It’s not uncommon to receive text messages asking you to verify your identity when logging into an app or account. But when text messages come from scammers, providing personal identifiable information can be detrimental.

Robotext scams are on the rise, according to the Federal Communications Commission, and appear that the text is coming from a number you’re most likely to trust. Spoofers may opt for a local number, or impersonate a government agency or financial institution. The texts resemble email spam and pressure individuals to “login” to a fake bank website to verify a purchase or unlock a credit card that was frozen. Others use package delivery updates as phishing bait. Most recently, text scams are taking a “wrong number” approach.

The FCC recommends the following:

• Do not respond to texts from unknown numbers, or any others that appear suspicious.
• Never share sensitive personal or financial information by text.
• Look for misspellings, or texts that originate with an email address.
• Think twice before clicking any links in a text message.
• If a business sends you a text that you weren’t expecting, call them to verify.
• Government agencies almost never initiate contact by phone or text.
• Report texting scam attempts to your wireless service provider by forwarding unwanted texts to 7726 (or “SPAM”).

NexTier Bank will never text you. If you think you’re the victim of a texting scam, report it immediately to your local law enforcement agency and notify the Customer Care Center at 1-800-262-1088.