Your phone rings and you see First Federal Savings of Lorain’s name in the caller ID, so you answer.

The caller says they’re from the institution’s customer service/fraud department and that there is a problem with your account that needs immediate attention, but you get nervous when they start asking for personal things like your card number, PIN or account password. What should you do?

Hang up because it’s probably a scam in which the caller is using caller ID ‘spoofing,’ where they use technology to disguise the number they are calling from and make it look like the name and number of your bank.

This scam is designed to trick you into divulging important information that could be used to take funds your account or sell your information to others to commit fraud.

Here are some important things to know and do if this should happen to you:

– First Federal Savings of Lorain won’t contact you out of the blue unless there is a major problem, and they won’t ask for your account number, password or PIN. Don’t give this personal information even if the caller threatens penalties. 

– If you have even a small suspicion that the call is a scam, hang up. Then contact First Federal Savings of Lorain immediately by making a new call to 440-282-6188. Tell the customer service representative who answers what happened and ask if there is really a problem with your account.

– The same thing can happen via email or text. If someone claiming to be your bank asks for personal information don’t call any included number or click on any link in them.

Knowing danger signs to look for and staying alert for phone or email scams can keep your money safe.