Escapees May-June 2023

back to the sender and you get to keep a portion. • Romance scams: Let’s face it, online dating is a popular trend. Everyone is doing it. But when you never see them in person it may present a red fl ag. Let’s talk a little bit about that. Romance Scams (Article from FTC.gov) It’s Valentine’s Day and love is in the air. You may think you spend a lot on fl owersor chocolate, but losing money in a romance scam will cost you even more. Last year, people reported losing $143 million to romance scams, a higher total than for any other type of scam reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). And, according to a new FTC Data Spotlight, reports of romance scams are on the rise. What do we mean by romance scams? We’re not talking about the person you thought was “the one” but ended up being a dud. We’re talking about people you meet online, who will lavish you with attention— and then ask for money. Usually, they want the money by wire transfer or gift card. They might claim they need it for a medical emergency or to come visit you. Then they take your money, but there’s no surgery and no trip. Romance scammers are hard at work wooing people on dating apps and social media. They may lift photos to create an attractive pro fi leor even steal the identity of a real person. Just like with real romances, it may take them some time to gain your trust, but the scammer’s payoff can be big. Last year, people reported a median loss of $2,600 from romance scams. Avoid Romance Scams • Never send money or gifts to a sweet heart you haven’t met in person. • Take it slow. Ask questions and look for inconsistent answers. Check the person’s photo using your search engine’s “search by image” feature. If the same picture shows up with a different name, that’s a red fl ag. • Talk to someone about this new love interest. And pay attention if your friends or family are concerned.

• If you suspect a romance scam, cut off contact right away. Then, report the scam to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. Notify the dating site where you met the scammer, too. First National Bank of Livingston offers many different tools to deter fraud and scams. We employ a third-party fraud department that monitors your debit card 24/7. We use text and/or phone calls to verify suspicious transactions. Our in-house fraud department is avail able every day of the work week to help resolve all fraud errors and educate our customers on ways to protect themselves from fraud and scams. Also, our mobile app has card noti fi cations and card management to block your card while you review your transaction history. First National Bank holds monthly Fraud Shield meetings at all our branches. Please feel free to stop in and let us educate you on all the current and prevalent frauds and scams. Watch our Facebook page for dates and times. No matter with whom you chose to do your banking, we are dedicated to helping our community get a jump on fraud and scams. Please feel free to reach out to us. KIM FULTS , Fraud Specialist, moved to Livingston in 1983 and has always banked with First National Bank. In 2002 she decided to join our team as a part-time teller. She has worked for us in various aspects of the bank and has served as the Debit Card Specialist since 2017. Kim’s passion for people shows when she works with our customers to help them recover lost funds due to fraud and scams. Her vast knowledge of fraud trends has been very helpful in counteracting the fraudsters, trying to stay one step ahead of them. Kim is married with two grown children and three beautiful grandchildren that she enjoys spending time with. MARIA PARMELLY , Fraud Specialist, has been a resident of Livingston since 2008. She joined First National Bank in 2016 as a Personal Banker and joined our Payment Operations department in 2020. Maria enjoys taking care of our customer’s needs and going above and beyond to make sure their needs are met. Maria recently married Je ff rey Parmelly, and they have fi ve children between the two of them. They enjoy spending time as a family and taking beach trips.

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ESCAPEES Magazine May/June 2023