Fraud Prevention 101: How to Keep Your Accounts Safe

Protect Yourself from Phishing & Fraud

Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated every day. Understanding how phishing scams work can help you protect your personal information, your accounts, and your money.

What Is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of fraud where criminals send fake emails, text messages, or other communications that appear to come from a trusted source, such as your bank, a business, or a government agency.

Their goal is to trick you into:

Sharing personal or financial information
Revealing login credentials or one-time passcodes
Clicking malicious links
Downloading malware that gives them access to your device

What Is Smishing?

Smishing is phishing through text messages (SMS). Fraudsters send deceptive text messages that appear to come from a legitimate business or financial institution in an attempt to convince you to:

Click a fraudulent link
Call a fake customer service number
Share sensitive personal or financial information
Download malicious software

What Is Vishing?

Vishing, or voice phishing, uses phone calls or voicemail messages to trick victims into providing confidential information such as:

Online banking credentials
Debit or credit card numbers
Security codes
Personal information

Scammers may even spoof their caller ID so it appears they are calling from your bank or another trusted organization.

How Does a Smishing Attack Work?

A typical smishing attack follows these steps:

You receive a text message that appears to come from a legitimate business or your financial institution.
The message claims there is an urgent issue with your account.
You’re asked to click a link, call a phone number, or verify your account information.
You’re directed to a fake website or fraudulent call center designed to steal your information.
If you provide your information or download malware, criminals may gain access to your accounts or your device.

Information Fraudsters Want

Scammers commonly target:

Social Security numbers
Debit and credit card numbers
Online banking usernames and passwords
One-time passcodes (OTP)
Home addresses and ZIP codes
Device and network information

How to Protect Yourself from Smishing & Phishing

Help protect yourself by following these best practices:

Be cautious of unexpected text messages, emails, or phone calls.
Watch for poor grammar, spelling mistakes, or unusual wording.
Never click links from suspicious messages.
Never respond to requests for personal or financial information.
If a message appears to come from Patrons Bank or another company you do business with, contact them using the phone number listed on their official website or the back of your debit card—not the phone number provided in the message.
Never provide passwords, one-time passcodes, or account verification codes by phone, text, or email.

If You Receive a Suspicious Message

If you receive a suspicious email, text message, or phone call claiming to be from Patrons Bank:

Do not respond.
Do not click any links.
Do not provide personal information.
Contact your local Patrons Bank branch or call us using the number listed on our official website so we can help verify whether the communication is legitimate.

If you believe you’ve shared personal information or notice unauthorized activity on your account, contact Patrons Bank immediately. Acting quickly gives us the best opportunity to help protect your accounts.

Other Ways to Report Phishing

You can also report suspicious communications through:

Your wireless carrier’s spam reporting tools
The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) at reportphishing@apwg.org
The Federal Trade Commission through ReportFraud.ftc.gov
IdentityTheft.gov for identity theft recovery resources

What Patrons Bank Will Never Do

Patrons Bank will never:

Ask for your full online banking password.
Ask for one-time passcodes or security verification codes.
Ask you to reply to an email or text with personal or financial information.
Pressure you to act immediately to “save” your account.
Threaten to close your account unless you provide personal information.
Tell you not to contact the bank directly.

Don’t Let a Fraudster Steal Your Money

Frequently Asked Questions

How do scams usually begin?

Most scams start with an email, text message, or phone call that appears to come from a trusted source, such as your bank, a business, or a government agency.

Can scams happen that quickly?

Yes. Many scams unfold within minutes because fraudsters create a false sense of urgency.

Phone Calls, Emails & Text Messages

Can scammers make it look like they’re calling from Patrons Bank?

Yes. Criminals can spoof caller ID to make it appear that the call is coming from a legitimate phone number.

What should I do if I receive a message saying my account is at risk?

Pause before taking action. Do not click links or share information. Contact Patrons Bank directly using the phone number on your debit card or from our official website.

Are fraud alert text messages always legitimate?

No. Fraudsters frequently send fake fraud alerts designed to trick customers into responding or clicking malicious links.

Passwords & Security

Will Patrons Bank ever ask for my password or one-time passcode?

No. Patrons Bank will never ask for your password, one-time passcode, or security verification code by phone, email, or text message.

Why are one-time passcodes important?

These security codes help protect your accounts. If someone else obtains them, they may be able to access your account or authorize transactions.

Information criminals commonly seek:

Online banking usernames and passwords
One-time passcodes (OTP)
Debit or credit card information
Personal identifying information

Wire & Payment Scams

What is wire fraud?

Wire fraud occurs when a scammer convinces someone to send money by claiming it’s urgent or necessary to protect an account or resolve a problem.

What is authorized payment fraud?

This happens when a scammer convinces someone to send money themselves, believing the request is legitimate.

Why is it difficult to recover money?

Once funds are transferred, criminals often move them through multiple accounts quickly, making recovery difficult.

Common Scam Tactics

Why do scammers create urgency?

Pressure keeps victims from slowing down and verifying the request independently.

Why would someone tell me not to contact my bank?

That’s a major red flag. Fraudsters want to prevent you from speaking with someone who can recognize the scam.

Be cautious if you hear phrases like:

“Act now or your funds will be lost.”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
“We’re protecting your account.”
“You’ll be reimbursed later.”

If You Think You’re Being Scammed

Stop communicating with the individual immediately and contact Patrons Bank using a trusted phone number.

If you’ve already shared information or sent money, notify us as soon as possible. Quick action may help reduce potential losses.

You should also:

Change your passwords.
Update your security settings.
Review recent account activity.
Continue monitoring your accounts closely.

How You Can Stay Safe

The best ways to protect yourself include:

Slow down and never act under pressure.
Verify requests using trusted contact information.
Never share passwords or one-time passcodes.
Be cautious of links, attachments, and unexpected messages.
Keep your devices and software up to date.

How Patrons Bank Helps Protect You

Patrons Bank uses multiple layers of security to help safeguard customer accounts, including:

Multi-factor authentication
Enhanced password requirements
Fraud monitoring systems that help identify suspicious account activity
Ongoing account security reviews and fraud prevention measures

Important Reminder

We’re your bank—we already have your account information.

Patrons Bank will NEVER:

Ask for your full password.
Ask for one-time passcodes.
Pressure you to act immediately.
Tell you not to contact us directly.