The Scam One of the most common scams today is card fraud, the unauthorized use of a credit or debit card to fraudulently obtain money or property. Fraudsters use multiple tactics to collect this information, including copying your card’s magnetic strip (known as skimming), intercepting your card in the mail, or using a strategy called “formjacking,” where… Read More


Could the holidays make us more vulnerable to identity theft? According to experts, it can. And while fraud is a year-round problem, the holidays offer an especially opportune time for thieves. Think about it: purchasing multiple gifts — whether it’s online or in the store — increases exposure to our financial information, and sometimes that… Read More


Financial elder abuse, where senior citizens are manipulated for financial gain, is a growing problem. According to the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), one in 20 seniors indicated some form of financial abuse or theft. Fraud and financial elder abuse costs older Americans more than $36.5 billion annually. What’s worse, 90 percent of the “abusers”… Read More


Longer days, warmer nights, relaxed vibes, rooftop patios, pool gatherings, weddings and BBQs. It’s no wonder why the summer months show one of the larger spikes in online dating activity as singles look to share their summertime fun and seasonal events with someone special.  As easy as it may be to find someone on Match, Tinder… Read More


Equifax, one of the major credit reporting bureaus, announced a major cyber breach potentially affecting 143 million Americans. The data breach primarily involved names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, but in some cases, driver’s license and credit card and cash reserve account numbers. We suggest you take the time to thoroughly read the information… Read More


FirstBank is excited to announce a four-part series on scams: “How To Spot A Scam & What To Do.”  So follow along as we highlight common scams, how to identify them, and what to do. First up: technical support scams. The Situation: While logging into online banking you receive a pop-up message that something is wrong… Read More


Wire Fraud. Picture this: You’ve saved $75,000 — your entire life savings for a down payment on a new home. You spent months looking and finally found your dream house. Your offer’s been accepted, your mortgage approved and closing day is set. You’re over the moon. Before you close, you’re emailed wire instructions on where… Read More


A recent report finds that illegal card skimming continues to grow and has cost consumers more than $2 billion. Skimming is big business, netting crooks an average of $50,000 ($50,000!) each time. Unfortunately, skimming is an increasingly popular method for thieves to steal credit or debit card numbers and PINs, where cardholders swipe to pay… Read More


Wire transfers can be a convenient way to send guaranteed funds quickly. That makes them an attractive way for criminals to steal funds. Fortunately, our crack team of fraud prevention experts here at FirstBank has some advice to help you protect your hard-earned money and prevent you from becoming a victim of wire fraud. Before… Read More