Fraud Prevention Information & Tips
Learn how to combat fraudulent activity.
Identity Theft Awareness
Identity theft is the unlawful use of another person’s identification. Identity theft may take many forms. Common methods of identity theft include credit card fraud, phone or utility service theft and the taking of government documents or benefits. However, thieves are finding new ways of using the identity of their victims every day.
Combat Mobile Banking Fraud
You can access mobile banking anywhere these days. With this ease and freedom of logging into your account, here are 12 safety tips:
- Do not connect to public Wi-Fi
- Only use sites with https in the address
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Disable automatic login
- Beware of email and text scams
- Create a strong password and don’t share it
- Update and use anti-virus software
- Update your operating system
- Use the bank’s mobile app
- Safeguard your device
- Turn off Bluetooth access
- Monitor your account
Email Awareness
Criminals are soliciting customers by e-mail in an effort to illegally obtain personal information. The e-mail address and the website address may appear almost identical to those of legitimate financial institutions. The e-mail will claim that there is a problem with an account and will provide a link to a site that may look authentic. You will be asked to input personal information such as bank account numbers, PINs and a Social Security Number. These e-mails attempt to trick customers into supplying sensitive personal data. This fraudulent practice is often called “phishing” or “spoofing.”
Contact us if you suspect any fraudulent activity. First Farmers will never request personal financial information via email.
IMPORTANT: If you receive an e-mail requesting personal information, you should not provide it or click on a link – even if it looks like the request comes from a legitimate website.
Below is a sample phishing e-mail:
Subject: Found error! Please resubmit bankname.com urgenos
Security Key: dlruzfujrkszkq45j634bs7muof nnwhgg
Dear BankName Customer:
During our regular update and verification of the Internet Banking Accounts, we could not verify your current information. Either your information has been changed or is incomplete, and as a result, your access to use our services has been limited. Please update your information. To update your account information and start using our services, please click on the link below: bankname.com/internetBanking/RequestRouter?requestCmdid=DisplayLoginPage
Note: Requests for information will be initiated by BankName Business Development; this process cannot be externally requested through Customer Support.
Sincerely, BankName Accounts Department.
Contact us immediately at 800-882-8378 if you suspect identity theft or fraud involving any of your First Farmers accounts.
Customer Security Disclosure (Protecting Your Information)
It is your responsibility to protect the account numbers and electronic access devices (e.g., an ATM card) we provide you for your account(s). Do not discuss, compare, or share information about your account number(s) with anyone unless you are willing to give them full use of your money. An account number can be used by thieves to encode your number on a false-demand draft, which looks and functions like an authorized check. If you furnish your access device and grant actual authority to make transfers to another person (a family member or coworker, for example) who then exceeds that authority, you are liable for the transfers unless we have been notified that transfers by that person are no longer authorized. Your account number can also be used to electronically remove money from your account. If you provide your account number in response to a telephone solicitation for the purpose of making a transfer (to purchase a service or merchandise, for example), payment can be made from your account even though you did not contact us directly and order the payment. You must also take precaution in safeguarding your blank checks.
Notify us at once if you believe your checks have been lost or stolen. As between you and us, if you are negligent in safeguarding your checks, you must bear the loss entirely yourself or share the loss with us (we may have to share some of the loss if we failed to use ordinary care and if we substantially contributed to the loss). You agree that if we offer you services appropriate for your account to help identify and limit fraud or other unauthorized transactions against your account, such as positive pay or commercially reasonable security procedures, and you reject those services, you will be responsible for any fraudulent or unauthorized transactions which could have been prevented by the services we offered, unless we acted in bad faith or to the extent our negligence contributed to the loss.
Helpful Links
Card Suite Lite Mobile App
Peace of mind is in your hands – the Card Suite Lite mobile app is available for First Farmers customers to give you the ability to control how, when and where your debit cards are used. Leave a restaurant without your card? Lock it until you get it back. Have a child in college with a student checking debit card? Receive transaction alerts and help monitor their spending. Heading out on vacation? Set the card to work only where you will be traveling. Card Suite Lite is a free, simple and secure way to protect yourself and your family from fraudulent transactions. To download the app, search for Card Suite Lite in your Google Play® or iTunes® app store, or call First Farmers at 800-882-8378 to learn more.
iTunes® App Store Google Play
