Fraud Protection: Spotting Potential Scams

Financial fraud can happen to anyone, and when it comes to protecting yourself, knowledge is everything. It is our goal to provide you with resources that can help ensure that you and your finances are safe. Read on to find out how you can spot potential scams and protect yourself against financial fraud:

Be wary of text messages, phone calls or emails that claim to be from a Pathfinder Bank representative. Especially if the messages:
- Contain spelling errors, incorrect grammar or misuse of common words or phrases
- Pressures you to act immediately
- Instructs you to send money in unusual ways (via a money transfer service, a money order, bank check or in some instances, gift cards)
- Asks you to verify your debit card or account number by replying to the message or clicking a link
- Requires your PIN, access codes, CVV number, full Social Security Number or any other form of personal and financial information

Pathfinder Bank will never ask for any of the information listed above to verify your identity. We will also never:

- Close your account if you refuse to give the above information
- Ask you to complete a “test” transaction
- Address you as “user” or by your email address
- Ask you to share your online banking password and/or security questions
- Ask you to text us personal or banking information
- Ask for any codes that are sent to your phone
- Connect to your home computer

Do not give out personal information over the phone, through the mail or online unless you have initiated the contact or are sure you know who you are speaking with.
Monitor your accounts. Pay attention to billing statements and payment schedules for unusual activity and contact Pathfinder Bank if you believe there is unusual activity on your account.

Take advantage of the following services that Pathfinder Bank offers to help you monitor your accounts:

- Real Time Account Information – View your transaction history and real time account balances through Online and Mobile Banking
- Alerts –Set up text or email alerts through online banking to inform you of account balances, account activity and more
- Text Banking – This service gives you access to your accounts via text messages on your mobile device
- CardValet® – This free mobile app gives you the ability to actively manage your debit card usage by defining when, where, and how your debit card is used.

We encourage you to save our Fraud Monitoring System’s number in your contacts, so you will recognize this number if it ever comes up on your phone. Calls from our Fraud Monitoring Center will only come from the number 1-877-253-8965.
- When unusual activity is detected, Enfact will contact you via phone to verify that the transactions made, or those attempting to be made, are coming from you and not a scammer.
- If another number calls claiming to be our fraud protection service, hang up the phone and call our direct line (315) 343-0057 to speak with a customer service representative.

Pathfinder Bank cares about our customers’ financial safety. If you believe you are a victim of financial fraud, contact us directly and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) via their official website: https://www.ftc.gov/

You can also stay informed of the latest scams by visiting trusted consumer protection sources: