Free CBT Fraud Prevention and Security Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A person claiming to be from the bank's IT department calls and asks for a teller's password to perform an urgent system update. What is the most appropriate action for the teller to take?
- Provide the password to resolve the issue quickly.
- Refuse to provide the password and immediately report the call to a supervisor. (Correct answer)
- Ask the caller to verify their employee ID number before providing the password.
- Put the caller on hold and ask another teller if they know the caller.
Correct answer: Refuse to provide the password and immediately report the call to a supervisor.
This is a form of social engineering called 'pretexting,' where a fraudster creates a fabricated scenario to manipulate an employee into divulging confidential information. Bank policy strictly prohibits sharing passwords. The correct procedure is to never give out credentials and to report the suspicious attempt to a supervisor and the IT department through official channels.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of keeping 'bait money' with pre-recorded serial numbers in a teller's cash drawer?
- To provide law enforcement with traceable evidence after a robbery. (Correct answer)
- To trigger a silent alarm when it is removed from the drawer.
- To serve as an emergency fund if the teller's main cash supply is depleted.
- To be bundled with a dye pack that will stain the stolen cash.
Correct answer: To provide law enforcement with traceable evidence after a robbery.
Bait money consists of bills whose serial numbers have been recorded by the bank. In the event of a robbery, this list of serial numbers is given to law enforcement to help track the stolen currency and link suspects to the crime. While dye packs and alarms are also security measures, the specific purpose of bait money itself is traceability.
Question 3: When inspecting a check presented by a customer, which of the following is the most significant red flag for a potential alteration?
- The check is from an out-of-state bank.
- The memo line has not been filled in.
- The payee name and the written amount appear to be in different styles of handwriting or ink. (Correct answer)
- The check number is low, such as 0105.
Correct answer: The payee name and the written amount appear to be in different styles of handwriting or ink.
A mismatch in handwriting, ink color, or font style between key fields like the payee and the amount is a major indicator that the check may have been altered after it was originally written. This suggests that a fraudster may have "washed" the check to change the original information. The other options are generally not considered inherently suspicious.
Question 4: An elderly customer, who you know well, is accompanied by a new, overly helpful acquaintance and requests an unusually large cash withdrawal. The customer seems nervous and avoids eye contact. What is the teller's most appropriate action?
- Process the transaction quickly to avoid causing a scene.
- Call the customer's son or daughter using the phone number on file to ask about the transaction.
- Politely refuse the transaction and tell the acquaintance to leave the bank.
- Follow the bank's protocol for suspected elder financial exploitation, which typically involves delaying the transaction and escalating to a supervisor. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Follow the bank's protocol for suspected elder financial exploitation, which typically involves delaying the transaction and escalating to a supervisor.
This scenario contains several red flags for elder financial exploitation. A teller's primary responsibility is to protect the customer. The correct procedure is not to confront the individual or violate privacy by calling family, but to follow the bank's established policies. This usually involves finding a way to speak with the customer alone, delaying the transaction if possible, and immediately reporting the suspicion to a supervisor or designated security personnel for further action.
Question 5: In the event of a bank robbery, what is the teller's most important priority?
- Trying to activate the silent alarm without being noticed.
- Ensuring the safety of all customers and staff. (Correct answer)
- Memorizing every detail of the robber's appearance.
- Giving the robber only the bait money from the drawer.
Correct answer: Ensuring the safety of all customers and staff.
While activating alarms, observing details, and protecting assets are all part of robbery response training, the number one priority is human safety. Tellers are trained to comply with a robber's demands to de-escalate the situation and minimize the risk of violence or harm to anyone in the bank.
Question 6: A person presents a valid ID to withdraw a large sum of cash but cannot answer a basic challenge question about their account history. This is a primary red flag for which type of fraud?
- Check kiting.
- Money laundering.
- Account takeover fraud. (Correct answer)
- A forged endorsement.
Correct answer: Account takeover fraud.
Account takeover fraud occurs when a criminal gains unauthorized access to a legitimate customer's account. They may have a high-quality fake ID but will lack detailed knowledge of the account's history. Failing a challenge question is a key indicator that the person presenting the ID is not the true account holder and is attempting to steal funds.
A person claiming to be from the bank's IT department calls and asks for a teller's password to perform an urgent system update.
What is the most appropriate action for the teller to take?