Protect Yourself from Email Scams

Alert- Latest Phishing Attack

Below is an example of a recent email phishing attack scam:

Dear Valued Customer,

We noticed that you need to update your People United Bank Online Account Please upgrade immediately by clicking on this link below:

Secure Login Access Page

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Peoples United Bank Online

Information on protecting yourself from fraud, please review the Security Tips in our Security Center

© 2012 People's United Bank. Member FDIC.

Online Scams You Should Learn About

Phishing

Phishing is designed to fraudulently trick you to reveal your private information via email

Smishing

The term Smishing originates from “SMS” phishing (Short Message Service) it is the technology used to send text messages to cellular phones.  Like phishing, smishing is designed to fraudulently trick you to reveal your private information. 

What are Scammers trying to Obtain?

Phishing and Smishing scammers are trying to trick you to fraudulently reveal your private information – such as Social Security number, ATM PIN, user name, password, bank account or credit card numbers via email messages and/or text messages.

What you should look for

These type of messages may appear to be urgent and may contain a phone number for you to call, that may connect to an automated voice response system or they may contain a website URL.

To make these e-mails seem more realistic, the senders often duplicate the company logo and familiar formats or redirect to a fraudulent website. These emails are often masked under the name of a trusted source such as the FDIC, a trusted financial institution, an Internet Service Provider - or even People's United Bank.

Recent Smishing Incident

Most recently, some consumers received text messages on their cellular phones that appeared to be a legitimate text message from People’s United Bank.  The text message requests customers to verify account and PIN number information to process a payment.  These text messages are designed to trick you into revealing your private.

Phishing Incident

In the Past some consumers have received emails that seem legitimate and request updated billing, email or personal information. These emails are designed to trick you into revealing your private information -- possibly a Social Security number, ATM PIN, bank account or credit card numbers. This practice has become known as "phishing".

What Should You Do
If you get a text messages that warns you that an account of yours will be shut down unless you reconfirm your billing or email information, or that the bank is "missing" information about your account, do not reply or click on the link in the e-mail. Report any suspicious activity to the company where you maintain your account and to the Federal Trade Commission, immediately. If you have mistakenly responded to a smishing text message pretending to be from People's United Bank, you should notify your local branch immediately. To report a suspicious text or email that uses People's United Bank's name, you can forward it to abuse@peoples.com.

Recognizing Legitimate Requests from People's United Bank

• It is not our policy to use "Pop-Up" windows to collect information about your accounts.
• It is our policy not to ask you to share personal information via email.
• It is not our policy to ask for your PIN, Login User ID, Password, Social Security Number, or other confidential information via email.
• People's United will not claim we are updating our files or accounts on you via email, nor threaten that your account is in jeopardy if you do not update your account information immediately.

 

Tip: Verifying a People's United Bank Web Site
Here's a quick way of verifying the real address of a web site.

Cut and paste the following text into your Browser Address Bar. javascript:alert("The actual URL of this site has been verified as: " + location.protocol + "//" + location.hostname +"/");

A small pop-up will display the true web address of the page you're viewing.

Avoid Becoming a Victim
The Federal Trade Commission and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, also advise:

• Review and verify credit card and bank statements as soon as you receive them.
• Report suspicious activity through the Federal Trade Commission Web Site.
• Avoid filling out forms in e-mail messages.
• Internet fraud complaints also can be filed with the FBI.

 

People's United is committed to protecting your personal information.
Learn more about what you can do to safeguard your online information.