First Fed reports influx of scam texts

By Matthew Nash • September 11, 2023 1:30 am

Officials at First Fed bank branches report its customer service team is experiencing an extremely high call volume due to fraudsters sending phishing text messages while impersonating the bank.

First Fed officials report the fraudsters are texting both customers and non-customers largely in the 360-area code hoping that they have First Fed accounts that can be hacked.

The scam tactic social engineering is where scammers impersonate a company or its representatives, First Fed officials report via press release.

These scammers try to trick customers into providing personal information they can use to hack customers’ accounts and steal their money.

If a customer clicked a fraudulent link and provided any information, First Fed representatives ask that the customer report the incident via phone at 800-800-1577 or email at askus@ourfirstfed.com.

Zoë Bowen, the bank’s senior marketing communications manager, said they follow up as soon as possible, but it may take a day or longer due to the high volume of calls.

For customers whose accounts are compromised, the exposed bank accounts and online banking are locked to prevent theft, Bowen said. The lockouts are removed when the customers’ accounts have been safeguarded.

If a text message recipient did not click on the link in the text, they do not need to report the text.

Customers who avoided clicking on the text message can continue to access their accounts as usual but are advised to stay alert, Bowen said.

Learn more about social engineering scams and how to avoid them at https://www.ourfirstfed.com/support/financial-education/social-engineering-scams.

“First Fed is actively responding to the situation and advising people on how to avoid scams,” Bowen said. “Our highest priority is keeping our customers’ accounts safe and secure.”