The Front Lines Against Fraud | First Bank's Good to Know Newsletter #5
Weeding out scammers is a team effort and we're all on the front lines. Here's a rundown of news and resources so you can be on the lookout for suspicious activity
In the News
Hackers claim to have stolen over 2.9 billion personal records - including Social Security numbers.?
"The hacking group USDoD claimed it had allegedly stolen personal records of 2.9 billion people from National Public Data, according to a?class-action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, reported by Bloomberg Law. The breach was believed to have happened in or around April, according to the lawsuit." [continue reading on USA Today]
Tips to protect yourself:?
Armed with this personal information, fraudsters could impersonate their victims in an attempt to change account information or open new accounts.
Stay vigilant. Monitor your credit reports and digital banking for suspicious activity.?
Never click or reply. Be on the lookout for text messages or emails informing you of an account or contact information change. Do not click any links or reply to these messages. Instead, find the provider's public customer service contact information and reach out to them directly.?
Helpful resources related to this data breach:
Our bankers and support staff are always here to help. Reach out if we can be of assistance.?
Stay Scam Smart with these Additional Resources
Fraud Protection: 5 Reminders to Avoid Smishing and Vishing Scams
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.
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Money Mule Scams: How Criminals Convert Fraud into Profit
Money mule scams are on the rise. Many accomplices are unknowingly involved in their operations. It’s essential for individuals to recognize the signs to avoid becoming entangled in this criminal activity.
What is a Money Mule?
Money mules are individuals who unknowingly or knowingly assist criminals in laundering money, often by transferring illegally sourced funds between accounts or across borders. The source of the money comes from fraudulent scams or other illegal activities like drug trafficking. Criminals use their mule’s identity and layer the illegal transactions in an attempt to hide the illegal funds from law enforcement. Once properly hidden, the criminals are able to access their funds and cash out on their illegal activity.
Learn the Cybercrime Warning Signs
What is a cybercrime?
Cybercriminals aim to exploit your information for their own personal gain, causing harm to financial stability and exposing secure information. Cybercrimes are those criminal activities where a computer or the internet is used as a tool for fraudulent claims, to gain personal or business information, or to infect networks and devices.
*First Bank will always take the appropriate measures to keep your personal information safe.
In this article, we have outlined some common cyber scams, so that you can understand what to look out for. Some common scams/fraud includes