NORWICH – NBT Bank is warning consumers not to fall victim to phishing scams, especially during the upcoming holiday and shopping season. Phishing is a new twist on an old telemarketing scam, but uses e-mail. These criminals send e-mails to millions of people hoping that even a few will give away valuable information.

“Consumer education is a powerful weapon in the fight against phishing,” says James Terry, Senior Vice President and Director of Financial Crimes Management and Operational Risk at NBT Bank. “These criminals steal the identity of a trusted company and often threaten the consumer with dire consequences if they do not act immediately.”

To avoid becoming the victim of a phishing scam, NBT Bank offers the following tips:

• Never give out your personal or financial information, like account numbers, User IDs and passwords. This is especially important to remember if you receive an unsolicited phone call, fax or email, no matter how official it may seem.