PHISHING SCAMS
What is Phishing?
Phishing (pronounced "fishing") is an internet scam that uses e-mails to trick people into
providing confidential account information. These e-mails may appear authentic because
the sender's e-mail address and the linked site that the recipient is instructed to visit have
been spoofed (i.e. "faked"). Using the trusted name of a reputable business, such as a bank,
increases the success of these scams.
How to Protect Yourself from Phishing:
Never give out your personal financial information in response to an unsolicited phone call,
fax or e-mail, no matter how official it may seem.
Do not respond to e-mail that may warn of dire consequences unless you validate your information
immediately. Contact the Bank to confirm the e-mail’s validity using a telephone number or web
site you know to be genuine.
Check your credit card and bank account statements regularly and look for unauthorized
transactions, even small ones. Some thieves hope small transactions will go unnoticed.
Report discrepancies immediately.
When submitting financial information to a web site, look for the padlock or key icon at
the bottom of your browser, and make sure the Internet address begins with "https." This
indicates that your information is more secure during transmission.
If Your Account Information is Stolen:
Report the theft immediately to the Bank. This may allow the Bank to prevent any unauthorized
transactions by blocking or closing the account. In order to prevent potential fraud in the future,
the Bank will issue a new account number to you.
More Information on Phishing:
For more information about phishing and how to avoid being a victim of this scam, please visit the following link:
Federal Trade Commission - How Not to Get Hooked by a 'Phishing' Scam.
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