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In the past few weeks the internet has been flooded with "phishing" schemes to acquire sensitive information from unsuspecting Web and email users. "Phishing" refers to an individual or group of individuals who create an imitation or copy of an existing legitimate Web page to trick users into providing sensitive personal information.
Please be aware that West Bend Savings Bank will never initiate a request for sensitive information from you via email (ie., Social Security Number, Personal ID, Password, PIN or account number). If you receive an email that requests this type of sensitive information, you should be suspicious of it. We strongly suggest that you do not share your Personal ID, Password, PIN or account number with anyone, under any circumstances.
Cyber-criminals are "spamming" large numbers of recipients, without actual knowledge of their banking affiliation, with fraudulent emails like these. They request and collect email addresses and other confidential information like financial account numbers, IDs and passwords. The cyber-criminals have copied the logos and the content styles of widely known and respected financial institutions and have created counterfeit websites, in an attempt to elicit a response from a recipient who may or may not be a customer of that financial institution.
If you have replied to such an email, please immediately forward the e-mail to fraud@wbsavings.com or call Customer Service at 1-800-924-7309
The following are the latest types of "phishing" emails:
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Important News about Your Bank Account
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Your account has been suspended
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Verify Your Email Address (Referencing Your Account Number)
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Request to Update Your Account Information
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Verify Your Email Address (AOL Specific Instructions)
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Enroll in Internet Banking
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Request to Update Your Billing Information
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Verify Your Email Address [Asks for SSN/TAXID]
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Home Equity Loan Application
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Email Verification
Things you can do to protect yourself:
- Be wary of "account shutdown" messages: These typically warn you your account it going to be shut down unless you "fix" it with some information. Call Customer Service at 1-800-924-7309 if you receive any of these requests.
- Don't fill in personal info via a link: Always go to the website, http://www.wbsavings.com to check it out. An e-mail link can be faked.
- Check credit card statements: You already know to do this, but look for strange transactions on your credit cards. Consider having a card just for online shopping.
Two excellent sites:
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