Security

We continue to see scammers target digital money movement channels. They attempt to impersonate well-known companies, banks (including First Fidelity Bank), and government agencies. The latest trend is to attempt to trick people into sending Wire transfers or sending money through Zelle® because once the money is transferred, they are often difficult to recover.

Imposter or Impersonation Scam    

• Never provide information or transfer money to someone claiming to be an employee at First Fidelity Bank.
• As a reminder, we will never call and ask you for confidential information like usernames, passwords, debit card PINs, or security codes sent to you via text. Even if the call or text appears to be coming from one of our FFB phone numbers, do not provide personal information. If someone calls or texts you asking for this information, contact our customer service department to let us know.

Wire Fraud

• Never wire money to someone who tries to sell you something over the phone, pressures you into paying immediately, tells you to lie to the bank about the reason for your wire transfer or is someone you haven't met in person.
• Fraudsters know that once a wire is sent, it will be extremely difficult for you to get your money back since it is similar to a cash transaction.

Zelle® Fraud

You should never send money using Zelle® or other cash payment apps to:

• Anyone claiming your account is compromised
• Anyone asking you to send money to yourself
• Anyone claiming to work for a government agency
• Any stranger, no matter what reason they give
• A telemarketer trying to sell you something
• Unauthorized, unverified cryptocurrency sites or salespeople

Text Fraud

Recent text scams target customers, appearing as a First Fidelity Bank alert about a suspicious charge and asking the customer to provide personal information. The most recent scam is a text that looks like a fraud alert from FFB asking you to click a link to verify the transaction. These fake links will either take you to a site that looks like FFB or somewhere to verify personal information. FFB bankers will never ask for any personal identification via phone, email, or text.

• A legitimate fraud alert from FFB will not contain a link. It will ask you to reply "Yes" or "No" if you completed the transaction.
• Any potentially fraudulent transactions we would notify you of would be pending in your account or show as being attempted on your debit card. Check your account history first.
• Any time you feel uncomfortable with a notification or think someone is attempting to scam you, please reach out to us and we will be happy to look at it with you.

How to protect yourself

• Carefully read any notification before acting on the given instructions.
• If you get a suspicious call, email, or text, don't disclose any personal information until you verify it's from a legitimate source. If you have any doubts, contact the company directly.
• Only allow remote access to your computer when you've initiated contact with a company you know through a verified phone number or website.
• Always protect your card and account PIN. Be sure it is not easily guessable, do not enter it on a non-FFB site, and remember that our bankers will never ask you for it.
• Set up a Two-Factor Authentication (a secure secondary way to identify yourself) with companies you work with to help keep your device and money secure.
• If you suspect one of your accounts has been compromised, immediately change your user ID and password for your FFB account and other important accounts.

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Safety & Security Information

Protect Your Identity

• Debit & Credit Card Fraud
• Wire Fraud & Internet Banking

• The most common form of phishing is by email. Pretending to be from a legitimate retailer, bank, or government agency the sender asks to "confirm" your personal information for some made-up reason. Typically, the email contains a link to a phony website that looks just like the real thing. You enter your personal information on the website and send it into the hands of identity thieves.
• Phishers also use the phone to hunt for victims' personal information.

• Be suspicious if someone contacts you unexpectedly and asks for your personal information. It's a warning sign that something is "phishy". Legitimate companies and agencies do not operate that way.
• Don't click on links in emails that ask you to provide personal information. To check whether an email or call is really from the company or agency, contact it directly by phone or online. If you don't have the telephone number, get it from the phone book, directory assistance, or the Internet. Use a search engine to find the official website.

• If you provided account numbers, PINs or passwords to a phisher, notify the companies with which you have those accounts immediately.
• Put a "fraud alert" on your files at the credit reporting bureaus. For information about how to do that and other advice for ID theft victims, contact the Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft Clearinghouse at 877-438-4338. The TDD number is 202-326-2502.
• Even if you didn't get hooked, you should report phishing to the company or agency that was being impersonated and the National Consumers League's National Fraud Information Center, www.fraud.org, or toll-free, 800-876-7060. The TDD number is 202-835-0778.

• PayPal Website Safety and Security
• eBay Security Center