Online crime is on the rise as more of us are spending our time and managing our money online. Most of us believe we would recognize a scam if we saw one, but you would be surprised how many people fall victim to online fraud and identity theft each year. It is always good to be reminded of what to look out for so you can be proactive and protect your personal information and your bank accounts. If you are interested in staying safe online and keeping your information out of the hands of scammers, First Bank of the Lake hopes you find this blog helpful!
Stop and Think
The scammer’s whole purpose is to get you to share information with them that can be used to access your bank account or steal your identity. Any time someone contacts you and then asks you to provide personal information, stop and think. Just taking a moment to pause can save you from a huge headache or financial loss. It is OK to be suspicious. Scammers can reach out to you using names and even branding and logos that appear legit. The phone number may appear to come from the bank, the email address may be very similar, they may even be using the name of an actual employee.
But your hometown bank in Osage Beach will never initiate communication
with you and then ask you to provide any personal information related to your
account via phone, text, email, etc. If
anyone asks you to provide sensitive information and you did not initiate the contact
– stop and think. Do not provide them
with any of the information they are asking for. Do not click on any link or open attachments
you are not expecting or that are from a source with which you are not familiar.
Examples
The techniques people will use to try to access someone’s bank account are numerous. But just to give you an idea, here are a few examples. Scammers will pretend to be from a technology company and want to help you fix a non-existent problem with your computer. They then convince you to give them remote access to your computer to correct the issue, which can also give them access to your personal information.
Similarly, an imposter may represent themselves as a bank employee and inform you that some situation needs to be corrected, they just need to get your confirmation code or other information, or they need to transfer money out of your account.
Some online crooks will even act like they are a family member in distress with some emergency for which they need cash right away. They may say they have a medical emergency or need bail money or are stranded somewhere dangerous, and they need help. This one is nicknamed the “grandparent scam” and often the person begs the grandparent not to tell the grandchild’s parent.
End Communication
If someone reaches out to you, and you did not initiate any communication with them first, question the situation. If they are claiming to be from your local bank at Lake of the Ozarks and are asking you for personal information, the best thing to do is end the communication immediately. Then call First Bank using the number you already have for us and let us know what happened. Even if you have specific business with the bank like being in the process of applying for a loan, it is good to pause and question if you receive an email, phone call, or text that you are not expecting. Just a simple phone call to verify it is coming from your contact person is worth the time.
Remember
First Bank will not initiate communication with you and then
ask you to give us any of the following.
*Social Security Number
*Online Banking Secret Word or Password
*PIN number
*One-time passcode you receive
*3-Digit Security Code or expiration date on debit or credit cards
*Passwords
Keeping Your Bank Account Safe!
At our hometown bank in Osage Beach, we want to help you keep your hard-earned money safe and your identity private. If you are ever concerned that someone may be attempting to scam you, access your account, or obtain your personal information, please call First Bank at the number below, or email us at info@fblake.bank. You can also call the number on the back of your debit card.
We are here for you and
happy to help you. If you would like further peace of mind when it comes to your
bank account and personal identity, ask us about Kasasa Protect and the CardValetApp offered at First Bank of the Lake! For more tips and information
about banking at the Lake of the Ozarks, be sure to follow us on social
media using the channels below.
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