Banks Will Never Ask That

Phishing Scam Red Flags to Watch Out For

November 17, 2021

It’s no surprise that online scammers and hackers put a lot of effort into banking-related phishing scams, usually posing as your bank to trick you into giving them account numbers, social security numbers, passwords and other sensitive information. After all, that’s where the money is.

More surprising is that it works so often. Every year, thousands of people and businesses lose money to phishing schemes, which range from amateurish and obvious to more sophisticated and persuasive – at least if you’re not paying attention.

That’s why it pays to ask yourself if you would immediately recognize the red flags and warning signs if you were being targeted by a phishing scheme. Here are some things to look out for:

Warning Signs That Should Set Off Alarm Bells

1. BANKS WILL NEVER ASK THAT. Your bank would never call, text or email you and ask for sensitive information like account numbers or social security numbers. This is a 5-alarm phishing scam.
2. PUSHY, PUSHY. If the caller is oddly pushy, using high-pressure language with lots of urgency to do something “right now” – no, they’re not from your bank.
3. NOT VERY PROFESSIONAL. Does the email or text message use unprofessional language? Lots of typos? Bad grammar? Delete or ignore it.
4. DON’T GO THERE. If you’re asked to visit an unfamiliar website, call a number different than the one listed on your card, download a file or click a strange link, you’re being drawn into the scam. Disengage.

If you receive any suspicious emails, calls or texts that claim they're from Integrity Bank for Business, please call us at (number) and let us know so we can take steps to raise awareness for all our customers.

You may think you would never fall for something like this, and you probably wouldn’t. But remember that lots of very smart people have been victimized by phishing scams. Just be vigilant and watch out for red flags so you’ll never join their ranks.