Author: Sherry McKee, VP, Director of Technology and Facilities

In today’s digital world, fraudsters are getting more sophisticated, and one of their favorite tricks is spoofing. At PremierBank, we believe an informed customer is a protected customer. That’s why we want to help you understand what spoofing is, and what you can do to stay safe.

What Is Spoofing?
Spoofing occurs when a fraudster disguises themselves as a trusted source such as a bank, business, or government agency, to gain your trust. Their goal is simple: trick you into sharing sensitive information or taking action that puts your money or identity at risk.

Spoofing can happen through:

• Phone Calls (Caller ID Spoofing): The call appears to come from a local number, your bank, or even “PremierBank” but there is no message, or if you do answer the caller request personal information.
• Emails (Email Spoofing): Fraudulent emails might use a familiar name or address to convince you they’re legitimate.
• Texts (SMS Spoofing): These may contain fake alerts, urgent requests, or suspicious links.
• Websites (Website Spoofing): Fake websites that mimic real ones to trick you into entering login credentials or payment details.

How spoofing affects financial customers
Scammers use spoofing to manipulate emotions, urgency, fear, or even curiosity. They might claim there’s a problem with your account, offer a fake refund, or demand immediate action to avoid penalties. Their messages often sound convincing and professional.
We frequently receive calls from customers who report that someone from the bank called them (as shown on caller ID), but that person didn’t leave a message. Most likely these are spoofing attempts.

To help you identify fraud, here’s what you can expect from us:

• We always leave a message if you don’t answer a call. This includes our name, the reason for the call, and a phone number to call back.
• We never ask for your full Social Security Number, PIN, or online banking password by phone, email, or text.

If you receive a suspicious message that looks like it came from us, do not respond. Instead, call us directly at a known number or visit your local banking office.

What happens if you fall for a spoof attempt?
If you shared personal information or gave someone access to your device due to a spoofing attempt, we recommend taking immediate action. Run a full scan using trusted security software, or visit a reputable local computer repair shop to check for malware and help secure your device.

How you can protect yourself
Here are a few simple steps to stay ahead of spoofers:

• Pause before responding to unexpected requests.
• Never click on unfamiliar links in texts or emails.
• Don’t rely on caller ID alone. Even if it looks familiar, it could be faked.
• Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication with digital access to your financial accounts.
• Report suspicious activity to us immediately so we can help protect your account.

Your security is our priority
At PremierBank, your trust is our top priority. We are constantly monitoring for threats and educating our team to recognize and respond to fraud. Together, we can stay a step ahead.

Here are a few online resources to help you stay informed:

Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBT) – Spoofing and Phishing

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams

American Bankers Association (ABA) – #BanksNeverAskThat program

If you ever have questions or concerns about a call, message, or email claiming to be from us, please give us a call at 920-563-6616 or stop by any banking location.