8 Steps to Take If You Think You’ve Been Scammed

If you suspect fraud, taking quick action may help reduce financial losses and protect your accounts.

Contact Your Bank Immediately
Explain the situation and follow any account-protection recommendations.
Find support resources through FirstBank.

Change Your Passwords
Start with:
Online banking
Email accounts
Financial apps
Use strong, unique passwords.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
If MFA is available, activate it immediately. Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a second form of verification, making it much more difficult for fraudsters to access your accounts even if they obtain your password.

Review Recent Transactions
Check on a regular basis to make sure there are no unauthorized purchases, transfers, or withdrawals on your statements.

Secure Your Email Account
Be sure to secure email access by resetting your passwords every month, make sure your passwords are hard to guess. Create a strong, unique password using a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters, and avoid reusing passwords across multiple sites. For added security, enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible.

Save All Documentation
If you believe you’ve been a victim of fraud be sure to keep thorough records as they can assist with investigations. Types of records to keep are:
Text messages
Emails
Transaction receipts
Screenshots

Monitor Your Credit
Watch for signs of identity theft or unauthorized activity. Monitor your credit for free in your FirstBank online banking app via My Credit Manager.

Continue Monitoring Accounts
Fraud activity can occur weeks or months after the initial incident.
Remain vigilant.

How to Avoid Future Scams
The good news is that many scams can be prevented by recognizing warning signs and following a few key security practices. Taking these steps can help protect your finances, and FirstBank is always here to help you navigate suspicious situations and safeguard your accounts.

Build Better Security Habits
Verify requests independently.
Enable MFA.
Review account activity regularly.
Be cautious of unexpected communications.

Fraud can happen to anyone. The key is responding quickly, asking for help by reporting fraud, and securing your accounts to reduce future risk.