As scams continue to evolve, staying informed is one of the best ways to protect your finances and personal information. At Farmers National Bank, we believe financial security starts with awareness, confidence, and knowing you’re not alone. Our team is here to help you recognize potential threats and take smart steps to protect yourself.
Know the Common Warning Signs
Most scams share similar characteristics. Being familiar with these red flags can help you pause before taking action.
Urgent and Secret Requests
Scammers often pressure you to act immediately and insist you keep the situation confidential. If someone is rushing you or telling you not to talk to your bank or family, that’s a strong warning sign.
Unusual Payment Requests
Legitimate businesses and government agencies do not ask for payment using gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, cash, or gold. These payment methods are difficult—or impossible—to recover.
Offers That Sound Too Good to Be True
Be cautious of messages claiming you’ve won a prize or lottery you never entered, or requests to send money back after receiving a check. These are common scam tactics.
Unexpected Contact
Scams often begin with an unexpected call, text, email, or letter. “Wrong number” texts or messages with suspicious links should be treated with caution.
Poor Spelling or Odd Language
Misspellings, grammatical errors, or awkward phrasing are common in scam communications and should raise concern.
Requests for Personal or Banking Information
Never share personal details, online banking credentials, account numbers, debit card information, or access to your devices.
Be Aware of Common Scam Types
Understanding how scams appear can help you recognize them more quickly.
Imposter Scams
Scammers pose as family members, banks, law enforcement, or government agencies—sometimes using AI voice technology to sound convincing.
Romance Scams
Fake profiles on dating sites or social media build trust and eventually request money.
Marketplace and Puppy Scams
These often involve stock photos, fake pickup locations, and requests for payment in advance through instant payment apps.
Pop‑Up and Tech Support Scams
Fake alerts claim your device is infected and request remote access.
Online Shopping and Social Media Ad Scams
Fraudulent websites or ads offer products at unrealistically low prices.
Refund Scams
Scammers claim a refund is ready, that you were overcharged, or that a refund was issued by mistake—then ask for your banking information.
Fake Shipping Notifications
Messages posing as UPS, FedEx, USPS, or Amazon claim delivery issues to prompt clicks or responses.
Check Fraud and Mail Theft
If you pay bills by check, thieves may steal outgoing mail and alter checks. Depositing mail directly at the post office and using black gel pens can reduce risk.
Friendly but Unexpected Texts
Messages that start casually (“Hi, how are you?”) may be attempts to confirm your number is active before introducing a scam.
Smart Ways to Protect Yourself
A few proactive habits can go a long way in keeping you safe.
- Trust your instincts. If something feels off, take a step back.
- Talk it through. Identify a trusted friend or family member you can consult.
- Verify before acting. Hang up and contact organizations directly using official contact information.
- Never send money to strangers. Many scam payments cannot be reversed.
- Protect your personal information. Never share passwords or account details.
- Be cautious with unsolicited messages. Links and attachments may contain malware.
- Monitor your bank and credit card statements regularly.
- Stay informed. Keep up with scam alerts from trusted sources like the FBI and Federal Trade Commission.
If You’ve Been Targeted or Affected
First—don’t panic. Scams can happen to anyone, and help is available.
- Don’t be embarrassed. We’re here to support you.
- Stop all communication with the scammer and block them.
- Contact your bank immediately.
- Take next steps as needed, which may include reporting the scam, securing online accounts, resetting passwords, enabling multifactor authentication, monitoring or freezing your credit, and contacting the Social Security Administration if necessary.
We’re Here for You
Your financial security matters to us. If you ever receive a message or request that doesn’t seem right, contact Farmers National Bank before taking action. One quick conversation can help protect what you’ve worked hard to build.
Stay informed. Stay cautious. And know that Farmers National Bank is here to help every step of the way.