Solvay Bank Blog

Scams are getting smarter. So should you. With the use of AI and other advancing technologies, scammers are using phone calls, texts and emails to trick people into giving away personal and financial information. At Solvay Bank, your safety is our top priority. We want to help you stay one step ahead.

What Is Bank Fraud?

Bank fraud happens when someone tries to steal your money or information by pretending to be from a bank. This can happen through:

• Text messages
• Phone calls
• Emails

Scammers often say there’s a problem with your account or offer fake rewards to get your attention. They may ask for your account number, password, PIN or even Social Security number. Once they have this info, they can steal your money—and it can happen fast.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost over $12.5 billion to scams in 2024. That’s a 25% jump from the year before. Don’t let it happen to you.

Signs of a Scam

Be on the lookout for messages, calls or emails that:

• Say there’s a problem with your account
• Ask you to click a link or open an attachment
• Ask you to share a verification code
• Tell you to give personal info or send money
• Seem urgent or threatening
• Come from an unknown number or email

Even if the message looks real, don’t trust it. Scammers can fake logos, phone numbers and email addresses and even other people’s voices.

How to Stay Safe

Here are simple steps you can take to protect yourself:

If you get a suspicious text or email:

• Don’t click links or open attachments. They may contain viruses or lead to fake websites.
• Don’t reply. Ignore the message, even if it looks official.
• Report it. Contact Solvay Bank at 315-484-2201 or [email protected] to let us know you were targeted for a scam.

If you get a suspicious call:

• Hang up. Even if the number looks local or your caller ID says it is Solvay Bank, it could be fake.
• Don’t give out personal info. Solvay Bank will never ask for sensitive information over the phone, unless you call us first.
• Call us directly at 315-484-2201 to confirm Solvay Bank is really trying to contact you.

If you think you’ve shared your information with a scammer, call us right away at 315-484-2201. The sooner we know, the faster we can help.

A Final Reminder

You may need to confirm your info if you call Solvay Bank—but never when someone contacts you first. If something feels off, trust your gut. It’s better to be safe than sorry.