VIDEO: Paul Benda, Senior Vice President, Risk and Cybersecurity Policy, American Bankers Association, interview with KXTV-TV in Sacramento, CA

(Washington, D.C., Monday, October 5, 2020) – American Bankers Association is launching a first-of-its-kind, industry-wide campaign to educate consumers about the persistent threat of phishing scams. The engaging #BanksNeverAskThat campaign uses attention-grabbing humor to reinforce the notion that banks do not text, call or email customers asking for sensitive information like their passwords and social security numbers. The campaign is the largest consumer protection initiative in ABA’s history.

Banks of all sizes across the country are simultaneously deploying the campaign on October 1 to mark the beginning of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Throughout the month the banks and ABA will share eye-catching and engaging short videos, animated GIFs and consumer tips on social media and in bank branches designed to highlight common phishing schemes. In addition, ABA is hosting a month-long sweepstakes for consumers who complete a phishing quiz at BanksNeverAskThat.com and share their results on social media. ABA will award 15 winners each week and one grand prize winner at the end of the month.

Americans lost more than 1.9 billion dollars to phishing and other fraud in 2019, and surveys indicate phishing scams have only increased during the COVID19 pandemic.

The American Bankers Association spokespeople will be able to share tips on how to spot common phishing schemes and empower consumers to protect themselves.

The American Bankers Association is the voice of the nation’s $20.3 trillion banking industry, which is composed of small, regional and large banks that together employ more than 2 million people, safeguard $15.8 trillion in deposits and extend nearly $11 trillion in loans.