You’ve probably heard of hacked emails or social media accounts, but now, scammers target financial accounts, leading to potential economic losses and stolen personal information.
What Is an Account Takeover Scam?
A fraudster gains access to your financial account, changes your contact details, and makes unauthorized transactions—all without your knowledge.
How Do These Scams Happen?
Most often, scammers trick victims into providing banking credentials. Here’s how they do it:
- Phone Scams – A scammer impersonates a bank employee, claiming suspicious activity on your account. They ask for your login credentials or a two-factor authentication code to “secure” your account, then lock you out and take control.
- Pop-Up Scams – You see a fake security alert on your screen urging you to call a number. The scammer on the other end, pretends to be tech support, gains remote access to your computer and steals your banking info.
- Email Scams – Clicking a link in a phishing email can install malware on your device, allowing fraudsters to track your keystrokes and steal your login details.
Once scammers gain control, they can change contact details to prevent alerts, make unauthorized transactions, order duplicate cards, and even impersonate you when speaking to your bank.
How to Protect Yourself
- Never share your banking login. Banks will never ask for your username, password, or PIN.
- Verify requests. If you get suspicious calls, texts, or emails, contact your bank directly using the official number.
- Keep two-factor authentication private. Don’t share verification codes with anyone.
- Think before you click. Be cautious with links and attachments in emails and texts.
- Stay informed. Know your bank’s security policies to recognize scams before they happen.
At Mid Penn Bank, your account safety is our priority. In unsolicited communications, we will never ask for your banking credentials, account numbers, or PIN. If you haven’t contacted us first, we won’t request this information.
If you suspect fraud, contact Mid Penn Bank immediately through a phone number published on our website or other literature. Never utilize a phone number sent to you in an email or provided by an unsolicited caller.
Staying alert and informed is the best way to safeguard your financial future.
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