Skip to main content
Back
Scroll to top

Fraud Protection: 5 Reminders to Avoid Smishing and Vishing Scams

Personal Finances 2 min read

Smishing is a type of cyberattack that uses text messages to trick people into giving away personal information or clicking on malicious links.

Vishing, or voice phishing, is a type of identity fraud scam that uses phone calls or voicemails to trick people into sharing sensitive information.

Talk to a fraud prevention expert

Find A Location Get In Touch

Use these five helpful reminders to stay safe:

  1. Stay on alert for suspicious SMS text messages stating payments have been made using your account or Zelle information. These types of messages are called smishing.
  2. Phishers send a text, supposedly from your financial institution, asking you to confirm transactions made from your account by responding with a simple “Yes” or “No”, prompting a possible phone call from them immediately after.
  3. Do not respond to these types of messages. Instead, call your financial institution directly to confirm they have sent you a message about your account or to make sure there are no actual unknown transactions.
  4. When calling your financial institution, always call the number from the institution’s website or the number found on the back of your debit/credit card.
  5. If you feel you have been a victim of an SMS text messaging scam, call your financial institution for immediate assistance.

Find more on smishing, voice phishing, and Zelle fraud explained by Brian Krebs, author of Krebs on Security, using the links below:

Need extra information on how to protect yourself and your information? Check out our free online course on Identity Protection.

Identity Protection – First Bank

Talk to a fraud prevention expert

Share:

You may be interested in...

Hassle Free Checking Account Near Me At First Bank, we don’t believe in charging unnecessary fees and diminishing your hard earned cash. That’s why we offer five options for hassle-free checking accounts provided you meet some basic monthly requirements. Don’t get bogged down with maintenance fees, ATM transaction charges or any other hidden costs. Maintain certain requirements such as a minimum balance or regular direct deposits and enjoy the luxury of a hassle-free checking account at a First Bank near you. Hassle-Free Checking Accounts for Everyone First Bank offers five different types of hassle-free checking accounts with no monthly maintenance fees as long as minimum requirements are met: Everywhere Checking. A basic checking account with monthly fees that can be avoided with basic requirements. Everywhere Plus. This account provides all the basics of Everywhere Checking while also allowing you to earn interest on the money you save. No monthly fees as long as you meet certain requirements. Everywhere Premium. Reap all the benefits of Everywhere Plus while also getting free checks and an unlimited number of out-of-network ATM withdrawals with no First Bank fee. Avoid maintenance fees by meeting minimum guidelines. Campus Checking. This is a student checking account for enrolled college students under the age of 25. There are no minimum balance requirements. Senior Checking. Those over the age of 65 can enjoy free checks and no monthly fees by meeting basic requirements. Features of First Bank’s Hassle-Free Checking Accounts In addition to being able to avoid any monthly fees by meeting basic requirements, all five of our checking accounts include no fees for: Free online and mobile banking* Free online bill pay Free paper or electronic statements Visit a First Bank location near you to learn more about how to qualify for a hassle-free checking account with First Bank and start saving money today. While First Bank does not charge for mobile banking, your mobile carrier’s message and data rates may apply. The First Bank Digital Banking Apps are available for select mobile and tablet devices. ——— Sources: Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/directdeposit.asp Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/minimum-balance.asp 2 min read
Image for tile. Three Tips to Building Your Emergency Savings Trying to stay on top of your finances and budgeting for monthly expenses can be stressful, especially when unexpected car repairs, job related issues, or natural disasters occur. We want to make sure that you are fully prepared in case any unexpected life altering events happen and fortunately there’s a way you can do so. Starting to build your emergency savings can help you when you find yourself in a bind. Emergency savings, or an emergency fund, allows you to build a savings buffer, so that you do not have to worry about how to pay for unforeseen financial emergencies. If you don’t know where to start with saving for emergencies, here are a few tips to help get you started. Create a budget. Creating a budget helps you estimate how much you are spending. You can adjust a budget to show how much you are spending on a monthly or weekly basis. This helps you visualize where your money is going and how much of your income you have left over after paying bills. Having a budget can also help you determine wants vs. needs. Determining needs over wants can free up more money from things that aren’t necessities. Determine how much to put into your emergency savings. Money experts recommend having three to six months’ worth of expenses saved in your emergency savings. However, once a budget has been created and you see how much extra income you have, you can decide how much is reasonable to put into an emergency fund. Don’t be discouraged if it seems like you aren’t saving enough initially. Everyone’s situation may vary and as you become more comfortable saving, adjustments can be made. Determine where to keep your emergency fund. Figuring out where to keep your emergency savings is completely up to you, but make sure to keep it in a place that is easily accessible. A few options for savings are a savings account, checking account, or certificate of deposit. No matter which option you choose, we have associates ready and available to help get you started. Find your local branch today and start getting your savings in order. Want to continue learning how to make your money go further? Take 3 min read
First Bank logo
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website are the most popular and useful.