When Scammers Call, Your Bank’s Got Your Back
When the phone rings and you don’t recognize the number appearing on-screen, the mental tug-of-war begins.
What if it’s someone I know who’s calling from a new phone?
What if someone I care about needs my help? It could be a hospital, couldn’t it?
Then again, what if it’s someone who’s after my money? A scammer posing as a police officer called my friend. He informed her that he had a warrant for her arrest because she’d failed to appear for jury duty. Then he offered her a get-out-of-jail-free card: If she paid a penalty fee over the phone, he would consider the matter resolved. He sounded so real. In the end, however, the only thing that was real about that call was the money my friend lost.
To answer or not-to-answer: That is the question.
When moments like these arise, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you’re on your own when it comes to safeguarding your hard-earned money against scammers. Every time you find yourself torn between answering and letting the call go to voicemail, however, know you’re not alone.
For one thing, the state of Ohio stands by you. The OhioProtects website offers educational materials for phone calls like these. Their hashtag, #JustDontAnswer, says it all. The best way to avoid being scammed over the phone is to refuse to answer calls from unfamiliar numbers. If a call is important enough, the caller will leave a voicemail. If the caller leaves a voicemail and you suspect it’s a scammer, you can file a report with the state through this website. In the end, your report may help protect others from this caller and others like him.
When you need a friend in your corner that’s a little smaller than the state but still packs a punch, rest assured that your bank’s got your back.
At First National Bank of Sycamore, we do everything we can to educate customers like you about scams so you can stay safe. On our website, for example, we offer security tips that can help you protect yourself from specific types of fraud. Preventing identity theft before it happens and recognizing phishing attempts when you encounter them, for example, can go a long way to keep your finances secure.
We also know, however, that sometimes you just need someone to talk to when it comes to your concerns about fraud. Perhaps you’ve given important personal information or money to someone over the phone and you’re concerned you may have fallen for a scam. At First National Bank of Sycamore, our workers are ready to listen to you.
Sometimes we reach out to our customers about fraud before they even realize they need to come to us. When customers make large withdrawals that are inconsistent with their usual banking habits, we notice these red flags and reach out to determine whether or not fraudulent activity has occurred. We’re always on the lookout.
If you have questions or concerns about protecting yourself from scammers, stop by and see us today. We’ve got your back, so you never need to feel alone when your phone rings and that mental tug-of-war begins. Know you’ve got someone on your side when it comes to the things that matter most.
