Cybersecurity awareness month: protecting what matters
By Emma Ray, Community Relations Specialist at Blackhawk Bank and Trust
Most of us move through dozens of messages, emails, notifications, and phone calls in a single day without giving them much thought. We confirm appointments, track packages, pay bills, respond to family members, and check our accounts, often while juggling everything else on our schedules.
Unfortunately, scammers know that, too. They rely on familiar situations, a sense of urgency, and messages that appear legitimate to catch us in moments when we may be more likely to react quickly. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Blackhawk Bank & Trust is helping customers recognize the warning signs, understand how scams may appear in everyday situations, and feel more prepared to respond when something doesn’t seem right. So, what might these situations look like? Here are a few common examples and how to respond.
1. Someone calls claiming there’s a problem with your bank account.
The caller may claim your account is at risk and pressure you to act quickly. They may even appear to call from a familiar number or reference a bank employee by name to gain your trust.
What to do: Hang up and call your bank directly using a trusted phone number. Never provide passwords, PINs, security codes, or tokens to an unexpected caller.
2. You receive a text or email asking you to click a link.
The message may claim there’s a problem with a delivery, account, or purchase and ask you to click a link to resolve it.
What to do: Don’t click the link. Instead, go directly to the company’s official website or app, or contact them using a trusted phone number to verify the message.
3. Someone asks you to send money immediately.
They may claim to be a family member in trouble, a business requesting payment, or someone you know, while pressuring you to act quickly.
What to do: Stop and verify the request before sending money. Contact the person or business directly using information you already know and trust.
4. You’re asked to pay in an unusual way.
Requests for gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or other unexpected payment methods, especially with added urgency, should raise a red flag.
What to do: Don’t send money or continue the conversation. Hang up and contact someone you trust or visit your nearest Blackhawk Bank & Trust branch to help determine if the request may be a scam.
Staying secure often starts with a few simple habits:
- Slow down before responding to unexpected requests.
- Use strong, unique passwords.
- Enable multi-factor authentication
- Regularly review your accounts for unfamiliar activity.
- When in doubt, verify before you act.
At Blackhawk Bank & Trust, we’re doing our part, too. Real-time fraud monitoring, secure online and mobile banking technology, and optional account alerts are just a few of the ways we help protect your accounts and financial information. We will never ask for your password, PIN, or full Social Security number by phone, text, or email. For any concerns about your account or financial information, contact your nearest Blackhawk Bank & Trust branch directly. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, remember that staying informed is one of the simplest ways to help protect yourself from fraud!