People holding hands with coffee

Scam Prevention

Most people you encounter are honest and trustworthy. But sadly, there are others out there who are not. At AbbyBank, we're serious about helping you avoid scammers, fraud artists and identity thieves.

Don't get conned out of your hard-earned cash

One in 10 adults fall victim to a scam or fraud every year. Some get fooled more than once. That's because scammers come up with creative ways to get people to send them money or divulge personal data. Here are some of the common scams making the rounds these days.

Beware of AI-Powered Scams: Imagine receiving an email that appears to be from your bank. It’s personalized with your name, mentions your company, and references a recent “transaction attempt” that was declined. The email urges you to “click here to confirm your information” or “update your credit card details to avoid account suspension.” It seems legitimate, but it’s actually an AI-powered scam.

Here’s how it works: AI tools allow scammers to create highly convincing emails, mimicking the tone, branding, and even language style of trusted institutions. If you click the link, you may be taken to a fake website that looks identical to your bank’s login page. Once you enter your credentials, scammers can capture your username and password in real time. Alternatively, the link may install malware on your device, granting hackers silent access to your data, keystrokes, or even your entire network.

The consequences can be devastating—compromised accounts, stolen funds, sensitive data breaches, and even large-scale attacks on your business. To protect yourself, always verify emails directly with your bank, never click on suspicious links, and enable multi-factor authentication for an extra layer of security. Stay vigilant—scammers are leveraging AI to become more sophisticated than ever.


Spoofed Phone Number Scams: Has someone left a message on your voicemail or answering machine asking you to call them back? If it appears to be your bank, utility company or credit card company, never hit redial. Always input the real number on your own. It's called "spoofing" when a scammer manipulates your caller ID to make it appear they are calling from a local or known number that won't spark suspicion. When you hit redial, you end up connecting with a scammer - and playing right into their hands.

Romance Scams: Millions of people are using online dating apps or social media to meet people. These "romance scammers" earn your trust and tug at your heart strings with some sort of sob story in order to get you to send them money. The Federal Trade Commission has excellent Consumer Information about Romance Scams. Learn how to avoid this type of scam and how to report it.

Amazon Scams: Real Amazon representatives will never ask to have remote access to your computer. "Amazon scammers" call to let you know your account has been hacked or to confirm a purchase. A recent scam involves people calling, claiming they are from Amazon and explaining that they "accidently" refunded you too much money on an unauthorized purchase. They then demand that you send back a portion of it. Learn more about different types of "Amazon" scams from the Federal Trade Commission.

Streaming Service Scams: Scammers set up fake websites that look like real websites for streaming service activation codes. These fake sites trick you into clicking on links that download malware. Pay close attention to the website name in the URL; phony sites will often have misspellings or suspicious names. Also, look for the small padlock before the URL, this will indicate it is a safe and secure site. The Better Business Bureau has more details about this scam.

Coronavirus Scams: An increasing number of scams offer cures for COVID-19, treatments, test kits or air purifiers. If you receive a phone call, email or text message selling these services or products, it is most likely a scam. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has resources to help you avoid these scams - and other types of coronavirus scams.

Fake Facebook Pages and Ads: Scammers often create fake Facebook pages to deceive users into believing they're interacting with legitimate businesses or organizations. With these fake pages and ads, scammers aim to gather personal and financial details from unsuspecting users. Fake Facebook pages and ads may also serve as ways to spread malware or promoting fraudulent schemes. Clicking on malicious links or providing information to these pages can compromise users' devices and personal security. Scammers may also create fake profiles on other social media platforms besides Facebook. Learn how to spot the signs that a page or post is a scam. 

How to Identify Fake or Scam Facebook Pages

  • Authentic pages typically have a significant number of followers and engagement (likes, comments, shares) on their posts. Scam pages may have a low follower count, minimal engagement, and be a fairly new page. 
  • Be wary of posts containing spelling or grammatical errors, inconsistent branding, sensational claims, or requests for personal information. Legitimate businesses maintain a professional tone in their communications. 

If you're unsure about the legitimacy of a Facebook page or ad, visit the official website or contact the business directly through trusted channels to confirm its authenticity. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or providing personal information in response to unsolicited requests, especially from unfamiliar sources. 


AbbyBank can help - and so can others

Never give out your online credentials to anyone who you don't know. But if this should happen, change your password immediately. Give us a call at AbbyBank. We are here to help guide you and answer questions. Here are some other helpful resources:
Learn more about Elder Financial Abuse.





















































AbbyBank is a full-service financial institution with Wisconsin locations in Abbotsford, Appleton, Gresham, Medford, Shawano, Wausau, Weston and Withee.