Telephone Credit Card Scam Alert: Protect Yourself from Phone Fraud

Telephone credit card scams are becoming increasingly common, with fraudsters calling and pretending to be your bank or credit card company. Their goal? To trick you into handing over your card details so they can make unauthorized charges. Let’s be clear—no bank will ask for your full card number or PIN over an unsolicited phone call.

Here’s what these scammers often do:

• Create a false sense of urgency, like claiming your card is blocked or there’s suspicious activity.
• Use spoofed phone numbers that look legitimate.
• Request sensitive information that a real bank would never ask for by phone.
• Call out of the blue, without any prior contact.

How to protect yourself:

• Never share your card details unless you initiated the call to a verified number.
• If in doubt, hang up and call your bank directly using the official number on their website or your card.
• Take advantage of call-blocking features on your phone.
• Review your credit card statements regularly for any unfamiliar transactions.
• Sign up for transaction alerts to catch suspicious activity early.

If you suspect you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately to freeze your card and report the incident. Staying alert and cautious is your best defense.

Remember: When it comes to your financial info, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If a call feels fishy, trust your instincts and verify before sharing anything.

You protect your card – we’ll protect your account.

We monitor your account 24/7 for suspicious activity. However, fraud happens in many unexpected ways. We’re in this together and there are ways you can help:

• Set up purchase alerts or balance alerts to receive real-time text messages or emails when a transaction is placed on your account or there is a change to your account balance.
• If you misplace your card, log into card.fnbo.com or use the Card by FNBO mobile app to lock your card. When you find your card, you can easily go in and unlock your card or report it as lost to receive a replacement.
• Log into your account or call us to provide your current email address and mobile phone number. We use these to reach out to you when we detect a suspicious transaction. If we have your mobile phone number, we can send you a real-time text to confirm a transaction.
• Remember, you have Zero Liability Protection¹ keeping your account safe. If someone makes an unauthorized purchase with your card, you’re not responsible.

Tips to keep your account protected

You can help keep your account and information secure while at home or travelling by following these steps:

• Using our mobile app, select to use Face ID to create a biometric login to increase account security and simplify the log in process. Log in to the mobile app and select Login Options for more information.
• If you lose or misplace your card, log in to your account on your desktop, tablet or mobile app and select to lock your card until it’s found. Once you locate your card, you can easily unlock it.
• Confirm that your mobile phone number is in your account profile. In the event we detect a suspicious transaction, we’ll text you an alert and ask you to accept or decline the transaction in real time. You can update your phone number online or in the mobile app under the “More” menu.
• Go paperless. Elect to receive your account statements online to reduce the possibility of sensitive account information being lost in the mail.

In addition to these steps, rest assured that we monitor your account 24/7 for suspicious activity.

QR (Quick Response) codes are used to simplify accessing websites and content like restaurant menus and travel guides. They are an easy way to get to a website without having to enter the entire web address into your browser on your phone or tablet.

As convenient as these codes are, they are also open to fraudsters with bad intentions. There are some basic measures you can take to protect yourself from fraudulent activity.

How to use QR codes

Newer phones will automatically access the link from a QR code just by opening your camera and pointing it at the QR code. A link will be presented on your phone screen that you can click to access.

If your phone is older and you have to use a QR code reader, make sure your QR code reader is up to date and choose one that will scan the site before allowing you to open the link for an extra layer of protection. If you receive a pop up message or are taken to any other page, shut it down. You may want to remove the current QR code reader app you have on your phone and download a new one from your app store.

Safety Tips

If you encounter a QR code that requires you to download a QR code scanning app, close it down as this might be a scam. This is a way for fraudsters to gain access to your phone and hide malware (bad types of software). Here are some additional safety tips:

1. Verify the Source
   1. Only scan QR codes from trusted sources.
   2. Avoid scanning codes from social media or emails unless you can confirm they are legitimate.
2. View the URL
   1. Usually you can see a preview of the URL before you click on a link.
   2. Look for odd misspellings or characters that seem unusual (i.e. Google1.com instead of google.com).
3. Be Wary of QR Codes in Public Places
   1. Be cautious of QR codes on things like parking meters or restaurants.
   2. If you use a code and it asks for personal information, passwords, etc. then close out of the site.
   3. Check with the business if possible, to confirm a code is legitimate.
4. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
   1. Adding MFA to your sensitive sites like your password locker, your banking information, etc. is an extra layer of protection even if you use a phishing site.

QR codes can provide access and convenience and with a little bit of diligence, you can safely use these codes to simplify your day. If you ever have any questions or believe something is suspicious, please reach out to Customer Care at the number on the back of your card.

As the new year begins, we want to confirm that we have the most up to date information for your account. Please log into your online account and confirm that the mailing address, preferred email and mobile phone number are correct.

We use this information throughout the year to reach you in the event of suspicious activity or to contact you with important account updates.

Log in, select “More” and click on Account Information to confirm or update your contact information.

Not enrolled online? Use this opportunity to enroll in online account management and have access to lock/unlock your card, check your statements and easily make payments 24/7.

With many of us shopping online for the holidays, be aware of a scam trend involving fake package notices from the US Postal Service. The scam involves receiving a text message saying that a package is waiting for you. It will ask you to pay a small fee, normally under $1.00. The message will include a link.

The link takes you to a fake US Postal Service website where they will ask for your credit card number to pay the small fee. At that point your card information has been compromised. Fraudulent transactions are then often submitted on the account.

If you suspect a package notice that you receive, check the package delivery status from the vendor, ask your Postal Carrier if the notice is valid or call your local post office for confirmation before you click on the link or enter any credit card information.

If your card is compromised, please log into your online account and lock your card immediately from further purchases. Then reach out to us on the number on the back of your card for further assistance.

To help ensure the security of your account, please confirm that we have your current mobile phone number on file. This allows us to reach you immediately if we detect any suspicious activity. In such cases, you'll be able to confirm or decline the transaction in real time.

You can easily update or add your mobile phone number by logging into your online account and updating your personal information settings.

Rest assured, we're actively monitoring for fraudulent activity 24/7 to protect your account. By keeping your information up to date, we can work together to safeguard your personal details and financial security.

Did you know that not only are digital wallets a convenient way to pay, but they keep your transactions and personal information safe. Putting your card into your digital wallet is an easy way to pay at most retailers.

Add your credit card by entering the card information into the digital wallet app on your mobile phone. When you are ready to pay, simply open your digital wallet app, select your card and tap your phone on the terminal to pay.

Payments from digital wallets are also safer because your account information is coded as it is transmitted so your account number and personal details are not shared.

Use your digital wallet today to make payments safe, simple and secure.

Beware of scam merchandise offers. If you see a merchandise offer online, on social media or in your email and the pricing seems much lower than you expect, be very careful before proceeding. There are fraudsters that set up fake merchandise offers appearing to be a known retailer, but the link takes you to a fraudulent site to complete the purchase. As a result, payment is taken, but merchandise is never received. If you suspect a price looks too good to be true, back out of that link and check the retailers website to see if the offer is available there.

Back to school means busy days and shopping trips. Protect your account and your information by adding real time purchase alerts to your account. Purchase alerts can be set up in your online account as text or email alerts with purchase minimums you select. These alerts not only help you stay on top of your purchases, but also help identify suspicious activity.

To make those shopping trips easier, add your card to your phone’s digital wallet. Instead of using your physical card, you can make quick, touch-free payments with your phone by opening your digital wallet and tapping your device on the payment terminal. This is a quick way to pay and go while providing you added security.

Beware of phone calls with people posing as “FNBO” (the fraudster), who perform a convincing impression even duplicating (spoofing) FNBO’s phone numbers. They deviate from FNBO by asking for the customer to provide card data and verification data – like your social security number, mother's maiden name, or possibly a one-time passcode. We will not call a customer to ask for card, personal or security information. Be advised FNBO may ask this information if you call us.

In addition, we will not ask you to make any transfers, purchases or payments using your credit card to services such as cash applications, gift card purchases, etc.

If you receive one of these calls, please hang up immediately and call the Customer Care number on the back of your credit card.

Safety Tips to Keep Your Account Secure

• If you misplace your card, lock it online or in the app and unlock it when you locate it. If it’s lost, report it right away and we’ll send you a replacement. Keep your account profile information up to date. Log into your online account and update your contact information, including your cell phone number so we can reach you if we detect suspicious activity.
• Set up account alerts in your online account or on the mobile app. You can monitor transactions, balances, payments and more to keep track of account activity.
• Report any suspicious activity such as unfamiliar transactions or communications to the number on the back of your card.
• Use the enhanced safety of contactless payments to simply tap, pay and go with your card on payment terminals where you see this symbol 

These features along with our 24/7 monitoring for suspicious activity can help to keep your information and account safe.

Please confirm that we have your current cell phone number on your account profile. This will assist in us being able to reach you in real time if we detect a suspicious transaction. You will be able to either confirm the transaction or deny it. We are always on the lookout for fraudulent activity and work 24/7 to protect your account and your personal information. Remember that we will never reach out to you and ask for your personal information or for a passcode.

Summer travel season is right around the corner. There are some actions you can take to keep your information and credit cards safe this season.

• Keep your money, ID and credit cards in a zippered pocket on the front of your body. If you prefer a backpack, choose one that has a zippered pocket closest to your body to deter pick pockets.
• If you misplace your card, log into your online account and lock your card right away. When you find your card, you can go in and unlock the card easily. If you don’t locate your card, call our Customer Care for a new card.
• Using tap to pay or a digital wallet is a safer way to pay. Either payment method can be used if you see the  symbol. Just tap and go.
• When we see a suspicious transaction, if we have your mobile number we will send you a text and simply ask if you approve the transaction with a simple (Y)es or (N)o. We will never ask you for your PIN number or personal information.

Remember there is no need to let us know you are travelling. Enjoy your summer travels!

Be aware of a current scam trend involving fake package notices from the US Postal Service. The scam involves receiving a text message saying that a package is waiting for you. It will ask you to pay a small fee, normally under $1.00. The message will include a link.

The link takes you to a fake US Postal Service website where they will ask for your credit card number to pay the small fee. At that point your card information has been compromised. Fraudulent transactions are then often submitted on the account.

If you suspect a package notice that you receive, ask your Postal Carrier if the notice is valid or call your local post office for confirmation before you click on the link or enter any credit card information.

In this month of Valentines celebrations, we wanted to share a warning about online dating hoaxes. Be wary of someone trying to cultivate a relationship online that eventually asks for money for a plane ticket, or to help with a health issue. They may request that you wire funds, buy gift cards or even give them access to your debit or credit card.

Be very suspicious of anyone asking you for money in online relationships. If you suspect fraudulent transactions on your credit card, log into your online account and lock your card, or call customer care to shut down your card and get a new one reissued.

It’s a good time of the year to check all of your accounts to be sure you have updated email address, home address and mobile phone number. This will make it easier for you to be contacted in the event there is a suspicious transaction on your accounts. Confirming your mail address will also assist you in receiving timely notifications and reduce the risk of bad actors accessing your mail.

Scammers will sometimes use pop-up messages on your computer while visiting a familiar website. These messages often warn you that your computer has been compromised. THESE ARE SCAMS. One of our customers recently had this happen, here is an overview of her experience. “I was reading the news on my computer when a pop-up window opened and warned me that my computer had been compromised. I was to call a number immediately.” She called the number and was told that her computer was being used by a criminal, that her information had been stolen (SSN, bank account, etc.) and she needed to set up new accounts immediately. They threatened that she may be charged as an accomplice if she did not cooperate. The fraudsters convinced her to let them access her bank account, credit cards, etc. so they could set up new ones for her. In the process, they emptied her bank account and charged thousands to her credit card. Don’t fall victim to pressure campaigns designed to make you afraid or concerned. Do research or simply close out of any messages or pop ups that are pressuring you to take action immediately. They are most likely scams.

Please confirm that we have your current cell phone number on your account profile. This will assist in us being able to reach you in real time if we detect a suspicious transaction. You will be able to either confirm the transaction or deny it. We are always on the lookout for fraudulent activity and work 24/7 to protect your account and your personal information. Remember that we will never reach out to you and ask for your personal information or for a passcode. 

Customers receiving calls with people posing as “FNBO” (the fraudster), performing a convincing impression even duplicating (spoofing) FNBO’s phone numbers, but deviates from FNBO by asking for the customer to provide card data and verification data – like your social security number, mother's maiden name, or possibly a one-time passcode. We will not CALL a customer to ask for card, personal or security information. Be advised FNBO may ask this information if you call us.

The saying "if it looks too good to be true, it probably is" remains very true. If you see a merchandise offer online, on social media or in your email and the pricing seems too low to be accurate, be very careful before proceeding. There are fraudsters that set up fake merchandise offers appearing to be a known retailer, but the link takes you to a fraudulent site to complete the purchase. As a result, payment is taken, but merchandise is never received. If you suspect a price looks too good to be true, back out of that link and check the retailers website to see if the offer is available there.