Escapees May-June 2023

• Go to a station that appears to be well-lit with security cameras. • Pay for your gas with cash inside the fueling station. • If you opt to pay with a card inside the store or outside at the pump, pay with a store’s mobile app or use a credit card and choose the option for credit. Never use a debit card. If you have to use your debit card, be sure to choose “credit,” and never provide your PIN. • Choose a pump close to the building, one that’s in the clerk’s line of sight. • If you have to use a code such as a PIN-number, be sure to cover the keypad with your other hand to hide your code from prying eyes. • Monitor your credit card statement for unauthorized purchases and report them immediately to your credit card company. BeWaryof SCAMS Scam: This is when you participate with the scammer thinking they are someone they aren’t, or that they are going to give you a product, but they don’t. Here are scams that occur most often: • You receive a text from Amazon saying your package is late and it needs your attention. However, you did not order anything from Amazon. • The IRS calls you and says you did not pay your taxes last year and if you don’t pay them today, they will be turning you over to the police. • Sweepstakes: You must pay for your chance to win a brand-new iPhone. And then you start seeing other charges that say they are extra chances to win. • You get an e-mail from Apple that says someone has ordered a new iPhone for $1,000 and it is being delivered to a different state than the one you are in. So, to get a refund they ask you to purchase gift cards totaling $1,000 and to give them the numbers on the front and back and they will deposit the refund back onto the gift cards. But instead, they take all the money off the gift card. • You receive a check but are asked to deposit it and send the majority of it

At First National Bank of Living ston, we take fraud seriously. And, even better, we take scams just as serious. It is our desire to teach our customers and our community about fraud and scams. First, let’s talk about the di ff erence between the two.

Protect Yourself From FRAUD

Fraud is when someone gets your debit card or account number without your participation. • Don’t use your account/card information on unsafe websites. Make sure they have the secure lock in the address bar of the site. • Keep your contact information up to date with the bank so the fraud department can contact you with suspicious activity alerts. • Allow push noti fi cations on your mobile app. Always contact the bank if you see a transaction attempted that is not yours. • Keep your personal information safe. • Be wary of public wi fi . • Gas pump skimmers are still an ongoing source of fraud. Let’s talk a little bit more about that. Protect The Pump (Article from tdlr.texas.gov) Credit card skimmers installed inside gas pumps and in credit-card readers are used to steal payment card information from customers when they purchase fuel. Often, there are signs that show consumers and merchants that there may be an issue. • Does the pump appear to have been tampered with? • Is the cabinet door loose or damaged? • Is the card slot loose? • If there’s security tape on the cabinet, does it look like it has been cut? • Is there a screen shade over the display? Be sure to check for a tiny camera that could be hidden inside. Best practices for protecting yourself at thepump:

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May/June 2023 ESCAPEES Magazine