5 Signs This Text is A Scam Did you know fake bank messages are the most reported text scams? According to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report, over 40% of people who reported a text scam in 2022 said the text impersonated a bank. To better protect yourself, here are five signs this text is a scam. Strange phone numbers In most… Read More
Check Fraud is on the Rise: 3 Ways to Protect Your Money The rise of digital banking has lessened check usage, but they are still relied upon by many. Unfortunately for check users, recent reports show that check fraud is escalating dramatically thanks to mail theft. In fact, it nearly doubled from 350,000 reports in 2021 to 680,000 in 2022, according to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.… Read More
Puppy Scams: What Are They? And How to Avoid Them Sporting lovable personalities and a willingness to show unconditional love and loyalty, it’s no wonder dogs are a human’s best friend. Unfortunately, fraudsters know this too, and they use a variety of tactics to take advantage of dog lovers looking to purchase a pooch. However, you can avoid scams by following these basic guidelines. What… Read More
5 Online Scams Targeting Your Wallet and How to Avoid Them According to a 2022 Better Business Bureau (BBB) report, consumers aged 25-44 reported losing money to text message scams more than any other age group. This age group also reported a higher susceptibility to fraud (42.6%), and a higher median dollar loss at $190. This generation’s high usage of social media and dating apps exposes them to digital fraudsters.… Read More
Watch Out for These 6 Social Media Scams While technology has boosted our ability to access virtually anything online, it has also created many more opportunities for social media fraudsters to take advantage. They can target anyone who participates in everyday online exchanges. That’s why it is so important to stay informed about the common internet scams. Here are six types of scams… Read More
5 Tips to Avoid Online Dating Scams Recent reports highlight the fact that online dating sites and apps are seeing massive increases in users. It seems that love is logging in online. Before you run off to create your dating profile, consider the possible risks. According to the FBI, romance scams and similar confidence scams cost consumers more money than any other kind… Read More
How to Be Vigilant and Stay Safe from Mobile Payment Scams Contactless payment options and P2P mobile payment apps like CashApp, Venmo, or Zelle® have become increasingly popular. As a result, fraudsters have adapted their tactics to take advantage of consumers’ comfort while quickly sending money to a friend for dinner or a housekeeper for services. We’ve put together some tips and red flags to watch… Read More
4 Common Social Security-Related Scams to Be Aware Of To honor National Slam the Scam Day on March 9, an initiative created in 2020 to help raise public awareness and prevent Social Security-related scams, we’ve compiled a list of the most common red flags to be on the lookout for. According to the Social Security Administration, here are four signs of a Social Security-related… Read More
Zelle® Safety: How FirstBank is Helping Safeguard its Customers from Mobile Payment Scams As mobile payment apps/services like Venmo or Zelle® become more popular due to its quick and convenient way to send money, it’s also become another target for scammers. Whether it’s repaying a friend for concert tickets or sending money to a handyman or babysitter, electronic payments like these have reduced the reliance on cash and… Read More
Phishing for Your Money Keeping your money safe and secure is partly about vigilance and knowing how to spot a scammer. Today, we will outline one of the ways fraudsters attempt to take your money, phishing. How Phishing Works Scammers contact victims by email, telephone or text message posing as a legitimate entity to trick the unsuspecting individual into… Read More