Tag Archives: safety

How to Tell if a Call is a Scam

Cyber Security

Often times, phishing calls can come off as friendly or even helpful, however, in many instances the caller is malicious and intends to compromise your personal information. Peoples Bank & Trust wants to help you avoid situations like these, and offers the following key prompts to help you identify a fraudulent caller. Keep these five points at the top of your mind the next time you’re wary of an unknown caller:

The matter is deemed extremely urgent by the caller. The biggest and clearest red flag is when the individual calling claims that you HAVE to update or adjust something ASAP. The caller will then indicate that they are from an institution you may know, and they need to know your personal information ASAP. DO NOT give out this information. If you think a company you work with may truly need to update an account, call them at the number you have listed and inquire about the presentation the prior caller shared. Nine times out of ten the company will not be aware of any need to update the information and will take note of the fraudulent call being conducted to its customers.

The offer or promotion seems too good to be true. When someone calls claiming that you have won a foreign lottery, been chosen for an all-inclusive cruise, or received some other once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, chances are it’s a scam. On numerous occasions, fraudsters have used this ruse to illicit payment or personal information to “process your winnings.”  Unless you specifically remember entering into a sweepstakes for the prize you are being called about, this call is a scam.

The person calling is asking for personal information.  Not every time will the caller claim you have won a prize. Sometimes it may be as simple as a person posing as a business contact you work with, asking to verify some information. Whether it’s an insurance company, financial institution, or other entity, always ask if you can call the person back, and call them at the number you have in your records. If this number is different from the one which just called, you may have just avoided a scam.

Reverse lookup the phone number. Sometimes there is just something about a call that gives you a gut feeling that it’s not right. In cases like these, we recommend looking up the number on whitepages.com with their reverse lookup feature. This will not only tell you where the call is coming from, but can also alert you if the number has been flagged as a scam.

With these four tactics, Peoples Bank & Trust hopes you and your personal information can stay safe and secure. If you’re looking for more cyber security tips and tricks, be sure to check our blog. We share a new identity theft related topic each and every month.

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

Why You Shouldn’t Use Your Debit Card Online

Debit Cards

Now that you can pay for a taxi ride through your phone, order household essentials with the click of a button, and easily pay all your bills online, it’s becoming increasingly easy to depend on the internet for your financial transactions. At Peoples Bank & Trust, we want to shed some light on the various myths surrounding the use of debit cards online. With this information you can keep your information safe and secure while utilizing the latest fintech solutions:

Myth #1: It’s best to use your debit card online to pay for things.

Fact: While debit cards certainly have the capability of use for online purchases, other payment options such as credit cards, offer more advanced security safeguards and a decreased liability for the consumer.

We recommend using your debit card for any in-store purchases and utilizing one credit card for any transactions completed through the internet. This method ensures that should an online purchase become compromised, the safety of your savings, checking, and other bank accounts will remain secure while the credit card company eliminates any unwanted purchases within your account.

Myth #2: Wifi networks, like those found in coffee shops and hotel lobbies, are typically safe to use.

Fact: Many times cyber criminals target these hot spots by searching for potential victims to hack into through the use of a false wifi portal.

To avoid this circumstance, we suggest asking an employee of the establishment to verify the wifi network name and the associated password. In addition to this, it is always best to stick to non-personal sites, and avoid credit card and banking logins, while on public wifi.

Myth #3: If my debit card gets compromised, I will automatically get my funds back.

Fact: Because the funds are yours, the bank acts as a third party to help you file reports and maximize your chance of getting those funds back. However, there is no guarantee of recouping that money if you’re past certain timelines.

The sooner you report a card as lost or stolen, the less liable you are for unauthorized transactions. According to the Federal Trade Commission, if you report the card within two days of learning of its theft or loss, you are only liable for up to $50. However, if you wait up to 59 days after your bank statement is sent to you, you could be liable for up to $500. After 60 days, if the card in question has not been reported, you may be liable for the entire missing amount. To prevent this, we recommend reporting any loss or theft of your debit card as quickly as possible to reduce the potential damage to your personal finances.

After clarifying some common myths about debit card safety, we hope you will be inspired to become a safe shopper both online and offline. Whether you’re curious on how to best use your mobile banking or need to report a lost debit card, our dedicated team at Peoples Bank & Trust is always here to help! Drop us a line or stop by today.

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender