Caernarvon Township police say they have noticed a sharp rise in bank impersonation scams targeting residents.
Scammers are using digital spoofing technology to hijack real bank names and phone numbers to make their calls and texts look authentic, police said in an online posting.
Police cited these common tactics:
• Spoofed caller ID: The call or text displays your actual bank’s name.
• Artificial urgency: They claim someone is stealing your money right now.
• Secret requests: They ask for your password, PIN or login code.
• “Safe account” transfers: They tell you to send funds via Zelle, wire transfer to “reverse” fraud or take money out and give it to an agent.
Police offered the following safeguards:
• Hang up immediately: Do not engage, reply or click links.
• Call back safely: Dial the trusted number printed directly on the back of your debit or credit card or bank statement.
• Keep codes private: Your bank will never ask you to read back a verification code or transfer money to yourself.
Police advised sharing this information with friends, family and elderly neighbors.
If you have lost money to this scam, police said, contact your financial institution immediately and file a report with the department by calling 610-655-4911.