The Red Flags of Impersonation Fraud

Impersonators are around every corner. However, it has been worrisome that we have impersonators spoofing the Bank’s phone numbers and posing as an employee First Savings. This tactic, like others, is deceitful and can be hard to determine the legitimacy. So as your trusted financial institution, we want to outline examples and provide a chart of questions WE will NEVER ask you. 

Spoofed Call Example
You receive a phone call one morning, and your caller ID shows it’s from First Savings Bank – even the number matches your local branch. When you answer the caller identifies himself as a representative that works at the Bank. He begins asking for personal details such as:

• Your full account number
• Your online banking username
• Says they will send a verification code that they need you to repeat

Fraud Alert Text Example
You get a text that says: “First Savings Bank Alert: Did you recently complete a purchase in the amount of $213.20 to Denny’s in New Mexico? Reply YES, NO or click the link for more details.”

Clicking the link takes you to a fake website that asks for your account number and login credentials. If you enter your information, scammers may gain access to your account and make unauthorized transfers.

What we WILL NEVER ask you

What Impersonators Say:

• “You have to click the link in the next 5 minutes, or your money will be stolen.”
• “I work at the bank, and I want to protect your account. Please give me your full account number and social so I can easily look you up.”
• “I work in our fraud department. Can you allow me to remote into your desktop so I can quickly see what the issue with your online banking is?”
• “We are needing to transfer your money out of your account. We received a report that it’s been compromised. Can you go to your nearest location and withdrawal all your funds and deposit it to the nearest Bitcoin ATM?”
• “I need your banking password or one-time verification code to help reset your login.”

How to tell it’s the Bank:

• We will never pressure you with urgent deadlines or threats.
• We already have your information on file and will only ask minimal questions to confirm your identity, if you call us.
• We will never ask to remotely access your device under any circumstances.
• We will never instruct you to withdraw or transfer funds to an external account or ATM.
• We will never ask you for your password, PIN or any verification code over the phone, email or text.

What we WILL NEVER ask you

How to tell it’s the Bank:

• We will never pressure you with urgent deadlines or threats.

• We already have your information on file and will only ask minimal questions to confirm your identity, if you call us.

• We will never ask to remotely access your device under any circumstances.

• We will never instruct you to withdraw or transfer funds to an external account or ATM.

• We will never ask you for your password, PIN or any verification code over the phone, email or text.