West Plains Bank and Trust Company joins ABA and Banks across U.S. for #BanksNeverAskThat Anti-Phishing Campaign

America’s banks join forces in coordinated, industry-wide campaign to protect consumers during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
West Plains Bank and Trust Company joined the American Bankers Association and banks across the nation to promote an industry-wide campaign educating consumers about the persistent threat of phishing scams. The FTC estimates that consumers lost $5.8 billion to phishing and other fraud in 2021, an increase of more than 70% compared to 2020. To combat phishing, the #BanksNeverAskThat campaign uses attention-grabbing humor and other engaging content to empower consumers to identify bogus bank communications asking for sensitive information like their passwords and social security numbers.
“We’re excited to join ABA in the #BanksNeverAskThat Campaign to bring awareness on spotting phishing scams and how to stop fraudsters in their tracks”, said West Plains Bank and Trust Company President/CEO, David M. Gohn. “A real bank would never ask their customers to verify personal information at random, such as their digital banking username, password, PIN and/or debit card number, and more. As online fraud continues to grow, this information is more prevalent than ever. We will be sharing links and resources on our social media throughout the month of October and readers can also go to www.BanksNeverAskThat.com for tips on avoiding falling victim to these scams.”
“Phishing attempts are at an all-time high and scammers are targeting consumers from every direction—by text, phone and email,” said Paul Benda, senior vice president, operational risk and cybersecurity at ABA. “Education and awareness are key to helping consumers spot a scam, and with help from participating banks like West Plains Bank and Trust Company, we’re able to reach bank customers across the country so they can stay one step ahead of the scammers.”
West Plains Bank and Trust Company, along with more than 1,000 banks from across the U.S. and ABA, are kicking off this year’s updated campaign on Oct. 3 to mark the beginning of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Throughout the month, West Plains Bank and Trust Company will share eye-catching consumer tips on social media and in bank branches designed to highlight common phishing schemes. Because cybersecurity education and fraud awareness can often be dull and forgettable to many consumers, the campaign is designed to be bright and bold with a bit of comedy.
West Plains Bank and Trust Company opened its doors to customers in 1883, making it the oldest continually operating business in the area. With 139 years of service to the local region, total assets of West Plains Bank and Trust Company have grown to more than $600 million with seven locations and a loan production office. For additional information, visit www.westplainsbank.com or call 417-256-2147.
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