I Received A Weird Call From My Financial Institution
Updated: May 9, 2022
Be very careful what information you give out over the phone. Scammers are calling and texting people everywhere claiming to be their financial institution. Below are some of the actions scammers will try and get you to take once they have you on the phone.
The Phone Number Is Attached To Your Financial Institution’s Name
Phone numbers are spoofed all the time which allows scammers to disguise their number so it appears to come from a trusted source.
They Ask For Personal Information
If your financial institution is calling you then they should already have your account pulled up. This means that you shouldn’t have to verify any personal information besides something like a recent transaction. If they ask you to verify any type of pin, verification code, credit/debit card number or account number then it’s NOT your financial institution.
They Send An Email Link To Verify Your Account
Clicking this link gives them access to your computer and your information so now they have what they need to access your account.
They’re Calling To Verify A Transaction
You may receive a call or text message asking you to verify a transaction such as ” $100 used at x,y,z grocery store.” The scammer will ask for your member number and then use the password reset button to send you a text message with a verification pin. The scammer asks for the pin you received then they input the pin and change your password. Now they have full access to your account.
A good rule of thumb is to NEVER give personal information over the phone unless you’ve called your financial institution directly. If you do receive a suspicious phone call or text message, call your financial institution to verify they called you.
