Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts, and calls from scammers pretending to be their bank. And in this time of expanded use of online banking, the problem is only growing worse.
Because this is so important, Horizon Bank is partnering with the American Bankers Association and banks across the country in a nationwide effort to fight phishing- one scam at a time. We want every bank customer to become a pro at spotting a phishing scam and stop bank impostors in their tracks. It starts with these four words: Banks Never Ask That.
Because when you know what sounds suspicious, you’ll be less likely to be fooled.
Pro Tip #5: Watch for misspelled words.
If you receive a text or email that is poorly written, uses slang, or includes misspelled words, it should immediately raise a red flag. Do not reply to the sender. Ignore any requests from the sender and do not call any phone numbers provided in the message.
When it comes to phishing emails, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Do not download any attachments in the message. Attachments may contain malware such as viruses, worms or spyware.
- Do not click links that appear in the message. Links in phishing messages direct you to fraudulent websites.
- Report it. Help fight scammers by reporting them. Forward suspected phishing emails to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org. If you got a phishing text message, forward it to SPAM (7726). Then, report the phishing attack to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
Be sure to think twice before clicking a link or giving up personal information by email, text, or over the phone. And remember, Banks Never Ask That!