Skip Navigation
Documents in Portable Document Format (PDF) require Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher to view, click here to download Adobe® Acrobat Reader.
FDIC-Insured - Backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government
Contact Us Find a Branch or ATM Location

Digital Banking

Enroll - Personal Enroll - Business

Looking for something?

Results
Web header image

Is that call, text or email legit?

Spot the Signs to Prevent Identity Theft and Social Engineering Attacks.

Identity thieves and social engineers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, but you can prevent attacks by recognizing their methods. Review the information below to identify common techniques, detect warning signs and know when to take action to protect your sensitive information. Explore our Digital Security Features page for additional safety tips.

Explore Security Features

 

Prevalent Identity Theft Tactics
(Personal)

 
  • Phishing. Fraudsters send emails, texts or direct messages that appear to be from legitimate sources (e.g., an email from “your boss”).
  • Social engineering. Scammers manipulate individuals into revealing confidential information, often creating fake, urgent situations (e.g., a phone call from “the IRS”).
  • Spoofing. A fraudster disguises their communication as coming from a trusted source (e.g., a message that appears to be from “your bank”).
  • Deepfakes. Using a realistic-sounding AI-generated voice or an authentic-looking deepfake video, a fraudster impersonates someone you trust (e.g., a call from “your grandmother”). P.S. Unexpected requests should be verified. Use trusted sources rather than clicking links and opening attachments.
 
Common Warning Signs of Identity Theft
  • Billing issues and/or unexpected bills
  • Credit report changes
  • Debt collection calls
  • Denied applications
  • Unauthorized bank or credit card transactions
  • Unusual account alerts

Trending Social Engineering Scams
(Business)

 
  • Posing as a vendor, a fraudster requests an urgent wire transfer.
  • Acting as IT, a fraudster sends a personalized message to an employee, asking for their login credentials.
  • Using a realistic-sounding AI-generated voice or an authentic-looking deepfake video, a fraudster impersonates a high-level executive and calls a staff member to request company payment information. (Unexpected requests should be validated. Use trusted sources rather than clicking links and opening attachments.)
  • Pretending to be your bank, a scammer calls, emails or sends a text indicating an account problem or suspected fraud, requesting that you take immediate action to protect the account. (Never share your login credentials or MFA codes.)
 
Common Signs of a Social Engineering Scam
  • High-pressure tactics
  • Unsolicited and unusual requests
  • Suspicious links and attachments
 
Protect your business: Consider hosting an education webinar. Arm your staff with the information they need to combat fraud.

 

 

What should you do if you suspect a scam?

Call us immediately at 877.226.5578. Always verify any communication with a trusted number that requests action or response.

 

REMEMBER: Five Star Bank will NEVER ask for your login credentials or security codes.

For additional security tips and resources, visit our Security Center. Thank you for choosing Five Star Bank as your trusted financial partner.


Explore ways to help protect
your accounts and avoid fraud.