Text Message Fraud Targeting Banking Customers

Our Fraud Prevention team is seeing an uptick in phishing attempts via text message.

If you receive a text claiming to be your financial institution and instructing you to click a link to verify a suspicious transaction do not click on the link. First International Bank & Trust does not send out links in text messages to verify transactions, and we never ask anyone to click a link to enter online banking credentials or other personal information.

From time to time, we do send debit and credit card-related text messages that simply ask you to type "YES" or "NO" if you completed a specific card transaction. But these texts never contain links or prompts asking for personal information.

In summary, if you receive a suspicious text message like the one described here, do not click the link. Instead, report it immediately to our Customer Care Team at (800) 359-8092 or reach out to your local branch. You can also take the following action:

• Forward the message to 7726 (SPAM): This works with most major carriers in the U.S., U.K., and other countries. It alerts your carrier to investigate and block the sender.
• Report to the FTC (U.S.): You can do so by visiting ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Use your phone’s built-in reporting tools: Most smartphones allow you to report spam texts directly from the messaging app.
• Block the sender: Most phones allow you to block numbers directly from the message.
• Enable spam filters:
  • On iPhone: Settings → Messages → Filter Unknown Senders
  • On Android: Messages app → Settings → Spam protection

We hope you'll pass this information along to friends and loved ones who bank with FIBT. And for even more tips on how to keep yourself and your finances safe from fraudsters, visit our Education Center: https://www.fibt.com/education-center/security/