Phishing is one of the most common scams today—and it’s costing people time, money, and peace of mind. These scams usually arrive as emails or text messages that look like they’re from your bank, a government agency, or a company you trust. At Neighborhood National Bank, we want you to feel confident recognizing these fraudulent messages so you can keep your accounts and personal information safe.
What Are Phishing Emails and Texts?
Phishing is when scammers send messages designed to trick you into sharing personal or financial information. These messages often:
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Pretend to be from a trusted source like your bank, the IRS, or a delivery company.
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Create a sense of urgency with alarming statements like “Your account is locked!” or “Immediate action required!”
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Include suspicious links or attachments that lead to fake websites or download malware onto your device.
The goal is simple: to get you to click before you think.
How to Spot a Phishing Attempt
Here are common red flags that signal an email or text may be fraudulent:
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Urgent language: Messages demanding you “act now” or risk losing access.
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Suspicious links: URLs that don’t match the official website. (Tip: hover over links before clicking to see where they really lead.)
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Unusual senders: An email address or phone number slightly different from the real one.
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Poor grammar or misspellings: Many phishing messages contain small errors.
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Requests for sensitive information: Legitimate banks will never ask for your password, PIN, or full Social Security number by email or text.
Steps to Protect Yourself
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Pause before you click. If something feels off, don’t open attachments or links.
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Verify the source. Contact the company directly using a phone number you know is real—not the one in the suspicious message.
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Keep devices updated. Regular updates help protect against malware that phishing links may install.
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Use account alerts. Set up text or email alerts through Neighborhood National Bank to monitor unusual activity.
What to Do If You Think You’ve Been Phished
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Don’t panic. Immediately delete the suspicious message and avoid clicking any links.
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Report it. You can forward phishing emails to the FTC at reportphishing@apwg.org or report scams at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
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Call your bank right away. If you think you may have entered personal information, Neighborhood National Bank can help secure your accounts and take quick action to minimize damage.
Neighborhood National Bank: Here to Protect You
Staying safe online starts with awareness, but you’re not alone. Neighborhood National Bank provides secure digital banking tools and local experts ready to help if something doesn’t look right.