Fraud & Cybersecurity Awareness

Recently, we’ve received reports of a scam in which fraudsters send out fake messages from the “FISC BANK Fraud Department,” and ask our customers for a 6-digit verification code from a text message. If this happens to you, do not reply. Hang up and call the number on the back of your card or call a known FISC BANK phone number.

The FISC BANK Fraud Department will NEVER ask you for a 6-digit verification code as part of our fraud alerts. 6-digit verification codes are commonly used as a one-time authorization to grant access to an account, reset a password, or add a card to a phone’s mobile wallet. That’s why sharing this information with a scammer can be dangerous.

Here are steps to take if you receive one of these messages:

• Block the fraudulent phone number to prevent future messages.
• Call FISC BANK right away to report the attempted scam. Our bankers will help you determine if your account or debit card information has been compromised.
• If you receive this type of contact after FISC BANK business hours, call the number on the back of your debit card. If you have the FISC BANK mobile app, you can use it 24/7 to turn off your debit card’s functionality until you determine that your account is secure.

How this scam works:

Example: A debit card holder receives a message or phone call reporting to be from the FISC BANK Fraud Center. The message will say that there’s unusual activity on the card and ask the card holder to reply “yes” or “no” to verify a purchase from a retailer like Best Buy or Home Depot. This is not unusual and is how typical FISC BANK fraud alerts work. However, in this scam, what happens next is out of the ordinary.

After the initial message, the scammer will request a 6-digit code sent to the debit card holder. The code will be in a recently received text or email message. This code is the scammer’s key to taking control of the debit card, allowing the scammer to add the debit card into a smart phone mobile wallet. The scammer can then use the card without having a physical copy.

If you have questions or have received a message like this, reach out to FISC BANK for assistance. Click here to visit our website for a list of locations and contact information.