Alert: Be Careful of Phone Call Fraud and Phishing Scams
May 27th, 2011
How you can identify telephone scams and protect your personal information.
Lately, we’ve noticed a frequent, emerging pattern in unauthorized phone calls and electronic phishing. This means that individuals or groups are posing as financial institutions and calling customers in an attempt to get their information. With the right knowledge and awareness, you can spot the signs of a scam and avoid falling prey to it.
If you receive an automated phone call from a financial institution claiming your debit card has been compromised or a wire transfer was completed, this may indicate a scam. The call may mention a specific bank’s name and ask you to enter your pin number or debit card number. If they ask for any personal information, it is a scam. A bank should never call you asking for your personal information. We do not require you to give us your pin number for any reason, and if we are initiating the phone call, we will not ask you for your personal information.
If you are unfamiliar with the bank that is calling or the transaction in question, don’t give out any of your personal information. In fact, it is good practice to tell the person calling that you are busy, and will call the bank back when you have time. If the call is legitimate, the caller will have no problem with this. When the phone call is automated, or clearly a recording, hang up, and call the bank personally to verify the call. Always call the bank’s publicly listed phone number for assistance. Should you receive an unauthorized phone call of this nature, the Massachusetts Bankers Association recommends reporting the incident to your bank and the local police department.
Following these steps will help you to better protect your personal and financial information from fraud and unauthorized access. If you have any questions about a call or any other message you have received from us or any other financial institution, please contact us today at 508-481-8300 and ask for your branch. We’ll be there, in person, to respond to your needs.
