Impersonators and Imposters!

We here at the Bank have had increased reports of fraudsters contacting our customers by text message, phone, or email, and they may even impersonate a representative from Bank of the Pacific. A fraudster may tell you that you owe money and threaten to turn off your utilities or they’ve noticed suspicious activity, such as money being sent from your account to another account, and ask you to send money to yourself using Zelle® to “reverse” the payment.  They may ask you to confirm or deny a credit card payment and then try to gain personal financial information when you return the call. They want access to your computer or may ask for a passcode.  These are just some examples of how the bad guys will try to obtain your personal financial information or scam you.  Here are a few steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Do not share your PIN, passcode, text message code, or any other access information to your accounts with anyone who requests it.
• Know that Bank of the Pacific will never ask you to send money to anyone, including yourself, to “reverse a transfer,” “receive a refund,” or anything similar.
• Don’t rely on caller ID. Scammers can make calls and texts look like they’re coming from Bank of the Pacific or a local phone number.

If you feel uncomfortable or suspicious with any request you receive by phone, text, or email, hang up or don’t respond. Reach out to your Credit Card Company, Utility Service or Bank directly using a number listed on your statement, bill or their authentic website.

At Bank of the Pacific, we take our responsibility to protect your personal financial information seriously, and we are dedicated to providing you with updated information regarding ways to protect yourself from possible fraud and scams. Please contact your local Branch or our Customer Care Center if you have concerns about your  account or need to report fraud.