Be Vigilant Against Fraud: FBI Warns Against an Uptick in Tactics

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), bad actors have ramped up their efforts to compromise critical data that could lead to identity theft and lost funds. This past December, the FBI issued a warning that there has been an uptick in AI-generated text, AI-generated images, AI-generated audio and AI-generated videos with malicious intent.1 It also offered tips to protect yourself.

Heightened awareness is recommended. 

If you get a call from your bank asking for you for any information, you should STOP to ask yourself why they would be asking you for personal information they should already. Then you should DROP the call by hanging up. Finally, CALL your bank directly using a number you have on a bank statement or find their phone number on a trusted website. 

Banks, like Synovus, have taken measures to educate customers about the perils of those trying to gain access to your data and, likely, your accounts. Synovus is devoted to keeping your finances secure. Our fraud protection resources and tips can help you recognize — and prevent — potential scams that could have devastating effects.

Please note: No reputable financial institution — INCLUDING Synovus — will ever call, email, or text you to ask for personal information.

If it appears someone from Synovus calls, it’s best to hang up and call the verified, trusted number at 1-888-SYNOVUS(888-796-6887). Fraudsters sometimes spoof or use vishing scams to make phone numbers appear accurate on cell phones or caller ID.

It’s an important distinction because two prevalent scams, called pretexting and second-stage attacks, have ratcheted up lately. Bad actors, pretending to be from a bank or financial institution, may call customers as though they’re from the company’s “fraud department.” They may ask for two-factor authentication codes, data, or information, or even leave a spoofed phone number in voicemail, urging the customer to call back.

In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission fielded more than 6.47 million fraud cases, with imposter scams as the most prevalent. And in 2024, people reported losing more than $12 billion, an increase of $2 billion from 2023.3

According to Banksneveraskthat.com2, fraudsters may also:

• Ask you to open a link you weren’t expecting.
• Use urgent or fear-inducing language.
• Send an ominous attachment.
• Request personal information like pin numbers, passwords, phone codes, or even Social Security numbers.
• Pressure you to log into or send money with payment apps.

In the event you suspect anything off kilter, call us at 1-888-SYNOVUS (888-796-6887) if you believe your Synovus card or account has been impacted.

You can also complete the Customer Security Incident Reporting form if you believe you've discovered a potential security concern regarding any Synovus products.

Other Helpful Content

• Common Holiday Scams
• Tips for Online Shopping
• Charity Scams
• ChatGPT and Phishing
• Smishing Scams
• Vishing Scams
• Card Skimming
• Credit Card Fraud
• Check Washing Fraud
• Phone SIM Swapping