Funds are issued directly from the IRS to you via direct deposit or U.S. Postal Service mail, based on how you filed your 2018 or 2019 taxes.
• The IRS will not ask for PINs, passwords or confidential access information for credit cards or bank accounts over the phone or email.

Phone Scams

Scammers may pose as IRS agents or bank employees to request sensitive information or to ask you to verify sensitive information, such as bank account credentials and Social Security Numbers.

• Let all incoming calls from unknown numbers/callers go directly to voice mail.
• Confirm any request with the alleged organization/business
• Use a known phone number or one published on the organization’s official website.

Email and Text Message Scams

Email or text messages may tempt you to click on a link to infect your device with malware, or call a fake number promising urgent news about your stimulus check or asking you to share personal or banking information. These phishing attacks are sometimes created to look like official bank correspondence.

• Do not click on links or open attachments
• Confirm the message is from a trusted source using a known phone number
• Forward any suspicious emails or text messages to abuse@pnc.com.

Important Reminders:

• PNC Bank will never ask you for personal information via email, text message or unsolicited phone call.
• During the pandemic, PNC Bank encourages you to stay home and stay safe when possible. Take advantage of PNC Mobile Deposit to deposit checks up to $10,000 or deposit using a PNC ATM.^[1][5][6]

Fraudsters may seek donations for charitable causes, posing as legitimate medical and/or health organizations. Email requests may be highly convincing as fraudsters are able to match the logos and formats of actual organizations and can create fake website URLs. Be cautious about the following:

• Requests to send charitable donations by gift card or by wiring money are red flags. Ask for detailed information about the organization and do not share personal information until you have researched the charity. Check with the Internal Revenue Service, Better Business Bureau, GuideStar.org orCharity Watch to verify that the charity is legitimate.
• Do not respond to emails, text messages or social media posts asking for donations. It is better to contact the charity directly through its official website or phone number.
• Be wary of giving to fundraising platforms/crowdfunding sites. While these sites contain many worthy causes, they do not screen users for authenticity. Ensure you are donating to a legitimate source.

Scammers may set up fake websites that offer “cures” (both natural and pharmaceutical), vaccines, testing kits and items that are in short supply at a low price, such as hand sanitizer. In some cases, scammers have accessed or purchased domain names referencing vaccines, cures or current topics in order to appear legitimate.

These phony websites may be designed to steal your credit card information or infect your computer with malware. Scammers may also demand payment up front, and then fail to deliver the ordered products. Tips to avoid a scam include:

• Be wary of offers for products purporting to be remedies for the coronavirus. Your doctor should be consulted and approve or prescribe any potential treatments.
• Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts saying that have information about the virus. For the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Evaluate before you click on a link with a domain name advertising a vaccine, cure or treatment, as it may lead to a fraudulent site.

Remote working and e-learning arrangements have become the new normal for many individuals and families since the pandemic began. The increase in consumers using video conferencing services has resulted in more attempts by scammers to hack into those channels to cause disruption and perpetrate fraud. To prevent intrusions into private meetings and sessions consider the following tips:

• Set-up all video conferences as “private” instead of public.
• Require a password to enter the session and share that password privately only with invited guests (not on social media, websites or other public channels)
• Make sure only the host can share his/her screen
• Supervise student video conferencing activity when possible to limit exposure to any inappropriate content

Scammers are posing as coworkers, emailing employees who are working from home using a fake personal email account or an official-looking business account. If you receive a suspect email from a co-worker, use a known phone number to check with your colleague to verify that they sent you something from their personal email. If they did not, report it to your system administrator or using the established protocol from your employer. If you are unsure of the status of an email, avoid clicking any links or responding to the sender.

You may receive text messages, emails or see social media posts providing information that is not true related to the coronavirus. This misinformation is intended to incite fear and provoke reactions from the public. To validate updates about the coronavirus, check the CDC website.

If you suspect a scam or believe you are the victim of any of the above scams, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.