March is Fraud Prevention Month - it is an Annual Public Awareness Campaign

Phishing Scam

If you receive a deposit or money request notification that you weren’t expecting or from a sender you don’t recognize, be careful. If in doubt, contact the sender via a different channel to confirm that he or she has sent you money or requested money from you. If you do not recognize the sender, the e-mail could be a phishing scam.

Phishing is a scam where fraudsters attempt to acquire personal and/or financial information, such as passwords, card numbers, etc., by masquerading as a trustworthy person or business through electronic communications. Phishing is typically carried out using e-mail or an instant message, although phone contact has been used as well.

What to do:

• If you weren’t expecting the deposit or money request notification, contact the sender through a different channel to check if it’s real.
• If you do not recognize the sender, ask your bank to look into it.
• Do not click any links or open any attachments if you receive them from a sender you don’t recognize.
• Look for errors or strange typos in the text of the notification. A common error in phishing emails is the “$” sign appearing after the amount, instead of before it.
• If you accidentally fill out personal information in a link from a phishing scam, don’t panic. Change your online banking password and contact your bank right away.

Protect your PIN

• Always keep your PIN to yourself; that means never sharing it with anyone.
• Do not reveal your PIN or passwords to anyone, including employees of banks, family members, and friends. Always keep your PIN to yourself; that means never sharing it with anyone. Shield the PIN pad when entering your PIN and remember to take your card when the transaction is complete. If something about the transaction makes you feel uncomfortable, cancel it
• Check your banking statements regularly, and immediately report any unusual activity to your financial institution.
• If you suspect your credit/debit card has been compromised, contact your bank right away.

Keep personal information confidential and safe

Do not give out personal information over the phone, through email or over the Internet unless you initiated the contact and know who you're dealing with. Do not include personal information in regular, unencrypted email or enter it on an unencrypted website as your information will not be secure. An identity thief will pick through your garbage or recycling bins, so be sure to shred receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, etc.

Beware of "Too Good To Be True" offers and unusual transactions.

Be wary of unexpected offers or requests that are "too good to be true" such as "you've inherited a large sum of money but in order to claim it, send us a deposit first". You should also never agree to conduct financial transactions on behalf of strangers.

Contact the authorities. If you suspect you are a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately.

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Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.