Cybersecurity Awareness: Banks Never Ask That

Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts and calls from scammers pretending to be their bank. To promote awareness and understanding during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Bankers Trust is taking part in the American Bankers Association #BanksNeverAskThat campaign that reminds you what information banks will and won’t ask you to provide.

10 things #BanksNeverAsk you to do:

1. Log in with a link via email
2. Help with an “investigation”
3. Move money to other accounts
4. Take urgent action by using scare tactics
5. Read back text codes on a phone call
6. Verify your account password over the phone or by text
7. Provide your Social Security Number over the phone or by text
8. Provide your PIN number just to “verify who you are”
9. Click suspicious links or open unexpected attachments
10. Provide your account number, PIN, or address during a phone call or text

Remember, don’t fall for fake! Spot suspicious texts, emails and phone calls by knowing the things your bank would never ask. Here are a few extra Banks Never Ask That* educational and interactive resources:

• Read about red flags*
• Play their Scam City Game*
• Take their scam quiz*
• Watch scam safety videos*
• Practice safe checks*

If you think you have been impacted by a phone call, text or email scam, here are a few immediate steps to take:

1. If you gave a scammer personal information, like your SSN or bank account number, go to IdentityTheft.gov to see what steps to take, including how to monitor your credit.

2. Change your password if you clicked on a link and entered any personal information, like your username or password, into a fake site.

3. Contact your bank by calling the number on the back of your card.

4. If you lost money, file a police report.

5. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission* or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).

If you have been scammed on a payment app, here are a few immediate steps to take:

1. Notify the payment app platform and ask them to reverse the charge.

2. If you linked the app to a credit card or debit card, report the fraud to your credit card company or bank. Ask them to reverse the charge.

3. File a police report.

4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission* or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).

*Please Note: There are external links included in this article that will take you to a website Bankers Trust does not control. Bankers Trust has provided these links for your convenience, but does not endorse and is not responsible for the content, links, privacy policy, or security policy of external websites.