How to Spot and What to Do if You Are a Victim of Phone Spoofing:
A Guide from Summit State Bank

At Summit State Bank, protecting your personal information and ensuring your financial safety is our top priority. Unfortunately, phone spoofing scams have become increasingly common, where scammers impersonate legitimate businesses, including financial institutions like ours. The goal of these fraudsters is to trick you into sharing sensitive information, which they can use for identity theft or to access your bank accounts. Here’s how you can spot and handle phone spoofing attempts to protect yourself.

What is Phone Spoofing?

Phone spoofing is when a scammer alters their caller ID to make it appear as though the call is coming from a trusted number. Scammers often use customer service numbers from banks, government agencies (like the IRS or Social Security Administration) or tech support, making it look like the call is legitimate. This can be deceptive and should cause you to pause. Scammers may go as far as texting or emailing you with messages designed to trick you into giving up personal or account details.

Recognizing a Phone Spoofing Scam

It’s important to remember that Summit State Bank will NEVER contact you by phone, text, or email to ask for your private information. This includes sensitive details such as:

• • Your Account Number
• • Your Social Security Number
• • Your Card Number
• • Your Password

If someone calls or texts claiming to be from Summit State Bank and begins asking for this type of information, it's a scam. Even if the caller ID displays our customer service number, do not trust it. Scammers are skilled at manipulating caller IDs to make it appear legitimate.

What Should You Do If You Receive a Suspicious Call, Text, or Email?

1. 1. Don’t Share Any Information
   If you’re contacted and asked for any personal or account information, do not provide it. Summit State Bank will never ask for sensitive information over the phone, text, or email.
2. 2. Hang Up and Call Us Back
   If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of the contact, hang up and call Summit State Bank directly at 707-568-6000. Our representatives are available to help verify any communication you’ve received and address any concerns.
3. 3. Do Not Click on Links or Open Attachments
   If you receive a suspicious email or text that claims to be from Summit State Bank, avoid clicking any links or opening attachments. These may be malicious and could lead to phishing websites designed to steal your personal information.
4. 4. Report the Incident
   If you suspect that you've been targeted by a phone spoofing scam, please report it immediately to Summit State Bank. We can help monitor your accounts for suspicious activity and advise on any steps you need to take to protect your information.
5. 5. If You Accidentally Gave a Scammer Your Information
   Visit: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed for tips on what to do if you’ve fallen victim to a scammer.

One of the most dangerous aspects of phone spoofing is that scammers can manipulate caller ID to make it seem like they’re calling from a trusted number, such as Summit State Bank’s customer service line. It’s essential to understand that caller ID is not a foolproof method of verifying the identity of a caller. Just because a number looks legitimate doesn’t mean it is.

How Summit State Bank Protects Your Information

At Summit State Bank, we take the security of your personal and financial information very seriously. We employ extensive security measures to ensure your accounts remain safe from fraud and unauthorized access. Working together, we can help in preventing scams like phone spoofing. By staying vigilant and following best practices for handling phone calls, texts, and emails, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to these types of fraud.

In Conclusion

Phone spoofing scams are increasingly common, but with a few simple precautions, you can protect yourself from fraud. Always remember: Summit State Bank will never contact you via phone, text, or email to request sensitive information like your account number, Social Security number, card number, or password. If you're ever in doubt, hang up and call us back directly at 707-568-6000. We're here to help and ensure your information remains secure.

Stay safe and vigilant!