LAS VEGAS – In 2022, scammers swindled the public out of more than $8.8 billion through phishing scams conducted via calls, texts and emails.
According to Nevada Bankers Association President and CEO Phyllis Gurgevich, “email scams account for 96% of all phishing attacks, making it the most popular tool for the bad guys.” Gurgevich advises consumers to take precautions to stay one step ahead of scammers by being vigilant about protecting their personal information.
Scammers often disguise emails to look and sound like they are from your bank. To help you avoid falling victim to such scams, it’s essential to know what your bank will never ask of you via email, or text. Tips include:
- Avoid clicking suspicious links. If an email pressures you to click a link — whether it’s to verify your login credentials or make a payment, you can bet it’s a scam. Banks never ask you to do that. It’s best to avoid clicking links in an email. Before you click, hover over the link to reveal where it really leads. When in doubt, call your bank directly, or visit the bank’s website by typing the URL directly into your browser.
- Raise the red flag on scare tactics. Banks will never use scare tactics, threats, or high-pressure language to get you to act quickly, but scammers will. Demands for urgent action should put you on high alert. No matter how authentic an email may appear, never reply with personal information like your password, PIN, or social security number.
- Be skeptical of every email. In the same way defensive driving prevents car accidents, always treating incoming email as a potential risk will protect you from scams. Fraudulent emails can appear very convincing, using official language and logos, and even similar URLs.
- Watch for attachments and typos. Your bank will never send attachments like a PDF in an unexpected email. Misspellings and poor grammar are also warning signs of a phishing scam.
If you fall victim to an email scam, take the following steps to protect yourself:
- Change your password if you clicked on a link and entered any personal information like your username and password into a fake site.
- Contact your bank by calling the number on the back of your card.
- If you lost money, file a police report.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).
About Nevada Bankers Association
NBA is the united voice of Nevada’s diverse banking industry. Members are dedicated to providing the best financial products, services and resources to drive and support economic growth, job creation and prosperity throughout the state of Nevada. Visit www.nvbankers.org.
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