Suspicious Email | First Interstate Bank

Phishing: Email Fraud

Phishing is a type of online fraud in which a criminal sends an email that appears to be from a legitimate source to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. That information can subsequently be used to commit fraud or identity theft. A typical phishing scam involves a fake email from a bank or a popular online company telling the recipient that an account problem needs to be addressed.

Avoid clicking suspicious links.

If an email pressures you to click a link — whether verifying your login credentials or making a payment – you can be sure it is a phishing scam. Banks never ask you to do that, and avoiding clicking links in an email is best. Before you click, hover over the link to reveal where it really leads. When in doubt, call your bank directly, or visit their website by typing the URL directly into your browser.

Raise the red flag on scare tactics.

Banks will never use scare tactics, threats, or high-pressure language to get you to act quickly, but scammers will. Demands for urgent action should put you on high alert. No matter how authentic an email may appear, never reply with personal information like your password, PIN, or social security number.

Watch for attachments and typos.

Your bank will never send attachments like a PDF in an unexpected email. Misspellings and poor grammar are also warning signs of a phishing scam.

Be skeptical of every email.

In the same way defensive driving prevents car accidents, always treating incoming emails as a potential risk will protect you from scams. Fraudulent emails can appear very convincing, using official language and logos, and even similar URLs. Always be alert.

Get scam smart.

Learn more at BanksNeverAskThat.com, follow #BanksNeverAskThat on social media for quick tips, or speak with your trusted banking representative about steps you can take to protect your accounts.

If you believe you have been the victim of fraud, here’s how to report suspicious activity.

Knowledge and awareness are your best defense again scammers. Explore our financial education tools.