Security & Fraud

• Add your phone numbers to the Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov or call (888) 382-1222. Since February 2008 these registered telephone numbers will no longer expire and be removed from the registry.
• Examine your credit card and financial institution statements upon receipt to determine whether there were unauthorized transactions. Report any unauthorized transaction immediately to the appropriate financial institution.

• Check your credit file with the three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.

• Each year you are entitled to request a free credit report at annualcreditreport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228.
• Request a copy of your Social Security statements at www.ssa.gov/mystatement to be sure that no one else is using your Social Security number for employment.

• Opt out of pre-screened credit offers at optoutprescreen.com or by calling (888) 567-8688.

Please read the other sections for information regarding the different types of fraud and how to prevent them.  Our Fraud Summary section provides more tips on how to protect yourself.

Contact us immediately at (308) 485-4232 if you notice any suspicious or unusual activity related to any of your Pathway Bank accounts.

Identity theft is the most popular and profitable form of consumer fraud. It occurs when someone uses your personal information without permission to commit fraud or other crimes.  Stolen data can include your name, social security number, credit card number, or additional identifying information.

Common ways identity theft can happen:

• Thieves typically steal wallets and purses. They can also steal mail such as credit card and bank statements, pre-approved credit card offers, check orders and other financial mail.

• Thieves rummage through trash, looking for bills, financial or other personal information.

• Thieves modify or redirect your billing statements to another address by completing a “change of address” form.

• Thieves may send unsolicited emails, pretending to be a financial institution or a company, asking you to click a link to update or confirm your personal or login information. The link is directed to a “spoof” website designed to look like a legitimate site.

• Thieves may use a card reader device to copy the card’s magnetic strip to duplicate without the card owner’s knowledge.

Easy ways to help prevent identity theft:

• Keep track of transactions on your accounts by regularly logging into Pathway Bank’s Digital Banking, where you can view your activity as it is posted.

• Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet.
• Do not have personal information such as your Social Security number and driver’s license number printed on your checks.
• Keep your unused checks in a safe place.
• Do not leave your purse, wallet, checkbook or any other form of identification in your car.
• Shred or tear up any documents containing banking or credit information, especially pre-approved credit offers, before you throw them away. To opt-out of pre-approved credit card offers, call (888) 567-8688.
• Keep your PINs and passwords a secret. Do not share them with anyone.

Contact us immediately at (308) 485-4232 if you notice any suspicious or unusual activity related to any of your Pathway Bank accounts.

Phishing scams target consumers by “spoofing” text or voicemail messages that ask you to call a phone number and to give your personal information. Here’s how it works:

• You receive an email message, asking you to click on a link in order to update some sensitive personal information.
• The link will redirect you to a “spoofed” website, which is designed to look like a legitimate website.
• The website will ask you to input personal information, such as your account numbers, PINs or a Social Security number.

To protect yourself from going to a spoofed website, always type “www.pathwaybank.com” into your web browser to log into your Pathway Bank Digital Banking Account, instead of clicking a link in an email.

• Do not click links in emails to log in or to update or confirm your sensitive information.
• Do not complete forms in emails.
• Be cautious about opening attachments or downloading files, regardless of who has sent them.
• “Spam” or mass email messages often contain links to phishing websites and other illicit websites.
• Many phishing scams originate outside of the United States. Be wary of emails from people or sources you don’t know or trust.
• Poor grammar and misspelled words from unknown sources asking you for personal information are clear warning signs of a phishing scam.
• Legitimate companies or organizations will never ask you to divulge any personal information over email.
• Phishing emails may also be fake contests or offerings, asking you to input personal information.
• If an offer or email you receive is too good to be true, it most likely is.

One of the newest schemes by fraudsters involves spoofing bank error messages. Here’s how it works:

• Fraudsters will send you an email message about a data or site maintenance error at Pathway Bank or at any of your banks.
• The email will ask you to click on a link, which will redirect you to a site that will install malware on your computer.
• This malware allows scammers to intercept your password and to bypass the dual authentication system that many financial institutions use.
• The next time you attempt to sign into your online banking service, scammers attempt to steal your password and may quickly drain your account.

For your protection we will never send you an email to update or confirm your sensitive information by clicking a link or by replying.

Please do not send personal information in an unsecure email. Secure emails may be sent from within Digital Banking.

Contact us immediately at (308) 485-4232 if you notice any suspicious or unusual activity related to any of your Pathway Bank accounts.

Did you know that you can turn your Pathway Bank debit card off using Digital Banking?  Here’s how:

• Tap “Menu.”
• Tap “Manage Cards.”
• Tap “Turn Card Off” for any cards which you would like to temporarily turn off. Simply tap “Turn Card On” to start using it again!

If you need to call to report a lost or stolen Pathway Bank Visa® ATM/Debit card, please call us at (308) 485-4232 during regular business hours. In the alternative you can use Digital Banking – Here’s how:

• Tap “Menu.”
• Tap “Messages.”
• You will see two boxes; the bottom one says “Submit a Form.” Tap on “Choose a Form to Submit.”
• Tap “Lost or Stolen Card.”
• Fill out the form in its entirety.
• Tap “Submit.”
• The form will be submitted to our Operations Department, and your card will be shut off.
• A team member will reach out to you at the contact number you provided.

Pathway Bank makes investments in state-of-the-art, Digital Banking security to ensure that we protect the confidentiality of each customer’s online information and to provide the utmost security of each user.

Computer protection tips:

• Update your computer operating system on a regular basis.
• Keep your browser current with the latest security updates.
• Use updated anti-virus software.
• Use updated anti-spyware software and consider using more than one to ensure the most thorough scan.
• Change your passwords on a regular basis, as a good practice to help prevent unauthorized access.
• Download free software only from websites you know and trust.
• Do not install software without knowing exactly what it is or what it will do (read the end-user license agreement).
• Close pop-up ads by clicking on the “X” instead of clicking within the advertisement itself.
• Review your browser security settings and set them to a high level to help detect unauthorized downloads. (Click your browser’s “Help” menu for steps.)
• Do not click a link inside of a spam email, especially emails claiming to offer anti-spyware software.
• Install a personal firewall on your computer. A firewall works like a filter that prevents access to information on your computer.
• Don’t give any of your personal information to any websites that do not use encryption or other secure methods to protect it.

Contact us immediately at (308) 485-4232 if you notice any suspicious or unusual activity related to any of your Pathway Bank accounts.

We recommend that you learn ways to protect yourself from common fraud schemes.

Vishing scams target consumers by “spoofing” text or voicemail messages that ask you to call a phone number and give your personal information. Here’s how it works:

• You receive a “spoof” email or text message about suspicious account activity.
• The text or voicemail message will ask you to call a “customer service” number.
• When you call the “customer service” number, a recording will ask you to provide personal information, such as account numbers, passwords, a Social Security number, or other critical information.
• The recording may not mention the company’s name and could potentially be an indication that the call is being used for fraud.
• You can also receive a phone call.
• The call could be a “live” person or a recorded message.
• The caller may already have your personal information, which may seem as if the call is legitimate.

Smishing is when consumers’ cell phones and other mobile devices are targeted with mobile spam. The spam, or text message, attempts to trick a consumer into providing personal information. Here’s how it works:

• You receive a fake text message, which may include a fraudulent link, asking you to register for an online service.
• The scammer attempts to load a virus onto your cell phone or mobile device.
• The scammer may also send a message “warning” you that your account will be charged unless you cancel your supposed online order.
• When you attempt to log onto the website, the scammer extracts your credit card number and other personal information.
• In turn your information is used to duplicate credit, debit and ATM cards.
• Scammers may also send you a text message again, “warning” you that your bank account has been closed due to suspicious activity.
• The text message will ask you to call a “customer service” number to reactivate your account.
• When you call the number, you are taken to an automated voice mailbox that prompts you to key in your credit card, debit card, or ATM card number, expiration date; and PIN to verify your information.
• Again, your information is used to duplicate credit, debit and ATM cards.

Lottery/sweepstake scams target consumers by a notification, which arrives by regular mail, email, or an unsolicited telephone call. Here’s how it works:

• The notification advises that you have won a prize, but you did not enter into any type of lottery or sweepstake by the promoter contacting you.
• The promoter will ask you to send payment to cover the cost of redeeming the prize when the prize does not exist.
• In this type of scam, you may rarely, if ever, receive any winnings in return.

Check overpayment scams target consumers who sell items through an online auction site or a classified ad. Here’s how it works:

• The seller takes a big loss when the “buyer” passes a counterfeit cashier’s check, money order or corporate or personal check as payment.
• The counterfeit check is written for more than the agreed price.
• The “buyer” will ask the seller to wire back the difference after the check has been deposited.
• The check will more than likely bounce and the seller becomes liable for the entire amount.

• Deposit outgoing mail at the U.S. Post Office.
• Remove incoming mail from your personal mailbox as soon as possible, or use a P.O. Box or locked, secure mailbox.
• Request a mail hold from the U.S. Postal Service or call it at (800) 275-8777 if you plan to be away from home for an extended period of time.
• Know your billing cycles. If bills are late or missing, contact your creditors.
• Watch for your new or replacement card from us. You should receive it within five business days.
• Switch to a secure way of receiving your account statement. When you sign up for Pathway Bank E-Statements, your statement will no longer sit in your mailbox. Instead, we will send you an email when your statement is available through your secure Digital Banking.

• Do not give out personal information, such as your account numbers, card numbers, Social Security number, tax identification numbers, passwords or PINs, unless you have initiated the call.
• We will not make an unsolicited call requesting your personal information.
• If you ever believe you are not talking to a representative of a legitimate company, hang up and call the company’s listed phone number.

Contact us immediately at (308) 485-4232 if you notice any suspicious or unusual activity related to any of your Pathway Bank accounts.