Author: Lisa Dixon, VP/Director of Retail Banking

Scammers love tricks, not treats. Unfortunately, every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts, and calls from scammers pretending to be from their bank. It’s important to stay vigilant and not get caught in their web.

Here are a few spooky scams making the rounds to be aware of:

• Phantom phone calls. If someone calls pretending to be from the IRS, Social Security, or even your bank, and pressures you to act fast, hang up! Real agencies and financial institutions don’t demand payment over the phone.
• Costume criminals (impersonation email). Watch for emails or texts that look like they’re from familiar companies. Hover over links before you click, and if it seems off, delete it.
• Too-good-to-be-true treats. Beware of fake prize offers, gift card deals, or “you’ve won” messages. If it sounds sweeter than candy, it’s probably a scam.
• Zombie accounts. Scammers sometimes hack old email or social media accounts to message friends and ask for money. If you get a strange request, call your friend directly to check.
• The urgency spell. Fraudsters often say, “act now” or “don’t tell anyone”. Don’t let anyone rush you. Take a step back and think before you respond.

Your best protection is to trust your gut, slow down, and call your bank directly if something feels spooky.
If you receive an email, text, or phone call from anyone claiming to be from PremierBank asking you to share any suspicious information, consider it a definite red flag. If you’re ever in doubt of the request’s legitimacy, end the call or delete the text/email, and call us 920-563-6616.

For more helpful tips on staying safe from fraudsters, click here.