| Remember: Ameris will never call or text you to ask for or to validate your personal information including your user ID, online banking password, PIN, or one-time passcode. If you are contacted by phone, text, or email and asked for your information, please hang up immediately. Do not respond to the text or email. Call Ameris Call Center immediately at 866-616-6020 and report the outreach. |
Understanding the threat
Financial fraud occurs when criminals obtain your sensitive information to conduct unauthorized transactions. Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting your systems and data from these malicious attacks. At Ameris Bank, we offer robust protection, but your vigilance is the most important defense against these growing threats.
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Use Strong Passwords: Create unique, complex passwords for every account. A password manager is a great tool to help you keep track of them securely. |
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Be Wary of Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured. Avoid logging in to sensitive accounts or making financial transactions while connected. |
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Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Also known as two-factor authentication, this adds a second layer of identity verification, making it significantly harder for criminals to access your accounts, even if they have your password. |
How to spot fraud
Fraudsters will pose as legitimate businesses and convince you to share sensitive information or visit fraudulent websites via text. Ameris Bank will never initiate a text message for the purposes of obtaining your private information.
Scammers may call you and spoof the number they're calling from so that it seems realistic. The caller may claim to be from the IRS, Ameris Bank, or another financial institution, urging the need for personal information or a payment. The caller may even know small bits of information about you, making claims of high-stakes urgency like a sweepstakes or lottery win. If you question the legitimacy of any phone call, hang up and call back through an official number. Call spoofing will only work when they call you. Remember, no bank will initiate a call and request your private information.
When online fraud is initiated via fake emails it is called “phishing.” Know the five red flags of phishing.
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Fake sender address: An email may look legitimate, but by scrutinizing the sender's address, you can see if there are any misspellings or an extra dash in the address. Sometimes the lower cap letter "L" is replaced with the number "1."
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Generic or "phishy" salutation: If the salutation does not contain your name, consider it spam and delete it. Some emails might include an odd form of your name in the salutation, such as your email moniker (i.e. frsmith). If the email doesn't get your name right, delete it.
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Urgent call-to-action: Any email that contains urgent calls to action, such as "your account will be closed" or "action required," should be considered suspect.
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Request for sensitive information: Just know that any legitimate business or government agency will never request confidential information. Delete it.
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Phony links: Most phishing scams are all about the links. Never click on a link unless you are 100% certain of the source. Avoid links that don't start with "https" in the URL. If there is no "s", it's probably fake.
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Never give your credit or debit card account number or PINs to anyone you don't know over the computer or the phone.
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Review your card statements for unfamiliar transactions.
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Always know where your card is and never leave your wallet or purse unattended - even for a moment.
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Shield the keypad when entering your PIN.
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If you're shopping online, be sure the website you're visiting is secure (indicated by https://) before you enter your card number.
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Pick PIN numbers you can easily remember that are not easily guessed (e.g. birthday dates, repetitions of a single number).
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Never write your PIN number on your card, or on a slip of paper that you keep in your purse or wallet.
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Get the receipts from your card transactions.
How to spot common scams
Report suspicious activity
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Lost/Stolen Debit/Credit Card:Call 800-236-2442 to report a lost or stolen Ameris Bank Debit Card. Call 877-334-0460 and select option 2 to report a lost or stolen Ameris Bank Credit Card. |
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Suspicious Email/Possible Fraudulent Activity:If you believe your personal information or account details have been compromised, contact Ameris Bank immediately by visiting a nearby Ameris Bank branch or calling us directly at 866-616-6020. If you have received a suspicious text message or email, do not click on any links within the text message or email. Please submit a photo or screenshot of the suspicious message to [email protected]. Do not include sensitive information such as your account or social security numbers. This mailbox is for collection purposes only so please do not expect a reply. This will not constitute notifying Ameris Bank of any potential fraud on your accounts. Additionally, you may file a customer complaint with the FTC and report the activity to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). |
Cybersecurity FAQs
Sharpen your fraud-fighting skills
The fight against financial crime is ongoing. Check out these resources from the American Banker's Association.Do you practice safe checks?
Think you can spot a scam?
Additional Resources
Ameris Bank is a full-service financial institution serving customers in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, with locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.