At First Shore Federal, your security is our top priority.
While we can ensure physical safety precautions within each of our branches and can safeguard your information within our digital environments, there are some scenarios that only individual consumers can prepare for, such as phishing or spoofing scams.
We have recently been made aware of fraudulent solicitations by criminals attempting to impersonate First Shore Federal employees via text messages and phone calls.
Unfortunately, these attempts aren’t limited to First Shore: according to the FTC, bank impersonation or imposter scams were the most reported, with reports of fraudulent text messages up nearly 20x since 2019. Fortunately, our customers followed our security tips: they refused to share their personal information and thus did not experience a financial loss because of these attempts.
We want to empower everyone on the Eastern Shore to become a scam-spotting pro — and stop these criminals in their tracks. Delaware and Maryland consistently fall within the top 10 states reporting imposter scams, coming in 6th and 7th on 2024’s list, so the time to master those defensive skills has already begun.
Remember that there are a few things our team will never ask you for when working with us over phone, text, or email:
- To share sensitive personal information, such as your PIN, temporary access codes, social security numbers, or debit card numbers.
- To move your money or make transfers for safety or security purposes, especially by way of unusual methods like gift cards, cryptocurrencies, or P2P (peer-to-peer) payment apps such as Venmo or Zelle.
- To rush you, pressure you, or push you to “act now” if you want to avoid financial trouble or other consequences.
- To click suspicious links from unprompted text messages or emails, especially if the URL, names, or amounts seem unusual – never click a link if you aren’t sure of the source!
- To give us remote access into your account or personal devices like your phone or laptop for “investigation” purposes or any other reason.
Scammers will often use scare tactics to catch you off guard, then pressure you to make big decisions without fully thinking through the situation you’re experiencing. If something feels off: pause, take a breath, and trust yourself! If you suspect you may have been a target of a scam, or may have accidentally shared your information, take one of these steps:
Call us using a verified phone number
Scammers might call you from “spoofed” numbers or text you a request to call an unfamiliar number; instead, find the right number from our website or a recent statement. Our main line is 410-546-1101, but you can also contact your local branch directly.
Monitor your personal information
Often scammers will ask you to verify transactions as a way of appearing more legitimate, so stay up to date with your account activity via your digital banking account or by requesting a copy of your credit report.
Secure your digital presence
Change your passwords and ensure multi-factor authentication is enabled on all sensitive accounts. Using strong, unique passwords and enabling additional layers of security such as those requiring a second authentication step can go a long way in keeping you safe online.
Remember, your safety is our top priority. We’ve joined the American Bankers Association and banks across the country in a nationwide effort to help you realize when you’re under a scammer’s trance and snap out of it so you avoid losing your money. Here are some additional resources you can use to educate yourself and those around you on protecting your finances and personal information from imposter, phishing, and spoofing scams:
American Bankers Association:
Online Safety: