Fraud Protection

Protecting your financial information is our number-one priority.

Types of Fraud

Scammers frequently change their approach, trying new tactics and messaging to trick people. We encourage you to stay up to date on the latest scams. Remember, First Federal will never call and ask you for personal information. Recognize the signs of a scam and report it.

Social Security Scams

Scammers may use regular mail delivery to send fraudulent letters on SSA letterhead, advising the recipient to call a toll-free number to activate an increase in SSA benefits, such as a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The letters appear to be from an SSA official and are on SSA letterhead. The scammer will try to get your social security number or money.

Family Emergency Scam

Family emergency scams, often referred to as the 'grandparent scam' are often perpetrated when an older adult is called by someone pretending to be a grandchild or relative of the potential victim. Callers make claims such as being arrested in a foreign country or being involved in a car accident. They ask the victim to send money so they can return home safely and not to tell anyone so they don’t get into more trouble.

Phishing

Phishing is a type of online scam that targets consumers by sending them an e-mail or text message that appears to be from a well-known source – an internet service provider, a bank, or a mortgage company, for example. It asks the consumer to provide personal identifying information. Then a scammer uses the information to open new accounts, or invade the consumer’s existing accounts.

Debit Card Skimming

Fraudsters attempt to hijack your personal information and your identity by tampering with ATM machines by setting up a device that is capable of capturing the debit card magnetic strip and keypad information from the ATM. Be observant when using an ATM, if something seems wrong, find another machine to use.

Mobile App Fraud

Fraud or fake app is an app that’s created to mirror a legitimate app available in the App Store or Play Market. The scammers’ goal is to create an app that people will mistake for the actual popular app and download to their phones. The app could contain malware, flood the user with hundreds of ads which the scammer collects money from, or be a fake app which was paid for by the user.

How to Protect Yourself

Keep your Documents Secure

  • Monitor your accounts using Online and Mobile Banking
  • Enroll in Fraud Alert Texts to receive text alerts of any suspicious activity on your card.
  • Create unique passwords for all digital logins.
  • Shred receipts, banks statements and unused credit card offers before throwing them away.
  • Keep your computer’s operating system and anti-virus software up to date.
  • Do not open or respond to emails or texts from senders you don’t know.
  • Become educated: Informed consumers are smart consumers.

Money Smart for Older Adults

Financial exploitation has been called “the crime of the 21st century” with one study suggesting that older Americans lost at least $2.9 billion to financial exploitation in 2010 by a broad spectrum of perpetrators, including persons they know and trust, as well as strangers. Cognitive impairment diminishes the ability of some older adults to make financial decisions and to detect frauds and scams. This epidemic is under the radar. The cases tend to be very complex and can be difficult to investigate and prosecute. Elders who lose their life savings usually have little or no opportunity to regain what they have lost. Elder financial exploitation can result in the loss of the ability to live independently. It can also result in a decline in health, broken trust, and fractured families. Awareness is the first step. Planning ahead for financial wellbeing and the possibility of diminished financial capacity is critical. Reporting and early intervention are vital to preventing loss and recovering loss when possible.

Money Smart for Older Adults Resource Guide is designed to provide information and tips to help prevent common frauds, scams, and other types of financial exploitation in our community.

View Resource Guide

Help Us Help You

Forward suspicious emails posing as First Federal to customerservice@firstfedweb.com.

To report any suspected fraud concerning your First Federal accounts, call (503) 472-6171 or (888) 317-8333 during business hours.

Online Banking

With online and mobile banking, you can do just about everything you can do in a branch, without visiting the branch. Securely access your accounts 24/7, pay bills, transfer money, deposit checks, and monitor your credit score.

Learn More about Online Banking