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Online payment systems or apps like Zelle, Venmo, and CashApp let you quickly send and receive money. If you link the service to your bank account or debit card, it’s almost like handing someone cash. Be sure you know who you’re sending money to. Once you send money, it’s nearly impossible to get it back.

Avoid Sending Money to a Scammer

• Don't click on links in an unexpected email, text message, or direct message that asks you to send money. Don't give any personal or sensitive information like your username, PIN, or password.
• Confirm that you know the person you're sending money to. 
• When sending to someone you know, double-check their information before you hit send.

Protect Your Accounts

• Use multi-factor authentication. This means you need two or more credentials to get into your account: your password plus something else like an authentication code or fingerprint.
• Never share your credentials, like a verification code you get via text or authentication app.
• Set up alerts in the payment app to get transaction notifications outside of the app environment, such as via email or text.
• Regularly check your payment app and bank accounts to make sure no unauthorized payments have been sent from or accepted by your account.

Paid a Scammer Through a Payment App?

• Report it to the payment app or service and ask to reverse the transfer.
• Tell your financial institutions.

Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Learn more at ftc.gov/paymentapps and aba.com/consumers

If you suspect that you've received a fraudulent text or e-mail that appears to be from PNC Bank:

Do NOT respond.
Do NOT click on any links.
Do NOT provide any personal information.
Forward the email or a screenshot of the text message to PNC Bank abuse@pnc.com.
Delete the email or text message.

It has recently come to our attention that a series of fraudulent Facebook posts, appearing as if they are part of a legitimate campaign being conducted by PNC, have been published to closed Facebook Groups in multiple communities across the country. In each instance, the post promises a cash award to a limited number of individuals who comment, likely to be followed by a request for the “winners” to provide their personal or account information, which could be used to perpetrate fraud. Please know that PNC does not engage in limited, time-based giveaways of cash and does not conduct financial transactions based on comments or other information gathered via social media.

If you believe you may have responded to a fraudulent social media post like this and disclosed personal or account-related information, immediately change your PNC online and mobile banking ID and password, then contact us directly at 888-PNC-BANK or 888-762-2265.

It has recently come to our attention that some PNC customers have received fraudulent alerts via text or e-mail, claiming that there is an issue with their PNC account and encouraging them to click on a provided link to a non-PNC website and/or to call a non-PNC phone number in order to resolve it. While these texts and e-mails appear to be sent by PNC, please be aware that they are being sent by a malicious third party in hopes of receiving our customers’ personal or account-related information.

In general, if you receive something unexpected or suspicious, never click on a link or respond to a text message requesting personal or financial information like credit card numbers, Social Security numbers or other banking details. Instead, contact the bank directly using contact information from a known legitimate source or visit online by typing the company web address into your Internet browser. DO NOT use contact information contained in a suspect email/text.

If you suspect you've received a fraudulent email that appears to be from PNC, forward the suspicious message to PNC Abuse (abuse@pnc.com). If you suspect you’ve received a fraudulent text message that appears to be from PNC, take a screen shot of the text message on your mobile phone and forward it to PNC Abuse (abuse@pnc.com).

If you are a PNC customer and you believe you may have responded to a fraudulent text or e-mail and disclosed personal or account-related information, immediately change your PNC online and mobile banking ID and password, then contact us directly at 888-PNC-BANK or 888-762-2265.

PNC is fully committed to protecting the security and privacy of our customers. For more information on the prevention, detection and remediation of these types of scams, visit our Security and Privacy section.

What Happened

The security of our customers’ accounts is a top priority. Due to the diligence of PNC’s Fraud and Cyber Defense team, we were made aware of a scam targeting customers of a number of financial institutions, including PNC, predominately with text messages that appeared to be official bank communications. Some customers shared sensitive personal and financial information as a result.

This is called phishing – a fraudster's attempt to steal your personal and financial information, sometimes through e-mails, mobile text messages (smishing) and phone calls.

We are alerting customers of the warning signs of a phishing scam and steps you can take to help protect your sensitive personal information and accounts.

Warning Signs

Text messages and emails containing certain red flags should alert users to a possible phishing or smishing attack, including:

• Misspellings
• Grammatical errors
• Offering fantastic prizes
• Creating a sense of urgency
• Requesting personally identifiable information (PII)
• Requesting User IDs and Passwords
• Threatening with consequences
• Making demands

Take Action 

If you receive a suspicious text message, take precautions to avoid a phish:

• Do not respond to suspicious text messages; first confirm it is from a trusted source.
• Do not click links in a suspicious phish.
• Do not respond to a text message requesting personal or financial information like credit card numbers, Social Security numbers or other banking information.
• Do not call a phone numbers contained in a suspected phish. Go directly to a known source of information for contact information, such as the company’s legitimate website.

Action To Help Protect Accounts

If you suspect that your personal information may have been exposed, take these important steps, then be on high alert for signs of identity theft and phishing.

1. Review your financial statements and online transaction activity. If you notice unauthorized activity on your account, contact us immediately at 888-PNC-Bank (888-762-2265) or stop by your local branch. PNC customers will not be held responsible for verified unauthorized activity that is promptly reported.
2. Check your credit report. You can request a free copy of your three credit reports at each of the three credit agencies once every 12 months at www.annualcreditreport.com. Consider spreading out your reviews, checking one report every four months. Make sure that all the information on your report is accurate. If there is any suspicious activity, contact the credit reporting agency.
3. Place a 90-day credit alert on your file. This means the agencies will contact you any time someone attempts to acquire credit in your name. There is no charge, but it must be renewed every 90 days. Contact one of the three credit reporting agencies who will then contact the other two.
4. Consider a security freeze on your credit to block inquiries. As of September 21, 2018, there is no charge to add a security/credit freeze to your account which restricts access to your credit file. However, that restriction applies to both the fraudsters and to you. So remember, when you do apply for credit, you will need to request the agency to lift the freeze temporarily in order for the creditor to access your credit report.
5. Add PNC Alerts to Your Accounts. Monitor your account by setting up free PNC Alerts to be notified by email or text^[1] message regarding key activity on your PNC accounts, including:
   • Receive notification of your balances and important activity.
   • Know when your direct deposit has arrived.
   • Get faster notification when overdrafts have occurred.
   • Monitor your card transactions such as online, phone or international purchases.

Actions To Take If Phishing Email Appears To Be From PNC

If you suspect you've received a fraudulent email that appears to be from PNC, forward the suspicious message via email to PNC Abuse (abuse@pnc.com). If you suspect you’ve received a fraudulent text message that appears to be from PNC, take a screen shot of the text message on your mobile phone and forward it to PNC Abuse (abuse@pnc.com).

Here’s How You Can Get More Information

For more information on the prevention, detection and remediation of phishing, visit the PNC Security and Privacy website.