You recognize the name attached to the number. It could be your bank — or a business you trust. In reality, the voice on the other end of the line, or the person behind the text or email, could be an imposter.
What are Imposter Scams?
Imposter fraud is big business. Criminals are using increasingly sophisticated methods to pose as trusted institutions. By pretending to be your bank or even a government agency, scammers try to trick you into giving them access to your money and personal information.
“Publicly available contact information and data breaches provide fraudsters with information about their victims and these criminals have gotten more brazen in their attacks,” said Jeff Taylor, head of Commercial Fraud Forensics at Regions Bank. “At the same time, criminals have gotten better at posing as institutions you trust. The best way to fight back is to recognize some of their approaches.”
How to Spot Imposter Scams
Take a few minutes to educate yourself, and feel free to share the information with family, friends and co-workers. We’ll provide an overview focused on spotting imposter scams and next steps to take if you think you might be a victim.
Let’s get started.
5 Ways to Spot Imposter Scams
- The spoofed caller ID: Scammers may fake the number to make it look like your bank, a government agency, a business you trust or even law enforcement is calling. This is known as spoofing. Don’t trust that the caller ID is truthful or accurate. Never provide personal information regarding yourself or your finances to unsolicited callers.
- Urgency and pressure: Scammers create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly, before you have time to think the situation through. Pressure tactics are a major red flag.
- Requests for sensitive information: They may ask for passwords, PINs, or one-time login codes. A legitimate bank representative will not object if you choose to hang up and call back using a trusted number. Remember, Regions will never ask you for the combination of your user ID and password.
- Unsolicited messages with links: Never click unfamiliar or unexpected links in texts or emails. Instead, visit the website you normally use or call a number you trust.
- Lookalike communications: Scammers can craft official‑looking emails, texts, or letters using imitation domains or letterheads to appear legitimate. They all create fake domains and then pay for search optimization. The result is when you search, a fake site pops up. We recommend bookmarking websites you need.
“We are seeing a rise in imposter scams, including criminals posing as Regions Bank,” said Kimberly Reece, Customer Advocacy Manager for the Financial Crimes Unit at Regions. “It may sound legitimate, but if you receive an unexpected message reach out to your bank directly to confirm.”
It may sound legitimate, but if you receive an unexpected message reach out to your bank directly to confirm.
Kimberly Reece, Customer Advocacy Manager for the Financial Crimes Unit at Regions
How to Report Imposter Fraud
If you believe you have fallen for an imposter scam, act quickly. Contact your financial institution right away and be prepared to share as many details as possible. Swift action can significantly limit potential damage.
- Alert your bank and/or credit card company. If you’re a Regions customer, call 1-800-REGIONS or log into Online Banking and click “Message Us.”
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission online (ftc.gov) or call them at 1-877-FTC-HELP.
- If something happens online, report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov).
- Report the matter to local law enforcement. This not only helps you but helps others who may be similarly impacted.
- Contact the business that’s “involved” and detail your suspicions to help legitimate companies fight back.
Additional Resources from Regions.com
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The information presented is general in nature and should not be considered, legal, accounting or tax advice. Regions reminds its customers that they should be vigilant about fraud and security and that they are responsible for taking action to protect their computer systems. Fraud prevention requires a continuous review of your policies and practices, as the threat evolves daily. There is no guarantee that all fraudulent transactions will be prevented or that related financial losses will not occur. Visit regions.com/STOPFRAUD or speak with your Banker for further information on how you can help prevent fraud.