Text messages pretending to be Arvest Bank tied to recent scam. Here's what to look for

If you get a text from Arvest Bank asking you to click a link to reset your online access because of an unusual transaction, ignore it. It's another scam.

“Scammers are very good at making texts look legitimate while using a fear tactic to get you to click a link and provide sensitive information that gains them access to email, bank accounts and other personal data,” said Sammetra Christmon, executive vice president and sales manager for Arvest Central Oklahoma. “At Arvest, we will never initiate contact and ask customers for sensitive information. It’s best practice for customers to only provide that information when they contact their financial institution directly.

"According to the Federal Trade Commission, impostor scams were the leading cause of money lost to fraud in 2023. These include fraudsters pretending to be your bank, the government or other well-known business."

Arvest Bank, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, has customers and branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri, including 79 branches in Oklahoma.

Common text scams to watch out for

Christmon said common text scams to watch for include:

• A link that asks you to enter personal information
• A message that urges you to take immediate action
• An unprompted request to complete a transaction
• Claims that your debit or credit card has been locked
• Missed delivery notifications from delivery services

“If you receive an unexpected text message, take a moment to carefully read it before you click on any link,” Christmon said. “Arvest, like many banks, offer fraud protection programs that include text alerts, which can cause customers to be easily tricked into thinking the fake bank message is real. If you’re not sure, contact your bank directly to ask.”

Report suspicious activities to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, as well as your financial institution.

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