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Identify and Protect Yourself From Bank Impersonation Scams
Imagine your phone rings and your bank's name appears on the caller ID. The person on the other end is calm, professional and helpful. They may even know your name or other details that make the call feel legitimate. Then they tell you there is an urgent issue with your account, and ask for your PIN, card information, digital banking credentials or a one-time verification code so they can “fix” it right away.
Nothing about that call may feel like a scam and that’s exactly what makes it dangerous. Scammers don’t always sound suspicious. Sometimes they sound exactly like someone you should trust.
At ASB, our top priority isn't just keeping your money safe, it's keeping you safe. Phone scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and fraudsters are getting better at impersonating community banks like ours and making their calls feel legitimate.
To help you protect your hard-earned money, here are a few simple "red flags" to watch out for the next time your phone rings:
- High-Pressure Tactics and False Urgency
Scammers want you to panic and act before you have time to think. They may claim your account is about to be closed, your card has been compromised, or they've detected "suspicious activity" that requires immediate action. ASB will never threaten you or pressure you to make an immediate decision over the phone. - Asking for Sensitive Information
This is one of the most important rules of banking safety: ASB will never call you out of the blue and ask for your sensitive information such as your digital banking password, debit card PIN, full card number, or a one-time security code. If someone asks for this information during a call, hang up immediately. While we may need to verify your identity when you contact us, we will never initiate a call and ask you to provide your password or one-time login code. - Tricky Caller IDs
Technology makes it very easy for fraudsters to "spoof" phone numbers, making a call appear to come from a trusted source. Even if your screen displays our bank’s name or phone number, that alone does not prove the call is really from us. Caller ID should never be your sole reason for trusting an unexpected caller.
What to Do If You're Unsure - or If a Scam Has Happened
When in doubt, just hang up. You won't hurt our feelings! Then to be completely safe, contact us directly using a phone number you know and trust, such as the number printed on the back of your debit card or the one listed on our website (asbt.bank). That way, you know exactly who you are talking to.
If you realize you may have accidentally shared some sensitive information with someone you suspect was a scammer, don’t panic – but act quickly:
- Call us immediately so we can help secure your accounts, review recent activity, and determine if your cards or digital banking access need to be changed.
- Change your digital banking password right away if you shared any login information. If you use the same password anywhere else, change it there too.
- Protect your identity if you shared information such as your Social Security number. Visit IdentityTheft.gov for steps you can take, including information about fraud alerts and credit freezes, to find out how to lock down and protect your credit if you accidentally shared your Social Security number.
- Report the scam. You can report suspected fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP or ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Depending on what happened, we may also recommend filing a police report. For more tips on recognizing bank impersonation scams, visit BanksNeverAskThat.com
Remember: Pause. Hang up. Verify.
Your security and trust are important to us. If you’re ever unsure whether a call from ASB is legitimate, hang up and call us directly. We would much rather help you verify a call than have you risk sharing sensitive information with the wrong person.
Together, we can stay one step ahead of fraud.