Protect Yourself from Unwanted Robocalls and Texts

Unwanted robocalls and spam texts are more than just a nuisance—they can also be a threat to your security and financial well-being. Scammers use these tactics to trick people into revealing sensitive personal or banking information, often posing as banks, government agencies, or well-known businesses. At First Bank and Trust Company, we want to help you protect yourself and your accounts. Here’s how you can stop these calls and messages and safeguard your financial information.

How to Reduce Unwanted Calls and Texts

• Register with the National Do Not Call Registry 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) maintains a free National Do Not Call Registry. By adding your number to this list at www.donotcall.gov, you can reduce legitimate telemarketing calls. While this won’t stop scammers who ignore the law, it will significantly reduce calls from legal telemarketers.

• Use Call-Blocking and Filtering Tools

Many phone carriers, such as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, offer free or low-cost call-blocking services that can help detect and block unwanted robocalls. Additionally, both iOS and Android smartphones have built-in features to block unknown or suspicious numbers. There are also third-party apps like Hiya, Nomorobo, and Ro-boKiller that provide enhanced call-blocking functionality by analyzing calls and filtering out known spam numbers.

• Don’t Engage with Unknown Callers or Messages

If you receive a call from an unknown number, let it go to voicemail. Scammers rely on people answering their calls to determine active numbers. Engaging with them in any way, even by pressing a key to "opt-out," can result in even more unwanted calls. The same goes for suspicious text messages—do not reply, click on any links, or follow any instructions. Even replying with “STOP” to an unknown sender can confirm that your number is active, leading to more spam messages.

• Beware of Caller ID Spoofing

Scammers frequently manipulate caller ID information to make their calls appear as though they are coming from a legitimate source, such as your bank or a government agency. This practice, called "spoofing," makes it difficult to determine if a call is authentic. If you receive a call claiming to be from First Bank and Trust Company requesting sensitive information, hang up immediately and contact us directly using the phone number listed on our official website or your account statement.

• Report Suspicious Calls and Texts

Reporting unwanted robocalls and scam texts can help authorities track and shut down fraudulent operations. Here’s where you can report them:

• To the FTC: Submit complaints at www.ftc.gov/complaint.
• To Your Carrier: Forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM), which alerts your mobile carrier to investigate and block similar messages.
• To Your State Attorney General: Many states have additional reporting systems for robocalls and fraud.

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Secure your online banking accounts by enabling two-factor authentication (2FA). This additional layer of security requires you to verify your identity with a second step, such as entering a code sent to your phone or email. Even if scammers obtain your username and password, they will not be able to access your account without this extra verification step.

• Be Aware of Common Phone Scams

Robocalls and fraudulent texts often follow familiar patterns. Some common scams to watch out for include:

• Bank Impersonation Scams: Callers pretending to be from your bank, claiming there is an issue with your account and requesting personal information.
• IRS and Government Scams: Threatening calls claiming you owe money to the IRS or other government agencies and demanding immediate payment.
• Prize or Lottery Scams: Calls or messages stating you’ve won a contest or lottery and asking for personal details or payment to claim your prize.
• Tech Support Scams: Calls alleging your computer or mobile device has been hacked, urging you to provide remote access or pay for "fixes."

Stay Informed, Stay Safe

At First Bank and Trust Company, we are committed to helping you stay safe from fraud and scams. If you ever receive a suspicious call, text, or email that appears to be from us, do not hesitate to contact our customer support team directly.

For more tips on fraud prevention, visit our website, download our mobile banking app for secure messaging, or speak with a representative at your local branch. Your security is our top priority!