Can You Spot a Phishing Scam?

Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts, and calls from scammers pretending to be their bank. And in this time of expanded online and mobile banking use, the problem is only worsening. The Federal Trade Commission’s report on fraud estimates that American consumers lost a staggering $8.8 billion to phishing scams and other fraud in 2022—an increase of more than 65% over 2021.

It’s time to put scammers in their place.

Online scams aren’t so scary when you know what to look for. And at Bank Independent, we’re committed to helping you spot them as an extra layer of protection for your account. We’ve joined with the American Bankers Association and banks nationwide in a nationwide effort to fight phishing—one scam at a time.

We want every bank customer to become a pro at spotting a phishing scam—and stop bank impostors in their tracks. It starts with these four words: Banks Never Ask That. Because when you know something sounds suspicious, you’ll be less likely to be fooled. These four phishing scams are full of red flags:

• Text Message: If you receive a text message from someone claiming to be your bank asking you to sign in, or offer up your personal information, it’s a scam. Banks Never Ask That.
• Email: Watch out for emails that ask you to click a suspicious link or provide personal information. The sender may claim to be someone from your bank, but it’s a scam. Banks Never Ask That.
• Phone Call: Would your bank ever call you to verify your account number? No! Banks Never Ask That. If you think the caller isn't legitimate, you can just hang up and call the bank directly at a number you trust.
• Payment Apps: Beware of text messages from someone claiming to be your bank saying your account has been hacked. The scammer may ask you to send money to a new account they’ve created for you, but that’s a scam! Banks Never Ask That.

You’ve probably seen some of these scams before. But that doesn’t stop a scammer from trying. For tips, videos, and an interactive quiz to help you keep phishing criminals at bay, visit www.BanksNeverAskThat.com. And be sure to share the webpage with your friends and family.