Avoiding scams requires constant attention. Spam made up over half of email traffic in 2018. Spam phone calls increased 25% in 2018 when compared to the previous year and are forecasted to make up over 50% of phone calls in 2019. There were tens of thousands of internet scams in 2018. And the numbers continue to grow because unfortunately they work.

At First Commerce, we are committed to protecting your information. We do our part with rigorous security standards including monitoring your accounts 24/7 for potential fraud, protecting your information and access with up-to-date technology, and contacting you immediately when we detect suspicious or unusual activity. We also offer tools to help you protect yourself. Your membership includes free secure tools to help you monitor and safeguard your accounts.

Here are some tips to help you protect your money and reduce your risk of fraud:

• Monitor your account(s) regularly for suspicious activity. We make it easy with secure and convenient tools including:
  • Real-time text/email alerts*.
  • Digital banking including our mobile app, additional security alert options, and BillPay service.
  • eStatements – sign up by contacting us to ensure statements are delivered directly to you for careful review each month.
• Promptly report any activity that is suspicious or you are unsure about by contacting us or emailing us at Help@FirstCommerceCU.org. Any time fraudulent activity has occurred, there are additional steps to consider. If money is taken from your account and you report it within 60 days, we issue a credit back to your account while we investigate. Once we receive your dispute in writing identifying the fraudulent charges, we work to advance the credit within a few days, but not more than 10 days.
• If you are unable to locate your debit or credit card, or are missing checks, report them lost/stolen promptly. Make use of our convenient Card Management services in iBranch!. This option is available under “Services” in the Menu.
• Be aware of potential phishing calls or spoofed emails. First Commerce will never contact you for your personal information. If someone calls or emails you claiming to be from your financial institution and requests your PIN, social security number, debit card number, Digital Banking login information and/or secure access codes, it’s likely an attempt to obtain your information to commit fraud. Do not respond. Contact us or any other financial institution directly to verify the validity of the call or email.
• Keep your contact information on file with us up-to-date so we can get in touch with you if we detect suspicious activity. You may update your information in digital banking under “Services” “Manage Contact Info,” or by visiting one of our convenient locations.
• Request and review your credit report annually – you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report once a year by law through annualcreditreport.com. Our website includes tips on what to look for.
• Consider an identity theft protection monitoring service to help further reduce your risk. While these services can’t prevent fraud or identity theft, they can help you catch it early if, for example, someone uses your information to open credit. First Commerce offers Sontiq as a comprehensive and affordable option starting at just $7/month that includes a dedicated fraud specialist and up to $25,000 in reimbursement coverage if you become a victim of identity theft.
• Educate yourself about identity theft with free resources available through the “Learn” section of our website including SmartMoney Online courses, and our Sontiq ID Theft Knowledge Center including an ID Theft Calculator to determine your risk score. Also visit the Fraud & Security section of our website.

If we can be of personal assistance, please contact us anytime.

*Standard text message rates apply. Check with your service provider for more information.