PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAM ARTISTS
Fraudsters continuously attempt new ways to obtain your personal account information. First came phishing scams that use fraudulent emails as bait. Then came vishing scams (voice phishing) that call and request personal account information. Now, the latest trick of the fraudster trade is smishing
(short message phishing) via text messages to your cell phone.

Regardless of the way fraudsters contact you, they all have the same end-goal in mind: to obtain your account or other personal information and use it to make purchases. Remember, your financial institution will never phone, email or text you to find out your account information.

How these scams typically work:
Fraudsters obtain your phone number or email from public records and marketing list vendors who sell phone, email and address lists to companies like retailers, tele-marketers, political campaigns and credit card companies so they can call you or send you solicitations.

The fraudsters then use these lists to contact you by email, phone or text message to try to trick you into thinking there's a problem with your account. If you dial or text the number and give them your account information, the fraudster can use your account for purchases. Your financial institution will NEVER release your name, phone numbers or any other information to marketing lists services for any reason. Never.

HOW TO AVOID BECOMING A SCAM VICTIM

1. Hang up the phone if you receive a call from someone (normally a recorded voice) who asks you to confirm your credit card number or any other account information. If you are concerned whether or not a call was legitimate, you can contact your financial institution to see if they placed the call.

2. Be suspicious of any call that asks you for personal account information regardless of whether or not the phone number that appears on your caller I.D. seems legitimate.

3. Hang up the phone if you receive a call from someone who knows your credit card number but asks you for the three-digit code found on the back of your card. Your financial institution will never ask you for this information.

4. Delete and do not respond to any email, text message or voice mail that asks you to call a toll-free number to confirm your account information. Also, never respond to an unsolicited text message; doing so lets a fraudster know that he/she has indeed reached a working number.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How did the fraudster get my phone number or email address?
Fraudsters can access public phone records and purchase telephone lists and will tend to target certain area codes.

If fraudsters have my phone number or email address, do they also have my account information?
No. The goal of the phone call, email, or text is for you to give the fraudsters the account/personal information they need to steal from you. That is why it is important to never respond to these inquiries.

How do fraudsters know where I have an account?
They don't. The inquiries coming from phone calls, text messages, and emails are sent to a wide range of people in a certain area. The fraudsters assume that by doing so, they will reach a good number of actual customers/members of certain financial institutions.

How can I keep from receiving text message scams?
Contact your cell phone provider and find out how to avoid receiving spam texts. Your cell phone provider can add spam filters to your account.

Who do I contact if I have given my account information in response to a phony inquiry?
Immediately contact your financial institution. If you have given your personal information, you will also need to contact your local police department and the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 1.800.392.3568.