Scams and Fraud

— Q4 2025 Update —

SEASONAL ALERT: Holiday Scams are Spiking

Fraudsters are targeting holiday shoppers with fake charity appeals, gift card scams, and too-good-to-be-true deals. Stay vigilant and verify before you buy or donate. Learn More

Remember, 1st Security Bank will NEVER...

Call, text, or email to ask for your password, account number, verification code, or Social Security number.

Ask you to send or transfer money to an account you don't own.

Request payment via gift cards or wire transfers.

Pressure you to act immediately without time to verify.

Stay Vigilant, Stay Safe

7 Essential Ways to Protect Yourself

🔒 Verify Suspicious Calls
Hang up on unsolicited requests for account or personal information. Never share details with callers claiming to be from your bank.

📧 Recognize Phishing Attempts
Be cautious of emails, texts, or calls requesting information or containing links. When in doubt, contact the company directly using a number you trust.

💰 Confirm Payment Requests
Always verify payment instructions or changes through a separate channel. Call the person or business directly before sending money.

🔗 Avoid Unfamiliar Links
Don't click links or download attachments from unknown sources. Malicious links can install malware and steal your information.

🛡️ Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Add extra security layers to your accounts with MFA and turn on account alerts whenever possible.

🔑 Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Update passwords every 6 months and never reuse them across accounts. Change immediately if you suspect unauthorized access.

💸 Test Before Large Transfers
When using P2P payment apps like Zelle® or Venmo, send a small test amount before transferring large sums.

Current Fraud Trends

Scammers constantly adapt their tactics. Here are the fraud schemes we're seeing most frequently right now.

Stay alert to these current threats and contact us immediately if something feels suspicious.

Fake Charity Scams

Fraudsters create fake charities or impersonate real ones during year-end giving season.

✓ Verify charities at: charitynavigator.org

Online Shopping Traps

Too-good-to-be-true deals and fake seller websites spike during holidays.

✓ Shop only trusted retailers

Gift Card Scams

Scammers impersonate family or officials demanding gift card payments for "emergencies."

✓ Never pay anyone with gift cards

Fake Shipping Notifications

Fraudulent texts and emails about package delays or delivery issues with links to steal info.

✓ Track packages on official sites

Send and receive safely

Best practices when using payment apps

Services like Zelle^® and Venmo are convenient but require extra caution since payments are instant and often irreversible. Follow these best practices to stay safe when using peer-to-peer (P2P) payment methods like Zelle^® or Venmo.

What to look out for:

Social engineering -
when a scammer uses manipulative tactics to get you to divulge personal information or login credentials.
Stolen identity scam -
when a criminal uses your personal information to set up a P2P account in your name to make fraudulent transactions.
Consumer scam -
when a seller requests payment through the app, but then never sends the product or provides the service.
Unknown links & unrecognized text messages -
that require you to enter P2P credentials are also important to be on the lookout for as they can lead to your account being compromised.

6 simple ways to avoid fraud on P2P apps:

Questions to Ask Yourself

How to Spot Phishing Scams

What is Phishing? Phishing emails and text messages look like they’re from a company you know or trust. They may look like they’re from a bank, a credit card company, a social networking site, an online payment website or app, or an online store.

Be cautions if they...

say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts
claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information
say you must confirm some personal information
include a fake invoice
want you to click on a link to make a payment
say you’re eligible to register for a government refund

Ask yourself...

If you get an email or a text message that asks you to click on a link or open an attachment, answer this question: Do I have an account with the company or know the person that contacted me?

If the answer is “No,” it could be a phishing scam. Visit our blog post on "How to recognize a phishing scam" to learn the commons signs of a phishing scam. If you see a phishing attempt, report the message and then delete it.

If the answer is “Yes,” contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real. Do not use the information in the email or text message. Attachments and links can install harmful malware.

Source: United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC.gov)(Opens an external site in a new window)

Learn More: Industry Education Campaigns

1st Security Bank participates in these American Bankers Association education initiatives. Explore these free resources for in-depth information on specific fraud threats. Both sites available in English and Spanish

#BanksNeverAskThat

The American Bankers Association's award-winning campaign helps consumers recognize phishing scams. Take their interactive quiz, watch educational videos, and learn what banks will never ask for.

Key Topics:

Spotting fake emails and texts
Recognizing fraudulent phone calls
Understanding what banks never ask for

Visit BanksNeverAskThat.com

#PracticeSafeChecks

Check fraud has doubled since 2021. This ABA campaign explains the risks of paper checks and provides tips to protect yourself—or better yet, switch to safer digital payments.