Glenview State Bank joins effort to educate consumers about phishing
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Don't do that, there's no attachment. Just making a point.
It's a point the American Bankers Association is making this month.
According to David Kreiman, executive vice president and director of marketing at Glenview State Bank, 800 Waukegan Road, October is cyber security awareness month.
He's broadcasting it to bank members through the #BanksNeverAskThat campaign.
"Really, the purpose of it is awareness, and to really pound it into their heads," Kreiman said of the battle against fraudulent emails, calls, texts and phishing attacks masquerading as representatives or messages from legitimate banks.
In 2019, consumers lost $1.9 billion to these scams. They have only accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Glenview State Bank is among more than 1,300 banks nationwide joining the American Bankers Association in promoting the #BankersNeverAskThat campaign on social media and an eponymous website.
The campaign helps consumers identify bogus schemes through videos, posts, tips and other material.
A quiz about these scams on the website could earn customers a $100 weekly prize or entry into a sweepstakes for a $1,000 grand prize.
Instructions on how to respond when falling prey to this fraud also is found on www.bankersneveraskthat.
"It's really about education," Kreiman said.
Crime surrounding cyber security is not a new phenomenon, he said.
"The issue of fraud and prevention has been a focus for us close to 20 years, at least," Kreiman said.
Malicious email including bogus internet links, text messages and telephone calls seeking personal information are key avenues, he said.
Glenview State Bank, with seven branches spanning Glenview, Northbrook, Northfield and Mount Prospect, also provides precautions and products on the "Fraud Center" tab on its website, such as free resolution services to personal checking account customers and businesses.
The #BanksNeverAskThat campaign "is a nice complement to some of the stuff that we already did," Kreiman said.