4 Things to Know About "Phishy" Communication

Category: Fraud Awareness

By BankSource on 2/20/2024

Targeted attempts to steal your sensitive data, such as account credentials and financing information, are on the rise and scammers are only getting sneakier.

Beware of text messages, emails or phone calls that appear to be from a bank or trusted provider. You may be the target of a fraudster. When they imitate trust-worthy communication, it can be tricky to tell the difference.

Here’s what you need to know:

We will never contact you and ask for your private information. This includes your passwords to log into Online Banking, your Social Security number, or other account details. In the instance the bank does reach out to you for any reason (customer service, fraud detection alerts, etc.), the employee will identify themselves and clearly state why you are being contacted. Still a little suspicious? Ask the employee for their name and department so you can hang up and call your local branch. We will be happy to transfer you back to the original caller after verification.
Learn to recognize the communication you typically receive so you can identify a notification that is phishy. That text that claims to be from your bank? Verify it by using Online or Mobile Banking to check your account activity. Worried that your card may be compromised? Our Manage My Card features in the app allow you to turn off your card immediately or limit transactions by amount or location.
Ever heard the phrase “trust but verify”? All communication from the bank can be verified by calling us directly. Your banker, a Customer Care Representative, or one of our Fraud Specialists can confirm any communication you might have received or check your account activity. Hang up the phone, ignore the text or email, and ask for information directly from the source. If the call was legit and you hung up on one of our bankers, we promise they won’t mind.
Communication from us will not be forceful or intimidating. We will not bold and underline words like “immediately”, “declined”, or “transfer”. We will not use all capital letters as THAT SIMULATES YELLING OVER TEXT AND IS NOT NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION (see?). And we will not use phrases like “Your account will be deactivated permanently if you do not verify your password in the next 30 minutes so click the link now”.

Tip: If it feels phishy, it probably is. Hang up the phone, ignore the text or email, and ask for information directly from the source. Call the bank immediately to confirm if the communication was legit.

Staying up to date on ever-changing scams and fraud tactics is important for protecting your account information and we understand that it can be overwhelming. Even if you get a legitimate text or email alert from the bank, take a moment to look them over. Verify they are from the same number as usual, the same email address. Regularly check your Mobile Banking app or sign-in to Online Banking to see what alerts you even have set up.

Be proactive when it comes to communication regarding your money and data.

At BOS we are committed to keeping your personal information safe and secure. It’s important that you’re taking necessary precautions to do the same. If you notice suspicious or fraudulent account activity, please contact us immediately at 877-698-3278. 

Learn more about fraud awareness.

Learn how to sign up for account alerts.

Read the Slam the Scam Fact Sheet from the Social Security Administration.

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