Internet Scams

All Internet users should know about Internet / Email scams or spoofs, also known as phishing. A phishing scam usually comes in the form of an email from a known business. Most of these emails “phish” for or request sensitive personal information from the recipients, usually in the form of a link back to a spoof web site. A spoof website looks like a company’s website to fool the Internet user into disclosing personal and financial information. The request may ask you to update or confirm your personal information and will usually have a sense of urgency about them. The scammer may state that your account will be suspended or closed or they may offer a “to-good-to-be-true” deal that will have a deadline attached to it. Never click on a link contained in a suspicious email.

Request for Information
Most phishing scams are requesting Passwords, PIN numbers, bank account numbers, Social Security numbers (SSNs), ATM / Debit card numbers, credit card numbers and credit card validation (CCV) code or expiration date. All of this information can be used for Identity Theft.

Signs of Scam Emails
Reputable businesses will not contact you by email or telephone with a request for your personal information; however, upon contact from a customer, Schertz Bank & Trust may request information for identification purposes. Most scam emails will have a deadline or may state that your account will be suspended or closed if no response is received. The email will request that you click on a link to confirm information. There may be obvious spelling errors that help the scammers avoid the spam filters used by Internet Service Providers. Also, the address bar and secure padlock icon can be faked. The best way to test the site is to manually type in a business website address, such as www.schertzbank.com, to see if you get to the same place.

Protecting Your Information
Don’t click on any link in unsolicited emails, especially those asking for personal information. Even if you don’t give any personal information, just clicking can enable thieves to access your computer and capture passwords and / or personal information. The best way to get to any site is to type the address or URL into your browser and then bookmark it or save it as a Favorite. Change your password often. Schertz Bank & Trust recommends every 30 – 60 days. Keep your browser and operating system up-to-date. Software updates are usually downloadable for free and help keep your computer safe from viruses and spam mail.

Report Scams
If you suspect that you have received a scam email, please forward the original email with no changes immediately to reportfraud@schertzbank.com or call us during business hours at 210-945-7400 or 800-945-9544. You may also report fraudulent emails to the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ and to your local law enforcement agency.