Phishing scams are on the rise. Phishing is when bad actors attempt to steal your login or personal information. They may do this via text, email, or a phone call that looks like it comes from a person or business you know and trust.

There are some new trends in Phishing scams that you should be aware of:

• Fake Invitations: Scammers may insert links in e-cards or invitations to steal your information.
• Fake Ads: Scammers may use fake ads to entice you to click through to a malicious site.
• Fake Gift Cards: Phishers may inform you that you can get a gift card if you fill out a form.

These are a few things that will give away a phishing attempt:

• A sense of urgency. Phishing attempts may ask you to sign in to correct an “error” and will pressure you to do so immediately.
• An unexpected text message asking you to provide your personal information or to sign into an account.
• Emails that ask you to click on a suspicious link or provide personal information.
• Phone calls asking you to provide login details or verify your account information.
• Someone requests you give them your multi-factor authentication code.

How can you avoid a phishing attempt?

• Pause for a moment to think about the request you’ve received.
• Don’t click on links from unknown or unexpected sources.
• Never give your multi-factor authentication code to another person.
• Do not provide account details to someone claiming to be from your bank. Your bank should already have this information and does not need to ask you for it.
• Hover over links to see if they lead to a legitimate site.
• Don’t download attachments from unknown senders.

You can find more details on phishing and other scams in our Security Center. If you think you have encountered a phishing attempt, contact your local branch or reach out to our Customer Care Team at 1.800.205.3464.