To protect yourself against E-mail and online fraud, be very alert to unsolicited E-mails you receive from companies you know or do business with. Banner Bank will occasionally send E-mails through our E-mail marketing service, Constant Contact. These E-mails contain clickable links for your convenience and the displayed text may be different than the actual link (i.e. the target). Although fraudulent E-mails can be difficult to recognize, beware of E-mail that:
- Request that you click a link to a spoof Web site, one that looks like a real company Web site, including the real company's graphics and design. Since fraudulent E-mail may even use exact wording for the real company's Web site, it's difficult to determine a spoof Web site. If you have any doubts, please contact Banner Bank at 1-800-272-9933 or send an E-mail* to
.
* IMPORTANT: Internet E-mail is not secure. Unlike Online
Banking, it does not use SSL encryption. Please do not send
sensitive information, i.e. your social security numbers, account
numbers, other account information via E-mail.
* E-mails containing account information MAY be sent through our
Secure Message Center while logged into Banner Bank Online
Banking.
- Ask you to give, confirm, or update sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, usernames, passwords, PIN (Personal Identification Number) or account numbers.
- Use Pop-Up windows for entering or confirming personal data (see below for more pop-up screens on secured Web sites.)
- Have a sense of urgency to give the information immediately, citing a specific thing that might happen. For example, your account may be closed or temporarily suspended.
- Have spelling errors and/or bad grammar. Intentional spelling errors may allow the E-mail to get through spam filters used by ISPs (Internet Service Providers).
Even if you don't enter your personal data, by clicking on a link embedded in a fraudulent E-mail, you may inadvertently download tracking software or viruses that track your keystrokes to gain your personal information.
Some people "test" for online fraud by entering incorrect information. If the information is accepted, then they feel they can determine that it's an E-mail fraud. Criminals are now aware that people perform this test, and may not accept the information entered first. The best defense is not to enter any personal information at a Web site you link to from an unsolicited E-mail.
Learn ways to protect yourself as a consumer at www.ftc.gov/sentinel.
Visit www.fdic.gov and lean more about Phishing Scams.
Learn more about fraud prevention by visiting www.fakechecks.org.