Beware of Phone Phishing Scams

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country. And here at Farmers Bank, we are doing all we can to help protect you. One growing fraud tactic is phone scams and spoof calls. In these scams, callers pretend to be your bank, credit card company or other organization to get you to give them personal and financial information. The caller may make claims about the status of your accounts or credit cards. They then ask for your account or credit card information, which they use to steal your identity and money.

Put a stop to phone scams! Follow these tips to protect yourself from fraud:

• When a caller claims to represent your bank, your credit card company or another organization, hang up and call the company’s official number. Remember, don’t trust the caller-ID! Scammers can spoof phone numbers, making it appear the call is originating from the company or organization they’re claiming to be.
• Do NOT provide personal or financial information over the phone, especially if you did not initiate the call. Your bank will NEVER request personal information or ask you to verify account info over the phone.
• Notify the company being impersonated if you receive a scam call. You can also report the call to the Federal Communications Commission at www.fcc.gov/complaints or (888) 225-5322.

Telephone scams are not new – but new tactics and ever-changing technology mean thousands of people fall victim every year. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately. If the call is from a known company, call the company directly from a trusted number to verify the legitimacy of the call.

Call-Out Box:

What You Can Do to Keep Your Account Safe:

• Create strong passwords.
• Keep passwords private.
• Never give out your PIN.
• Set up account alerts.
• Don’t click on suspicious links.
• Don’t provide account information via email or phone.
• Don’t overshare on social networking sites.
• Don’t use public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions.
• Review your credit report every year for suspicious activity.

Keep these tips in mind when managing your account information, both online and off. We want you to stay safe and secure! If you have questions about any of the following or require assistance, give us a call.