• July 18, 2024
• Bulletin No: 2024-23

A typical social engineering attack involves a deceptive and fabricated story to trick people into revealing sensitive confidential information (also sometimes known as “pretexting”). A frequent example of a social engineering attack involves someone with malicious intent impersonating a C-suite executive or company leader to trick legitimate employees into divulging sensitive information or initiating a transaction. Please be assured the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (Bank) will never call, text or email to request confidential information from a member, such as PINs, wire numbers and account information, with the exception of confirming the details of specific transactions initiated by that member.

Below are common red flags of pretexting attempts in calls, emails and texts:

• Threats or Urgent Language: Be cautious if the caller or message conveys urgency or pressure, pushing you to act immediately
• Unusual Requests: Be wary of out-of-the-ordinary requests, especially those related to sensitive or financial information such as PINs, passwords or account information
• Unsolicited Conversation: If you didn’t initiate contact, be cautious about sharing any information
• Unfamiliar Tone or Greeting: If the communication feels impersonal or doesn’t match your usual interactions, be alert
• Grammar and Spelling Errors: Poor language quality can indicate a scam
• Inconsistencies in Email Addresses, Links and Domain Names: Verify sender details and URLs for inconsistencies
• Spoofed Websites: Check for suspicious URLs or links that may lead to fake websites
• Suspicious Attachments: Avoid opening unexpected attachments, especially from unknown sources

• Do not share any information
• Please end a suspicious call immediately and contact Member Services at 844.FHL.Bank (844.345.2265)
• Please contact Member Services to verify the email or text came from us 
• If you have any questions, please contact Member Services