How to Avoid Spoofing Scams Knowledge Center by: Regan Godderz Feb 10th, 2025 How to Avoid Spoofing Scams Scammers are getting trickier with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), and even tech-savvy individuals are falling victim to fraud. From spoofing (mimicking) Caller ID to creating deepfakes of friends or family members’ voices or appearance, financial fraud is changing and so are the methods to spot it. Below are some tips to discern fraud: If your bank is calling you, be discretionary Scammers are spoofing bank phone numbers to trick you into engaging with them. A call or text may appear to be from your bank or other financial institution and will ask for personal information about your accounts. Fraudsters may even act like there has been fraud on your accounts or cards to get you to act on their request urgently. If your bank reaches out requesting personal account or card information, it is likely not really your bank. In this event, do not engage with them and find an alternative way to contact your bank and verify whether the request is credible. Call the number listed on the back of your card or call the financial institution’s customer service using the number on their website. Don’t rely on caller IDs or even Google searches for numbers Caller ID isn’t always what it appears to be – scammers can now easily spoof the names and numbers of businesses. There have even been reports of fraudsters listing fake phone numbers for businesses on Google. If you receive a suspicious message, check the business’s website to find its valid phone number. Pause before paying Fraudsters will create a sense of urgency by pretending to be an executive at work or a family member in an emergency. They will often use language about refunds, gift cards, or reversing a transfer. If you ever receive a message requesting payment quickly, pause. Reach out to the valid number you have on file and confirm the request. Ignore access codes you didn’t request If you receive an access code to authorize a login or transaction you didn’t initiate, this is a sign your account has been compromised. Do not use the code and immediately change your password. You should always have multi-factor authentication set up on your accounts so you can stop your accounts from being hacked if your password has been compromised. Also, this the reason why passwords should be unique for each of your accounts – if scammers gain access to one account with your password, they may attempt to access more. Don’t answer unknown calls. If you are not expecting a call or don’t recognize the caller, ignore the call. If it’s important, they will likely leave a voicemail. This is a good way to avoid being spoofed and to avoid receiving future scam calls. -- As your bank, we’re your partner in fraud protection. If you ever suspect there has been fraudulent activity on your account, please reach out to your banker immediately. We will keep you informed through email and website alerts, and as always, in our Knowledge Center. As artificial intelligence advances, so will scamming methods, so it’s more important than ever to stay aware.
