Valley Banks

05/01/2026

Congratulations to all of our awesome community members that make our valley a better place to live!

04/29/2026

Valley Banks Community Scholarship participating students will be hosting a bake sale today at the Ronan Harvest Foods from 4-6pm TODAY!!
Please stop by and pick up a tasty treat for a GREAT CAUSE!

04/24/2026

04/22/2026

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SCAM OF THE WEEK
Don’t Talk to Strangers
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In this week’s scam, you receive a text message from an unknown number that asks a friendly question, like “Are we still on for dinner?” You may be tempted to reply and let the person know that they have texted the wrong number.
However, this "wrong number" message was actually sent by a cybercriminal, and it's a trick to start a conversation with you! If you reply, they will continue messaging you to build your trust. Eventually, they will turn the conversation to money and might ask you to send them gift cards or offer you an opportunity to invest in cryptocurrency. What they talk to you about varies, but the goal of this "friendship" is to trick you into sending them your money or personal data!
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Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this scam:
• Never share your personal or financial information with someone that you have only spoken to through text messages, even if they seem to need money or are offering you an “opportunity.” Scammers frequently use these tactics as a way to trick you into giving them your money or financial information.
• If you receive a suspicious text message from an unknown number, don't reply. A reply can let cybercriminals know that your number is active, and you could be targeted in future scams.
• If you receive a suspicious text message, use your phone’s settings to mark the message as spam or junk. This action helps your phone carrier identify and block these messages for everyone.

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The Valley Bank of Ronan Security Team

04/20/2026

SCAM!! Valley Bank does NOT require a home warranty with your home loan.

04/08/2026

SCAM OF THE WEEK
Don’t Sign Off on This Scam
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In this week’s scam, you receive an email that looks like it’s from DocuSign, a software that allows you to sign and send official documents online. The email doesn’t contain many details, but it claims that you urgently need to sign a document. It looks official, and even contains DocuSign’s logo, along with a large yellow button labeled "Review Document."
However, the email you received was sent by cybercriminals! If you select the yellow button, you may be directed to a fake login page and prompted to enter your user credentials, or the button might direct you to a phishing website. It may even install malware on your device! What the button does varies, but the scammers' goal remains the same. They want to steal your login information to gain control of your accounts!
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Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this phishing scam:
• In most cases, you won’t be asked to sign anything unless you have spoken to someone about it first. Receiving an unexpected email that instructs you to sign an urgent document is a red flag.
• If you receive an email that contains unusual or suspicious instructions, be sure to follow your organization’s policies for reporting it.
• Always stop and think before you click! Scammers use urgent language in their phishing emails to trick you into acting quickly.

04/01/2026

SCAM OF THE WEEK
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Don’t Subscribe to This Scam
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In this week’s scam, you receive a text message that claims you can earn a large monthly income simply by watching YouTube videos. The message says that no experience is needed for the job, and you will even be provided with healthcare benefits and free training. All you need to do is reply to the text and then continue the hiring process on another messaging app, such as Telegram or WhatsApp.
However, this is actually a fake job offer, known as a “task scam”! If you reply to the message, you’ll be “hired” by a cybercriminal who will assign you simple tasks to complete, such as liking certain YouTube videos or increasing their view count. They might even send you a small payment of real money to make the job seem legitimate and gain your trust. Eventually, the scammer will ask you to pay them a deposit so you can unlock higher-paying tasks or receive additional payouts. But there are no further payouts, and they will keep any money that you send them!
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Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this task scam:
• Remember, real employers will not ask you to pay them a fee or deposit so that you can receive more work from them.
• If you receive a text message that you suspect is a scam, don’t reply to it. Block the number and report it to your mobile provider.
• Always use extreme caution if you receive an unexpected text message about a job offer, especially if it seems too good to be true. This tactic is commonly used by scammers to try to trick you into acting impulsively.

03/11/2026

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SCAM OF THE WEEK
You've Been Served...a Scam!
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In this week’s scam, you receive a text message that claims you have an unpaid traffic toll that needs to be paid immediately. The message includes an image of what appears to be an official court summons, which has a court seal, a case number, and a QR code. It warns that if you don't pay the fine, you could face serious consequences, including being arrested. It then instructs you to scan the QR code to pay the money that you owe.
However, there isn’t actually a toll violation on your record, or a fine for you to pay. The text message you received was actually sent by cybercriminals! If you scan or select the QR code, you won’t be directed to a real government website. Instead, you’ll be sent to a fake payment webpage designed to steal your financial information and money!
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Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this text message scam:
• Remember that real legal documents are typically sent by mail or delivered in person, and not by text message.
• Just like malicious links, QR codes can easily direct you to dangerous websites. You should never scan a QR code from an unknown source.
• If you are concerned you missed a toll payment or have a traffic ticket, look up the official phone number or website for your local court or toll agency. Contact them directly to check your status.

02/27/2026

SCAM OF THE WEEK
This Fraud Alert Is a Fake
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This week, scammers are targeting Apple Pay users by sending an email that appears to be an official message from Apple. The email warns you that an expensive purchase was made using your Apple Pay account, but that the charge was blocked as being suspicious. It includes a phone number and states that you must call within 24 hours to confirm that the charge is actually fraudulent. If you don’t, Apple will supposedly allow the transaction to be charged to your account.
However, there wasn’t really a suspicious charge to your account. The email you received was sent by scammers who are trying to scare you! If you call the number listed in the email, a cybercriminal will answer. They will pretend to work for Apple Support and will request your Apple ID and personal information so they can “help” you. But if you give them these details, they will use them to gain access to your account!
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Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this phishing scam:
• Remember, Apple will not require you to call a phone number to confirm fraudulent activity immediately. You should always be suspicious if you receive an unexpected email that instructs you to act quickly.
• Cybercriminals frequently impersonate well-known brands, such as Apple, to try and gain your trust. Always stop and think before you take action, even if the email looks official!
• If you have concerns about a purchase, never call a phone number in an email. Go to Apple's official website and contact their customer service team.

02/11/2026

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SCAM OF THE WEEK
Don't Let Malware Crash Your Party
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In this week’s scam, you receive an email invitation that appears to be from Punchbowl, a popular website for sending digital greeting cards and party invites. The email includes an invitation to an event and instructs you to select a link to see more details. It might even include a note suggesting you open it on a laptop or desktop computer for the best experience.
However, this is actually a phishing scam! The email is not really from Punchbowl, and you haven’t actually been invited to anything. If you select the link in the email, it will download malware, or malicious software, onto your device. This software can give cybercriminals control of your device and let them steal your private information!
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Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this phishing scam:
• Check the sender's email address. If the invite comes from a personal email account or a strange-looking web address, it is not a real Punchbowl invitation.
• Beware of odd requests, like being told to open an invitation on a specific device. Hackers often use these instructions to bypass security and install malware.
• Always use caution if you receive an unexpected email, especially if it instructs you to select a link. If you receive a suspicious email, be sure to report it!

02/04/2026

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SCAM OF THE WEEK
Don't Let These Utility Scams Leave You out in the Cold
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In this week’s scam, you receive a text message from your utility provider that says power outages are expected in your area due to freezing temperatures. The message contains a link that supposedly leads to an outage map, showing areas that will be without power. If you are currently experiencing severe winter weather in your area, you may be tempted to select the link to see if your home will be affected.
However, this is actually a text message scam, or “smishing” scam. Cybercriminals hope you’ll be afraid of losing power during severe weather and will select the link. If you select it, they could install malware on your device. Or you could be directed to a fake website that prompts you to enter your personal information so cybercriminals can steal it!
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Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this smishing scam:
• If you have questions about a power outage, always visit your utility provider's official website or mobile app. You should never select a link in a text message.
• Remember, scammers often use FEAR TACTICS to trick you into selecting links or acting impulsively. Always stop and think before taking action, especially if you have received an unexpected text message.
• Real utility companies will not send you a text with a clickable link. They will communicate outage information using official channels, such as their website or mobile app.