Skip to main content
_FB_2018-Icons-finalized-cleaned-up_new_FB_2018-Icons-finalized-cleaned-up_newGroup 9
Find Your Local Branch
Back
Scroll to top

Stay Scam-Smart: Secure Holiday Shopping Tips for Fraud-Free Festivities!

Personal Finances 6 min read

Ready to talk to an expert?

Find A Location Get In Touch

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and unfortunately, increased risk of fraud. As we dive into holiday festivities, it’s crucial to stay scam-smart and safeguard your finances from potential threats. Stay informed, stay cautious, and enjoy the festive season without falling victim to scams or breaking the bank.

At First Bank, we believe in keeping you informed with “Good to Know” information that helps you with your financial future. In addition to our Fraud Resources Center, here are some additional tips and reminders to ensure your celebrations remain blissfully fraud-free.

Opt for Credit Over Debit

One powerful tool in your defense arsenal against fraud is your credit card, which, when used wisely, can offer an extra layer of security during holiday shopping. According to bankrate.com, in general, credit cards offer better fraud protection. Funds can be removed from your bank account directly and quickly when using a debit card, making the process of disputing and getting your money back much more time-consuming. If you use your credit card wisely and don’t spend more than you have available, you don’t have to worry about your checking account balance being affected if fraudulent transactions occur.

When shopping online or locally, consider using a credit card instead of a debit card. First Bank credit cards not only allow you to earn reward points for every qualifying purchase, but they also come with Zero Liability and Mastercard ID Theft Protection¹. You can enjoy real-time rewards this holiday season, feel confident you’ll only pay for the purchases you authorize, and have resources at your fingertips if you are a victim of identity theft.

1.) Mastercard ID Theft Protection requires enrollment. Enroll here.

First Bank Credit Card with Rewards being used on touchless payment pad. Coffee $15.60 Gasoline $45.11 Groceries $214.89
Platinum Credit Card with Rewards
Earn points to use towards rewards for every dollar you spend on qualified everyday expenses, like groceries, gas, and utilities.
Start Earning

Shop Securely

Shopping safely online starts with ensuring the website you are using is secure. Scammers are smart and can make convincing “fake” websites designed to steal your information. There are a few quick ways you can check if a website is safe.

  1. Confirm the website has an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate – you can do this by simply looking for “https://” at the beginning of the URL and a lock icon on the far left side of the address bar.Web browser showing SSL connection in URL bar.
  2. Search for contact information – if a website doesn’t have obvious contact information, it could point towards the fact that its creators do not want to be contacted because they are potentially participating in something illegitimate.
  3. Be wary of grammar mishaps – a website that is full of spelling mistakes could point to the fact that it is not safe. Spoofed websites are designed to look convincing so you will provide your personal and financial information, but more than likely will contain grammatical errors.
  4. You are bombarded by pop-ups – an onslaught of pop-ups, especially those requesting your financial information, that are not in any way related to the website you are viewing can be another sign of an unsafe website.

While these are great reminders for checking whether a website is secure, it does not necessarily mean that a website is safe if you don’t see any of these. Stay smart and always remember that when in doubt about the security of a website, it is better to avoid it altogether rather than risk having your personal or financial information compromised.

Set Spending Limits

We’ve all done it, gotten carried away with holiday shopping because we keep finding great presents for our friends and family. Without setting a specific limit for your holiday shopping, you can easily go over what you should be spending. You can help prevent excessive spending and ensure your budget stays on track by establishing a set spending limit ahead of time.

All First Bank credit cards have the ability to control your spending by establishing specific limits for purchases. You can set alert notifications to receive real-time updates so you know when you reach your spending limit without having to think about how much you’ve already spent. In addition to being a helpful tool to stay in your budget, alert notifications can help you catch fraud earlier and help prevent it from snowballing.

 

Total Amount
$1,578.64
Select to View
Transactions
Spending screen from mobile app. Business transaction using First Bank credit card.
Track your cashflow with MyMoney.
Manage your budget, track your spending, and modify your payback plans for debts.
Get Organized

Beware of Phony Phone Calls

Scammers know that fraud picks up around the holidays and they use that to their advantage by posing as bank representatives pretending to call or text you about potential fraudulent purchases on your account. One frequently used scam is when fraudsters call from an unfamiliar number and state that your credit card may have been compromised; even providing the last four digits on the card. It’s a scary situation, and one that’s all too familiar but here are some important reminders to conquer this type of scam.

  1. Start by taking a deep breath – fraudsters hope that you’ll be so overwhelmed by what they are telling you that you’ll inadvertently share the details that allow them to hack your card.
  2. Do not give out any personal information – no matter how legitimate the call may seem, you should not provide your personal information on a call that you didn’t initiate (this includes your credit or debit card number, bank account or social security numbers, or online banking login information).
  3. Hang up and call your bank directly – when in doubt, call us from one of our secure phone numbers instead of remaining on the original call you received. By taking control and reaching out to your bank via a secure connection you can feel confident that you are speaking to a real bank representative that can confirm whether the “fraud” the scammer claimed was happening on your account is real or not.
Happy Holidays from First Bank

Remember, a proactive and vigilant approach is key to ensuring a fraud-free celebration. At First Bank, we believe that by incorporating these credit card safety measures into your holiday shopping routine, you can enjoy a festive season with peace of mind. Stay scam-smart by utilizing your credit card to your advantage, double checking the websites you’re shopping on for security, staying on top of your budget, and keeping an ear out for phone scammers.

We’re here to support you and make your holiday shopping experience secure and joyful. Be sure to reach out to our Customer Support team or your local branch if you need assistance this holiday season.

Ready to talk to an expert?

Find A Location Get In Touch
Share:
First Bank’s Good To Know Logo
Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know about new tips, insights, and products from First Bank.
First Bank may use this email address to contact you about products, services, and promotions.

You may be interested in...

How To Make A Budget The best way to save money and gain control over your finances is to make a budget. Follow these simple steps to make a budget that will save you money and bring you peace of mind about your spending. Making a Budget People often set their budgets according to a monthly schedule because most living expenses are based on monthly billing cycles. As such, it won’t hurt to spend one full month making your budget. That way you’ll come up with the most accurate data possible. Record All Your Expenses Keep track of everything you pay each month. This includes: Rent/mortgage Car payments Car warranty Utility bills Student loans Cell phone bill Gas Groceries Insurance (car, health, or any other type) Home warranty Memberships to gyms or clubs Charitable donations Many of your monthly expenses are fixed amounts. But others, such as gas and groceries, will fluctuate from one month to the next. Round slightly up for these as it’s better to come up a little short of the intended number than to go over it. Also, some payments such as car insurance might be quarterly or yearly. Figure out how much it equates to per month and factor the payment in that way. Record Your Income The next step is to tally up how much money you’re bringing in each month. If you have a job that pays hourly or by commission and each paycheck varies a little, round slightly down. It’s better to bring in a little more money than what you intended as opposed to coming up short. Do the Math Now that you know what’s going out and what’s coming in, do the math to determine how much is left over. If the difference is positive (you’re making more than you spend): Great! You have extra money that can be put in a savings account, vacation account, or to be used for fun spending money. Or, use it to chip away at those student loans or car payments. Remember, the faster you pay those off, the less you’ll spend in interest in the long run. If the difference is negative (you’re spending more than you make): You’re operating in debt and the sooner you can curb the momentum, 4 min read
Father kiddo due work from home. New to Working From Home? Here’s How to Do It Safely To help mitigate the threat of COVID-19, businesses and employees are finding themselves taking part in the biggest “work from home” experiment ever tried. If you are one of those business owners or employees, here are some security tips to help protect you and your data while you work in your home office. 3 min read
Paper house next to stacks of coins What Are All These Fees? You expected that buying a home would mean paying principal, home insurance, taxes, interest, and maybe mortgage insurance. But what are all these other fees you’re getting hit with on closing day? 3 min read
Image for tile. What is Phone Spoofing? False Caller ID Information What is Phone Spoofing? Phone spoofing is when scammers manipulate caller ID to make it appear as though they are calling from a local number, a trusted business, or even a government agency. This deception is used to trick you into answering the call and engaging with them, often leading to financial fraud or identity theft. How to Spot a Spoofing Scam Scammers use various techniques to gain your trust or create panic. Here are some red flags to watch out for: Unexpected calls or texts from familiar-looking numbers – Just because a number appears local doesn’t mean it is. Requests for personal or financial information – No legitimate organization will call or text and ask for your Social Security number, account details, or passwords. Pressure to make immediate payments – Scammers often try to create urgency, threatening legal action or service disconnection if you don’t pay immediately. Automated messages asking you to press a button – This is often a tactic to confirm your number is active, leading to more scam calls. How to Protect Yourself The good news is there are steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of spoofing scams: Don’t answer calls or texts from unknown numbers – If the call is important, the caller will leave a message. Hang up immediately – If you answer and realize it’s a scam, don’t engage. Just hang up. Verify the caller’s identity – If a caller claims to be from a trusted organization, hang up and call the company directly using a verified number from their official website or a recent bill. Make sure you manually enter the correct phone number, don’t trust your caller ID incase the number was spoofed. Be skeptical of unexpected requests – Whether it’s an offer that sounds too good to be true or a demand for urgent payment, always be cautious. Avoid sharing personal information – Never provide sensitive details over the phone unless you are 100% sure of the caller’s legitimacy. Use call-blocking tools – Many phone carriers offer services to help block suspected spam and scam calls. Report suspicious calls – You can report spoofing scams to law enforcement, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at fcc.gov/spoofing, or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Report suspicious texts – You can report spam text messages to your wireless provider by forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future. Use these links for instructions on how to forward a text message: iPhone instructions or Android instructions Stay Aware, Stay Safe At First Bank, we prioritize your security and want to help you stay informed about potential scams. By staying aware and taking preventive measures, you can protect yourself from fraudsters and keep your personal information secure. 3 min read
First Bank logo
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
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.