Cybersecurity Warning: Beware of Bank-Related Scams

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, in light of recent bank failures, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released an alert warning consumers to beware of potential scams requesting your money or sensitive personal information. Exercise caution in handling emails with bank-related subject lines, attachments, or links. In addition, be wary of social media pleas, texts, or door-to-door solicitations relating to any failed bank.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Receiver of failed banks, would never contact you asking for personal details, such as bank account information, credit and debit card numbers, social security numbers, or passwords.

To avoid becoming victims of scams, consumers should review the following resources and take preventative measures:

CISA: Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks
FDIC Consumer News: Beware, It’s a Scam!
FDIC Consumer News: Scammers Pretending to be the FDIC
FDIC: Failed Bank Information for Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara, CA
FDIC: Failed Bank Information for Signature Bank, New York, NY
CISA: Phishing Infographic

The NJCCIC encourages recipients who discover signs of malicious cyber activity to contact the NJCCIC via the cyber incident report form at www.cyber.nj.gov/report. Additionally, consider reporting scams and fraud to your local police and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission.

Please do not hesitate to contact the NJCCIC at njccic@cyber.nj.gov with any questions. Also, for more background on our recent cybersecurity efforts, please visit cyber.nj.gov.