Important Information

We have recently become aware of a Text Phishing scam where fraudulent texts are sent in an attempt to gather digital banking logins. These texts come from a source misrepresenting themselves as a transaction alert from a bank. The text contains a link to a fraudulent website which prompts the user to log in to online banking. 

IMPORTANT: FNBT will never include a link to confirm transactions within a text alert. DO NOT click through any links on a text message if you are not certain of the identity of the texter. 

To protect yourself from this type of scam: 

• Never give out personal financial information in response to an unsolicited text or phone call, no matter how official it may seem.
• ​Do not click through any links on a text message if you are not certain of the identity of the texter.
• Do not respond to any text or email that may warn of dire consequences if you do not validate your information immediately. Contact the company to confirm the validity of the email or text using a telephone number or website you know to be genuine. Clicking on a link could give a criminal access to your personal information.
• Never offer personal or account information via text or over the phone without verifying the sender’s or caller's identity.
• If you are uncertain of the identity of the caller, hang up and initiate the call yourself using a known number.
• Do not call any phone number received in a voice message, text or email asking for personal information. It could lead you to a phony answering system.

As a general guideline, be highly suspicious anytime you are requested to access a link within a text that you are not expecting or provide personal information over the phone if you did not initiate the call or transaction.

For more information regarding Phishing and Identity Theft Prevention, visit FNBT’s Fraud Prevention Center on our website.

If you believe you have responded to a spoofed text message, contact us immediately by calling our Customer Support Team at (800) 667-4401.

Cyber criminals are targeting people with a screen-sharing scam (also known as remote access fraud) to trick customers into sharing confidential information using screen-sharing tools. This scam involves downloading screen sharing or remote access software (such as AnyDesk, RemotePC or TeamViewer) which can then be used to access accounts or transfer money.

How it works:

Fraudsters try to impersonate representatives from banks or other well-known companies.  They initiate an invitation to connect through a text, email or phone call - wanting to help with an issue on their computer or account. They will direct victims to download screen-sharing tools and gain access to your computer screen or files and may ask you to log in to online banking sites in an effort to gain access to your login credentials (username and password) to steal your money. 

Actions to Avoid these scams: 

• Do not rely on Caller ID. 
• Remain vigilant when receiving unsolicited calls
• Never provide passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs) to others.
• Hang up if someone calls to ask you to share your computer screen or to ask for money and personal information. 
• Never give access to your computer to an unsolicited caller.
• Delete unused apps from your mobile device and laptop or desktop computers.  

FNBT is here to help. Please visit bankatfirstnational.com/security-tips for video resources to help protect yourself online. 

• Implement multi-factor authentication on your accounts. A password isn’t enough to keep you safe online. By implementing a second layer of identification, like a confirmation text message or email, a code from an authentication app, a fingerprint or Face ID, or best yet, a FIDO key,  you’re giving your bank, email provider, or any other site you’re logging into the confidence that it really is you. Multi-factor authentication can make you 99% less likely to get hacked. So enable multi-factor authentication on your email, social media, online shopping, financial services accounts. And don’t forget your gaming and streaming entertainment services!   
• Update your software. In fact, turn on automatic updates.   Bad actors will exploit flaws in the system. Update the operating system on your mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.  And update your applications – especially the web browsers – on all your devices too.   Leverage automatic updates for all devices, applications, and operating systems. 
• Think before you click. More than 90% of successful cyber-attacks start with a phishing email.  A phishing scheme is when a link or webpage looks legitimate, but it’s a trick designed by bad actors to have you reveal your passwords, social security number, credit card numbers, or other sensitive information. Once they have that information, they can use it on legitimate sites. And they may try to get you to run malicious software, also known as malware.  If it’s a link you don’t recognize, trust your instincts, and think before you click. 
• Use strong passwords, and ideally a password manager to generate and store unique passwords.  Our world is increasingly digital and increasingly interconnected. So, while we must protect ourselves, it’s going to take all of us to really protect the systems we all rely on. 

FNBT is here to help. Please visit bankatfirstnational.com/security-tips for video resources to help protect yourself online. 

Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft is Important

Your identity is one of the most valuable things you own. It’s important to keep your identity from being stolen by someone who can potentially harm your good name and financial well-being. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, address, Social Security Number, credit card or financial account numbers, passwords, and other personal information without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. While the words may sound like a foreign language -- Phishing, Pharming, Vishing, Spyware, Dumpster Diving — they are actually techniques used by thieves to put your identity and finances at risk. And their attacks grow more frequent and sophisticated every year. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States. According to US Department of Justice statistics, it’s now passing drug trafficking as the number one crime in America.

How to protect your identity

The simple fact is you can protect yourself against most forms of identity theft. The first step is education. To make it easier to understand, we’ve divided identity theft into the five “Danger Zones.” Take a few moments to learn about each of the Danger Zones and the steps you can take to avoid being a victim. 
Watch the Video

We have recently become aware of a Computer Phishing scheme where fraudulent ads are presented as pop-ups on personal computers inviting the recipient to receive a free credit report by entering their credit card information. Please note, that you should always be suspicious of any advertisements in a pop-up, and First National Bank and Trust (FNBT) will never sell a service, or ask for personal information in this manner.

To protect yourself from this type of scam:   

• Make sure you have anti-virus and anti-spyware software installed on your computer, keep them updated, and run a full system scan at least weekly.
• Keep your computer operating system up to date, and your firewall turned on. 
• Use strong passwords for secure sites. These should include eight or more characters with random numbers, and change your passwords at least every six months.
• If you download anything from the Internet such as music, movies, or pictures, make sure you do so only from trusted websites. Downloads can be infected with spyware attached to the file. 
• Watch for signs of spyware - frequent pop-up ads, unexpected icons on your desktop, random error messages or sluggish computer performance are all signs of infection. Run a full system anti-virus and anti-spyware scan to safely remove. 
• Be careful when using public computers to perform any type of personal transactions. Just logging into a website may give away passwords and other private information if spyware has been installed on the computer. 

If you receive this type of pop-up, please verify first that no personal information was given. If any information was compromised, immediately contact us so we can take steps to help protect your accounts. 

Keep in mind, our one and Privilege Plus checking accounts include the following benefits as added protection:

• ID Theft Aid - including payment card fraud resolution and $2,500 in personal identity theft benefit
• ID Monitoring - designed to secure your personal and financial information

Visit our online resource center for additional information and education regarding Phishing and Identity Theft Prevention.