SMiShing Attacks - Text Phishing

Special Notice:

Liberty Bank has received reports of SMiShing attacks (also known as text phishing), which have impacted cardholders of financial institutions located primarily in the eastern region of the U.S.

SmiShing is a type of social engineering that uses cell phone text messages to persuade victims to provide personal information such as card number, CVV2, and PINs. The text message may contain either a website address or more commonly, a phone number that connects to an automated voice response system, which then asks for personal information.

The following are examples of SMiShing messages recently sent to cardholders:

• Text message originating from either notice@jpecu or message@cccu:
  
  
  • ABC CU- has- deactivated-your-Debit_card. To-reactivate-contact:210957XXXX;This is an automated message from ABC Bank. Your ATM card has been suspended. To reactivate call urgent at 1-866-215-XXXX

        Text message originating from sms.alert@visa.com:

Liberty Bank for Savings may ask for personal information to confirm identification such as the cardholder’s name, date of birth, and/or last four digits of a social security number, we will never ask for CVV2 or a PIN.