Behind the Vault

Are you at risk of being targeted? Scammers are using recent bank failures as an opportunity to steal personal information. They might request your personal banking information or ask that you send money to a fake bank account. Don't be their next victim – here’s 5 tips on how to spot a scam and protect your sensitive information.

What are email and text phishing scams?

Phishing, smishing (via text messaging), and vishing (through voice calls) are the popular forms of fraud made to steal your personal data. While phishing scams have been around for a long time, fraudsters are becoming skilled thanks to technological advancements. It’s easy for scammers to replicate emails from legitimate financial institutions. And, thanks to link shorteners, it’s harder for would-be victims to tell if the text message is authentic.

How to spot scams.

1. Suspicious links: Be wary of links in emails or text messages that take you to a login page. Check the URL carefully to make sure it's a legitimate website and not a fake one designed to steal your information.

2. Urgency: Phishing messages often create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly. Don't be fooled by urgent-sounding messages that ask you to provide personal information or click on a link immediately.

3. Poor spelling and grammar: Many phishing messages have spelling and grammatical errors. Legitimate organizations usually proofread their messages carefully, so mistakes are a red flag.

4. Unexpected attachments: Be cautious of unexpected attachments, even from known contacts. Malware can be disguised as a harmless document, so only download attachments from trusted sources.

5. Requests for personal information: Legitimate organizations rarely ask for personal information over email or text, so be cautious if you receive a message asking for sensitive data.

Protect yourself against becoming a victim.

Virus and malware protection can be installed on all your devices – not just your computers. Make it a habit to avoid clicking on suspicious emails or texts from anyone you do not know. Always review emails from companies to make sure that they are legitimate. As a precaution, check your account directly through the company website instead of clicking on any links.

Again, never give out sensitive information, like account or card numbers, CVV codes, or PINs. Remember, Family Trust will NEVER ask for this information. Stay safe!