What is phishing?

"Phishing" is a growing internet scam in which consumers receive emails that look like they from financial institutions or other legitimate companies asking for personal information such as name, account numbers, credit card numbers and passwords. These emails have links that direct you to a website to supply the requested information. The link you click may launch a program that infects your computer and the site it takes you to is designed to look like the official site but it is just trying to "phish" for your data.

Steps to identify and avoid becoming a victim of phishing:

• Never provide your personal information in response to an unsolicited request, whether it is over the phone or over the Internet. Bank employees will never ask for your user ID, password, or any other personal information such as your social security number or account number.  E-mails and Internet pages created by phishers may look exactly like the real thing. They may even have a fake padlock icon that ordinarily is used to denote a secure site. If you did not initiate the communication, you should not provide any information.

• If you believe the contact may be legitimate, please contact Peoples State Bank by calling 507-243-3511. Remember, you can also find phone numbers and websites on monthly statements, or you can look the company up in a phone book or on the Internet. 

• Never provide your password over the phone or in response to an unsolicited Internet request. Peoples State Bank would never ask you to verify your account information online. Thieves armed with this information and your account number can help themselves to your savings. 

• Check your credit card and bank account statements regularly and look for unauthorized transactions, even small ones. Some thieves hope small transactions will go unnoticed. Report discrepancies immediately.

• Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Info
• Department of Justice Identity Theft site
• Identity Theft Help Us site
• IdentityTheft.org
• Federal Trade Commission Phishing Alerts

Member FDIC



The Peoples State Bank of Madison Lake is not participating in the FDIC Transaction 
Account Guarantee Program. This program would provide FDIC insurance coverage in excess of the $250,000 limit on certain accounts.

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