The holiday season is upon us, which means a higher potential for fraud.
FirstOak Bank provides fraud monitoring credit cards but there are some proactive measures you can use to protect against fraud.
If you’re even concerned about credit card fraud, contact customer service!
Spot scams before they happen! With Holiday scamming on the rise through email, phone, text message and mobile payments apps, we need to be more vigilant than ever to avoid scammers. Here’s a could quick ways to reduce your chances of being scammed.
Smishing is cyber crime carried out through text messages on your phones and tablet.
Here’s more:
Cybercrime aimed at mobile devices is skyrocketing – especially among texting and SMS messages since the technology works among all devices and tablets. Since this form of cyber attack reaches you on your phone or tablet, it has the capability to catch you when you’re in a hurry or not paying as close attention making you more likely to get caught off gaurd.
To get to the point, cyber criminals are out there to steal your personal data which will eventually get them enough information to steal money – sometimes yours but also sometimes your company’s.
Here’s how you can protect yourself!
Headed to college in the fall? Make your financial stability a priority! The American Bankers Association has identified 6 pitfalls to be aware of to help new students secure their future.
Get a budget!
Don’t spend more than you make. Figure out how much money you can afford to spend each month while contributing to your savings.
Start an emergency fund!
Start saving for an emergency fund. Make it a priority to put away a little bit each month no matter how small the amount. This will help you avoid going into debt when your car breaks down or for an unforeseen medical expense. FirstOak Bank can help you setup a savings account.
Pay your bills each month and on-time!
Missed payments can hurt your credit and can affect your ability to get credit in the future. This can mean credit for a new car, a home, and more. Consider setting up automatic payments
Don’t rack up debt!
Spend only what you can afford to pay back and check with a FirstOak Bank representative for accounts that fit your need and lifestyle.
Think about the future!
It may seem odd to think about your future since you’re just starting your career but thinking about your future now will prevent debt and other financial issues later.
Get help from your bank!
FirstOak Bank offers a number of services and tools to help you manage your finances and keep your budget and emergency fund on track!
Just as a reminder: FirstOak Bank will never text or email and ask for your personal information!
NEVER give away personal or financial information through email, over the phone, or via text. FirstOak Bank or other legitimate businesses will never ask for this information via these methods. Also, do not download links from suspicious emails or fill personal information into websites that these emails may direct you to. Reach out to FirstOak Bank or the company directly if you are unsure.
Did you know that Elder Financial Exploitation affects at least 10% of older adults each year in the US and cost our older friends more than $3B each year?
Here are two of the most popular ways our elders are exploited:
Elder Theft
Elder Theft is stealing an older adult’s assets, funds and / or income by a trusted person. It is often a family member, caregiver, friend, neighbor, financial services provider or other business associate – someone who typically has contact with the person’s finances who is abusing their position of trust.
Elder Scams
Elder Scams involve the transfer of money to a stranger or imposter for a promised benefit or good that the older adult didn’t receive. Typically scammers are located outside of the United States and have no known relationship to the victim and reach out through a phone call, robo call, text, email, regular mail, through online dating apps and even through social media. The scammers try to impersonate a person of authority like a government official, police officer or technical support rep – someone who is trusted in society and the perpetrators create high pressure situations where the victim must act immediately.
Common Elder Scams:
FirstOak Bank will never text or email and ask for personal information.
Mobile Wallet has arrived for both debit and credit!
To Set up Mobile Wallet:
1) locate the wallet app on your smart phone (most are already installed)
2) enter credit or debit card info
Your mobile wallet can’t be used for payment without your authentication
Meet Janet / Assistant Vice President. Janet likes to start her day organized and is driven by her family and coworkers. Her Dad has influenced her the most in her career and work ethic and credits her kids as her biggest accomplishment. For fun, Janet loves to play Free-Cell while enjoying some good snacks!
How do you like to start your day?
Organized and happy
Who has influenced you the most when it comes to your work ethic?
My Dad
What drives you to work hard?
My Family
What inspires you at work?
My Customers
What drove you down this career path?
My Dad
What’s your biggest pet peeve at work?
having incomplete documents
If you could add one thing to the workspace, what would it be?
Battery operated window blinds
If you could pick a superpower, what would you choose?
to be able to blink and have meals cooked and cleaned up
Name one dead celebrity you would like to have dinner with!
Elvis
If you were an animal, what would you be?
Tracy’s dog
Imagine you could step in a teleport for a day and go to any place and time in history. Where and when would you travel to?
To my Grandma’s house and sit and listen to her lifetime stories
What’s the coolest thing about your job?
Nice facility
What is the best gift you ever received?
My Children
What is the nerdiest thing you do in your free time?
Play freecell
That one song that’s the soundtrack to your life? Describe.
Bon Jovi – It’s My Life (Live While I’m Alive)
What’s the one thing you’re grateful for today?
to still have my mom
When you grew up, you hoped to become a …
a Mom!
The most courageous or embarrassing moment you remember while at school?
Hand puppet show on the overhead projector
Name one of your guilty pleasures
Any snacks!
Do you use the same password for all of your banking accounts, website logins, social media, etc? Would you use the same key for your car, home, office and safe? Consider changing your password on different websites including FirstOak Bank’s Online Banking!
Here’s how you can celebrate!
1) wear pink
2) volunteer
3) help a cancer patient
4) educate yourself and others about cancer screenings
5) participate in a run or walk
