Alert – Fake Pioneer Trust Text Messages

Beware of Spoofing Scams

Using a method called spoofing, scammers can make calls and send text communications that appear to be from an official or known number. Knowing the possible signs this is happening can protect you and your account from fraud.

If you’re wondering whether a text message is legitimately from your financial institution, check for the “short code,” which is a five- or six-digit code that displays to identify as the sender of a text message.

How Do You Know If a Bank Text Alert is Real?

Remember these important facts about bank texts:

• Your bank will never ask you to provide or confirm personal details or confidential information via text.
• After you receive a suspected fraud verification text from Pioneer Trust Bank , we will never ask you for additional information or request that you fill out another form.
• Many banks that send text messages should have short codes that are assigned, managed and monitored by the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association. Contact your bank to find out the short codes it uses for texting. If you receive a text claiming to be from your bank but it uses a different short code, the text is fraudulent.
• Beware of texts that provide email addresses or phone numbers and ask you to respond. Scammers often create fake email addresses and phone numbers that look similar to a bank’s official versions, hoping that their intended victims won’t notice. Before you reach out, independently verify the contact information via your bank’s website yourself.
• Be on the lookout for red flags such as strange formatting, typos, incorrect grammar or spelling and other unprofessional mistakes.
• Avoid clicking on links that are shortened or that don’t take you to an official bank web page.

What to Do if You Receive a Bank Scam Text?

Most people with mobile phones receive bank scam texts from time to time. When you receive one, delete it immediately. If you’re not sure whether it’s a scam or a legitimate text from your bank, contact your bank directly, using a publicly listed phone number, email address or official online chat form, rather than responding to the text.

If you are a Pioneer Trust Bank Customer and you receive a text message from a number that you’re unsure of, do not reply and contact Pioneer Trust Bank.

To help stop fraud, it’s important to report the fraud. You can report fraudulent text messages to (503) 480-1933 and provide the context of the text message.

Next Steps if You Are a Victim of a Scam

Unfortunately, banking clients are commonly targeted for identity theft, travel fraud, and bank text fraud.

As with any type of fraud, if you become the victim of a text scam, you need to follow these steps:

• Report the fraud to the financial institution. If you suspect fraudulent activity on one of your Pioneer Trust Bank accounts, immediately call (503) 363-3136.
• Secure your private information. Avoid providing any private information to any individual that has contacted you. That includes account logins and passwords, PIN numbers, credit card validation codes, bank account numbers, credit or debit card numbers and your Social Security number. If you believe your information has been compromised, report it immediately and change your login, password and PIN as soon as possible.