Protect Yourself From Scams
Every day, individuals fall victim to scams. Scammers use many different methods and tricks to try and get access to your funds and accounts. Learn more about how to spot them and avoid them below.
Phone Scams
- Caller ID can be deceiving. Scammers can make it look like any name or number.
- Never share personal information. Citizens Bank may need to verify information if YOU call US. However, it's a scam if a "bank" calls you asking for items such as your login information, secure access codes, account number, or social security code.
- Ignore urgent requests Words like "act now" and "urgent" are red flags. Don't give in to the pressure - it's a scare tactic.
- Hang up, look up, and call back. Hang up on suspicious calls, look up the number independently and dial it to call. For Citizens Bank, call 575-647-4100.
Email Scams
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links. Don't click links without hovering over them to reveal the true destination.
- Inspect links/emails/texts to ensure they are legitimate. While this is a true and effective way of identifying false emails, don't overlook the possibility of emails coming from a compromised account. When in doubt, call the Bank directly.
- Remember to not give in to scare tactics. Never reply with personal information like your password, PIN, or social security number.
- Watch for typos and suspicious attachments. Misspellings, poor grammar, and unexpected attachments are warning signs of a phishing scams.
- Be skeptical of all online communication. Fraudulent emails can appear convincing using official logos and similar URLs. Treat every email with caution.
- Verify the Source. If the email is unexpected or contains unexpected attachments, contact the sender through a verified method, not one provided within the email. Do not open attachments until you've verified.
- When in doubt, contact the Bank directly at 575-647-4100
- Remember: The Bank will NEVER ask for your User ID or Password
Mobile Payment/Text Message Scams
- Only send money to family and friends. Never send money to people you do not know or trust. You cannot cancel a payment once you send money through payment apps.
- Do not click on suspicious text message links. Never click on a text message link if it asks you to sign into your bank account. Scammers are trying to steal your Username and Password.
- Delete any text message you suspect is a scam. Do not risk accidentally replying to or saving a fraudulent text message on your phone.
- Avoid uncommon payment methods. Citizens Bank will NEVER ask you to send money to yourself or pay bills using a payment app.
By following these guidelines, you can better protect yourself from scams. If you are ever in doubt, contact us directly at 575-647-4100 or stop in at any one of our branches. Remember, Citizens Bank will NEVER call you and ask for sensitive information, including balance, account details, or one-time passcodes. It's always best to hang up and call us directly.
