Tips to Avoid Phishing Scams
Financial organizations have seen an increase in phishing events during the COVID-19
pandemic. It is important that you understand phishing events and how you can protect yourself.
pandemic. It is important that you understand phishing events and how you can protect yourself.
Phishing events are when a fraudster attempts to steal a person’s data, mainly login credentials and card information. The fraudster then uses this information to process fraudulent card transactions or ATM withdrawals. Fraudsters often utilize social media or information bought on the Dark Web to initiate scams.
Examples of recent Phishing Attacks:
- The fraudster gathers information from social media to make the scam more believable.
- Cardholder receives a phone call from the fraudster posing as a financial institution employee.
- Fraudsters often spoof phone numbers from the financial institution when contacting the victim,
making it seem legitimate. - Fraudster advises cardholder that they have fraud attempts on their card and they will receive a text with
a case number. While on the phone, the fraudster will perform a transaction they know will generate a fraud alert. When the cardholder receives the case number, the fraudster asks for the case number over the
phone so the card can be permanently blocked. Instead the fraudster is using the case number to call into the SecurLOCK IVR and validate the activity as valid, so they can continue to use the card fraudulently. - The fraudster may suggest the cardholder transfer money into their checking account from savings to
make it “safer,” thereby giving the fraudster access to more money. - The cardholder thinks the fraud was caught and stopped, while the fraudster is busy committing more
fraudulent transactions and stealing more money.
Financial organizations will never contact a card holder to ask the following:
- Account Number/Card Number
- CVV (The three digit code from the back of your card)
- PIN
- Passwords
- Social Security Number
- Online Banking Credentials
- Case Numbers
We sincerely thank you for your support and partnership as we face these challenges together, and hope your
families, employees, and co-workers remain safe and protected from COVID-19.
families, employees, and co-workers remain safe and protected from COVID-19.