CUSTOMER EDUCATION
Don’t Let Your Guard Down This Holiday Season: Important Security Reminder
The holiday season is officially underway—a busy time filled with holiday shopping, travel plans, and end-of-year errands. Unfortunately, cybercriminals and scammers take advantage of the seasonal rush, counting on hurried schedules and holiday distractions to catch people off guard.
At MainStreet Bank, your peace of mind and financial security remain our top priorities. As you check off your holiday to-do lists, we want to remind you to stay vigilant against common tactics fraudsters use during this time of year:
Holiday Tactics to Watch For
- Spoofed Bank Alerts & Numbers: Scammers often manipulate caller ID to make incoming calls or texts appear to come directly from MainStreet Bank, disguising their outreach as routine seasonal notifications.
- Urgent “Fraud” or “Delivery” Warnings: You might receive an alarming message claiming an unauthorized holiday purchase, ACH debit, or wire transfer is pending, designed to trigger immediate panic.
- Attempts to Steal Credentials: Fraudsters frequently press you to act quickly by clicking an unverified link or disclosing a one-time login passcode to “cancel” a bogus charge or unlock an account.
How to Protect Your Accounts
- Keep One-Time Passcodes Private: MainStreet Bank will never call, text, or email asking for your password, PIN, or multi-factor authentication (MFA) codes. Never share these with anyone.
- Pause Before Clicking: Amid the influx of holiday order confirmations and shipping updates, avoid tapping links in unexpected emails or text messages asking you to verify your banking details.
- Hang Up and Verify Directly: If you receive a questionable call or message regarding your account, do not use the contact information provided in the prompt. Hang up immediately and contact us directly using the number on the back of your debit card or our official website.
- Strengthen Your Entire Digital Footprint: MainStreet Bank enforces Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to safeguard your online banking, but enabling MFA across your personal email, shopping accounts, and business software provides essential protection everywhere you transact.
We’re Here to Help
If you believe you have encountered a scam or may have unintentionally shared sensitive account information, contact us right away. MainStreet Bank’s dedicated fraud team works closely with law enforcement to investigate incidents and defend your accounts.
Wishing you and your family a safe, secure, and happy holiday season.
