Nebraska AG alerts consumers of spike in scams involving banks

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is warning of a rise in bank scams across the state.

In a video posted Wednesday, Hilgers said people should be careful when responding to emails and text messages from scammers posing as bank employees.

Scammers will send a link that sends victims to a fake website or connects them with a phony bank representative.

The victims are asked to send personal information, such as account numbers or passwords.

The Federal Trade Commission reported a tenfold increase in scams involving banks in the last three years.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office provided some tips to avoid bank scams.

• Know that your bank will never ask you to provide or confirm personal details or confidential information via text or email.
• Look for red flags like strange formatting, typos, incorrect grammar or spelling.
• Be wary of messages that provide links, email addresses, or phone numbers that ask you to click or respond.
• Do not respond to any message claiming to be from a bank that you don’t use.

“When in doubt, contact your bank directly and don’t use the contact information provided by the scammer,” Hilgers said in the video. “Let your bank know immediately if you have been scammed and be certain to change your password and PIN.”

Additional information can be found at ProtectTheGoodLife.Nebraska.gov, or at 402-471-2682.