Phone Spoofing: Don’t let fraudsters fool you!
It’s hard to trust anything these days, including calls and text messages. Banks nationwide have seen an increase in phone call and text message spoofing. This means you may receive a call or text, claiming to be from Pennian Bank, right down to the caller ID. They can be hard to spot as fakes, but here are a few ways to keep your account safe.
What exactly is phone spoofing?
Fraudsters have the ability to call or text, tricking your caller ID into showing the bank’s phone number. Usually, they will pretend to be a bank employee and try to trick you into giving out personal information. Not only can they spoof phone numbers, some do their research and use a bank employee’s real name. Additionally, they may already know some information like the first 6-8 digits or your debit card. Many times, they claim to be closing your account due to potential fraud unless you verify more information.
How can you tell if a phone call is fraud?
This can be hard to do, but here are a few tips to spotting a spoofed phone call.
Pennian Bank will never call you unprompted and ask for information we already have on file. NEVER share information such as:
- Account numbers
- Social Security numbers
- Usernames and passwords
- Login codes
- Debit card numbers or PINs
- Other personal information
Caller ID isn’t always trustworthy.
- Fraudsters can make it look like they are calling from anywhere.
When in doubt, hang up!
- If something doesn’t feel right, hang up and contact the bank directly.
If you feel you have fallen victim to a scam, call us immediately and share as much information as you can, including:
- Date/time of the call or text
- Name/department used
- Phone number used
- Reason for the call
Fraudsters are getting more creative with their tactics. Pennian will always be looking out for your account, but we need your help!
