FirstBank Hosts Free Community Shred Events FirstBank hosts “Community Shred Events” throughout the year to help you safely get rid of your sensitive information (like tax returns, bank statements, business records, etc.) Bring any unwanted records or documents to the following locations during the corresponding dates/times to be shredded. Only paper items will be destroyed. No need to remove staples, paper… 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
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
5 Ways to Avoid the Biggest Identity Theft Scams this Tax Season In 2022, there were close to 8 million reports of suspicious activity related to income tax filing and identity theft. For many fraudsters, tax season can mean intercepting important tax documents and deceiving unsuspecting taxpayers to steal their money. Two common tax-related scams: 1) Fraudsters take your tax documents, such as a W-2, and file… 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
Check Fraud: Simple Tips to Protect Your Money The check has been a popular form of payment dating back to Roman times. Although there’s been a decline in check usage due to the rise of digital payment services, some forms of check fraud are actually on the rise, according to reports. But how are fraudsters scamming check users? The answer may surprise you.… Read More
Beware of Crypto Criminals: How to Avoid Getting Scammed With rising inflation and skyrocketing prices, it’s no wonder folks are looking for ways to maximize their money, including cryptocurrency investments. According to reports, digital currencies experienced massive growth over the past decade, with nearly 60 million U.S. users in 2021. Unfortunately, where there’s money, there are scammers ready and poised to take it. Today,… Read More
5 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft and What to Do If You’re a Victim If you think identity theft could never happen to you, think again. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received an astounding 1.4 million identity theft reports. Combined with other fraud cases, the total loss amounted to over $5.9 billion. But identity theft doesn’t have to happen to you. Here are some steps you can… Read More
10 Common Scams You Should be Aware Of With cybersecurity awareness on the rise, it’s important to stay up to date on the most common fraud scams that take advantage of innocent consumers daily. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission recorded around 2.8 million consumer fraud reports just last year. Here are 10 common fraud scams you should be aware of to ensure… Read More