DPSS4361

Phishing Email and Text Scams

Learn how to detect and report suspicious email and text messages, also known as ‘SMS phishing’ or ‘smishing’, that appear to be from your bank or creditor. If you receive a suspicious email or text message, don’t respond, click on any links, or open attachments. If you responded: If you clicked on a link, opened an attachment, or provided personal or financial information, call your bank immediately and report it. If you didn’t respond: Forward the suspicious email or send an email with the text message copy to your bank. For your security, banks may contact you by email, text, or phone regarding your card or account activity. Only use their secure methods of communication to receive updates on demand. When your bank contacts you, they will not ask for your card PIN, access code, or your online banking password. If you are uncomfortable about a request for information, do not respond and instead call the number on the back of your bank card to verify the authenticity of the request. What is Phishing? Phishing is usually a two-part scam involving an email or text message containing links to a fraudulent website requesting sensitive information such as username, password, and account details. Once obtained, your personal and financial information can be used to access your account and steal money. How to recognize a phishing email Phishing emails are becoming more sophisticated and difficult to distin- guish from legitimate emails. By impersonating a reputable company’s communications, these emails tend to use clever and compelling language, such as an urgent need for you to update your information or communicate with you for your security. To spot a phishing email, look for a combination of red flags.

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