First Bank & Trust Company and the Virginia Bankers Association Offer Six Ways to Avoid Holiday Shopping Scams

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Dec 07, 2018, 07:01 ET

ABINGDON, Va., Dec. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- First Bank & Trust Company, together with the Virginia Bankers Association, is alerting shoppers to exercise caution while making purchases this holiday season. "While millions of credit and debit card transactions are conducted safely every day, it's important that consumers are aware of the potential for holiday scams," said Bruce Whitehurst, president and CEO of the Virginia Bankers Association.

First Bank & Trust Company offers the following tips to help consumers keep their information safe whether shopping in the store or online:

Monitor your account. Use online and mobile banking to keep an eye on your transactions, especially during the holidays. Notify your bank right away if there is any fraudulent activity.
Beware of phishing scams. During the holidays, criminals will create a fake email for a deal that is too good to be true. If you click on any links within the email, you may be downloading malware onto your computer, or you may be asked for payment information that could lead to fraud.
Limit large sums of cash. Even though financial crime has transitioned from physical to cyber, customers should be careful not to carry around large sums of cash when shopping. Customers have 60 days to dispute unauthorized Electronic Funds Transfer transactions (debit cards). If cash is stolen, the money is gone.
Secure your internet connection. If shopping online, make sure you do so from a password protected Wi-Fi network. Never access online banking from a public Wi- Fi network.
Shop safely. Before making an online purchase, make sure the website uses secure technology. When you are at the checkout screen, verify that the web address begins with https. Also, check to see if a tiny locked padlock symbol appears on the page.
Read the site's privacy policies. Though long and complex, privacy policies tell you how the site protects the personal information it collects. If you don't see or understand a site's privacy policy, consider doing business elsewhere.

About the Virginia Bankers Association

Established in 1893, the Virginia Bankers Association is the unified voice for commercial and savings banks in Virginia. The VBA maintains an active legislative advocacy program, provides training to bankers statewide, and provides a variety of products and service to help its member banks best serve their communities.

About First Bank & Trust Company

First Bank & Trust Company, one of the top community banks in the United States, is a diversified financial services firm with office locations in southwest Virginia, northeast Tennessee, and New River and Shenandoah Valleys. Financial objectives are addressed by offering free checking products for personal and business accounts, and assessing lending solutions managed by mortgage, agricultural and commercial lending divisions. Comprehensive financial solutions are available through trust and brokerage service representatives.

MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Franks, [email protected]

SOURCE First Bank & Trust Company