When temps drop, the heat is on for cybercriminals to capture your banking information as fast as they can. The biggest spending time of the year is just around the corner and professional scammers know just how to deceive you into thinking their bait is just another purchase or transaction.
Scammers still use email and phone calls, but have now expanded to texts and payment apps as a way to get ahold of your money in this increasingly digital world.
The best defense? Know what to look for. At Penn Community Bank, weโre committed to helping you spot a red flag as an extra layer of protection for your account. Weโre always doing what we can to protect your hard-earned money, but itโs important you do what you can, too.
Become a pro at spotting a phishing scam by knowing the four methods that are full of red flags:
- Text message: If you receive a text message from someone claiming to be your bank asking you to sign in, or offer up personal information, itโs a scam.
- Email: Watch out for mails that ask you to click a suspicious link or provide personal information. The sender may claim to be someone from your bank.
- Phone call: Your bank with never call you to verify your account number. If youโre wondering if the call is legitimate, hang up and call your bank directly at a number you trust.
- Payment apps: Beware of any text or email from someone claiming to be your bank saying your account has been hacked. To โsolveโ the issue, the scammer may ask you to send money to a new account theyโre created for you.
Truth is, youโve probably experienced at least one of these phishing scams before. Scammers are highly innovative and wonโt give up, so itโs crucial to always be alert and know the signs so you can stop a scammer right in their tracks.
If you receive an unsolicited email, text, or phone call from someone claiming to be Penn Community Bank, simply hang up and give us a call.
