You get them all the time: emails that advise you to act urgently.
But before you do, think it over. Would your bank pressure you to click a link?
The answer is no, because #BanksNeverAskThat.
Phishing is big business, and scammers try to impersonate legitimate banks and businesses. But when you get an email urging you to act quickly, consider these 4 steps from the American Bankers Association:
- Avoid clicking suspicious links – An email urging you to verify your login credentials or make an immediate payment is likely a scam. When in doubt, call your bank directly or visit their online site that you have already bookmarked.
- Raise the red flag on the scare tactics – Banks don’t use threats or high-pressure language to get you to act quickly. But scammers do. Therefore, demands for urgent action should be red flags. Never reply with personal information, like password, PIN or Social Security number.
- Watch for attachments and misspelled words – Banks won’t send attachments in an unsolicited email. That’s one sign of trouble. Another is bad grammar or bad spelling in the body of the email.
- Be wary of every email – Think of it this way: you are a defensive driver. The same way you are on the lookout for bad drivers, treating incoming emails as a potential threat is smart. Because scammers are getting better and better, and legitimate emails are getting more difficult to discern.
Throughout October, Regions and banks across the nation are working to support the American Bankers Association’s annual #BanksNeverAskThatCampaign.
In the weeks ahead, we’ll show you what to look out for. That includes:
- How to recognize email scams.
- How to spot phone call scams.
- How to identify text message scams.
- And how to defend yourself – and respond, should you fall victim.
You can get a head start by going to the ABA’s website now: Banks Never Ask That!
Once you think you’ve got a grasp on the situation, test your knowledge by playing Scam City, an interactive challenge with an old-school, video-game feel.
We’ll have fresh content on Doing More Today each week through the end of the month. And, as always, you can find more fraud prevention information from us at 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.