Fraud Alert
December 22, 2008
It has come to our attention, that some of our customers and non-customers were contacted on either their cellular or regular phone by a fraudulent automated call (phishers) pretending to be from Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank or other area banks. During the call, the phishers claim that a debit card has either been suspended or expired. This scam is designed to trick the recipient into keying in sensitive information such as the debit card number, expiration date and personal identification number (PIN). Currently, the phishers are systematically targeting phone numbers on Martha’s Vineyard, but they will most likely be expanding their efforts in the near future. In most instances, the source of the call is blocked. Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank’s customer information systems have not been compromised.

Please remember that Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank’ employees, or employees of any bank, will never contact its customers via phone or email to request personal account information. Listed below are some helpful tips for you to protect yourself against identity theft.

• Never give out your personal financial information in response to an unsolicited phone call, fax, or email, regardless of how “official” it may appear to be.
• Do not respond to email that may warn of dire consequences. Contact the financial institution to confirm the email’s validity using a telephone number or accessing the website address that you know is legitimate. Remember, do not use the link provided in the email.
• Be Careful and Selective before providing your email address to a questionable website. Sharing your personal email address puts you at a greater risk to receive fraudulent emails.

If you suspect that fraudulent activity may have occurred on your Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank account or if you have received or responded to a questionable phone call or email, please contact us immediately at 1-800-490-2265 or (508) 627-4266, or call 1-800-554-8969 after banking hours to cancel your debit card.

It is our goal to preserve your trust in us as we strive to maintain the privacy of your personal information. You are very important to us and we appreciate the opportunity to meet your financial needs.