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Monday, October 19, 2026/Categories: Security, Scams, and Alerts
At Community First Bank, protecting our customers' financial well-being and helping prevent debit card fraud are among our highest priorities. While debit cards offer a fast and convenient way to manage everyday spending, fraudsters continue to develop new tactics aimed at stealing personal and financial information.
The good news? A little knowledge can go a long way. Understanding common scams and following a few best practices can help keep your accounts secure.
Today's scammers are skilled at creating convincing phishing emails, scam text messages, and fraudulent phone calls that appear legitimate. These common bank scams are designed to create urgency and fear, encouraging consumers to act before they have time to think critically about the situation.
One of the most common bank impersonation scams involves criminals pretending to be from a bank's fraud department.
A caller may claim there's suspicious activity on your account and offer to help stop a fraudulent transaction. In reality, they're often trying to obtain sensitive information that can be used to access your accounts.
Community First Bank will never contact you and ask for:
If someone contacts you requesting any of this information, treat it as a red flag.
Read up on today’s most common scams on our Security Center page.
Debit card fraud can happen in several ways—not just through scam calls, texts, or emails. Criminals may steal payment information from merchants, card readers, devices, or mail. Knowing how these schemes work can help you spot suspicious activity and take steps to protect your account.
When a merchant or service provider experiences a cyberattack, criminals may gain access to payment information customers use or have saved to their accounts. Stolen information can be used or sold to other criminals for fraudulent purchases.
How to protect yourself: Review account activity regularly, report unauthorized purchases immediately, enable transaction alerts through your bank, and avoid saving payment information on websites when possible.
Criminals may secretly install skimming devices on ATMs, gas pumps, or checkout card terminals. These devices capture card data, and more sophisticated versions may also capture your PIN.
How to protect yourself: Use chip or tap-to-pay when available. Check card readers for loose, damaged, or unusual parts, and cover the keypad when entering your PIN.
Malicious software can infect computers, phones, or other devices and capture payment information, passwords, or online banking credentials.
How to protect yourself: Keep devices and apps updated, avoid suspicious links and unfamiliar attachments, and use reputable security software.
After obtaining stolen payment information, criminals may make test transactions for just a few dollars or cents to see whether the card is still active. If the small transaction goes unnoticed, they may attempt larger fraudulent purchases.
How to protect yourself: Review account activity regularly and report unauthorized transactions immediately, no matter how small. Enable transaction alerts through your bank.
Thieves may intercept a debit card in the mail before it reaches you. They may then activate the card and use it to make unauthorized purchases.
How to protect yourself: If you are expecting a replacement debit card, watch for it to arrive. Contact your financial institution if it does not arrive when expected and review your account activity while you wait.
Criminals may gain access to an online merchant account, digital wallet, email account, or smartphone. If payment information is stored there, they may be able to use it to make fraudulent purchases.
How to protect yourself: Use a unique, secure password for each account and enable multifactor authentication (MFA) when available. Lock your smartphone with a passcode or biometric login and avoid saving payment information to online accounts when possible.
If you receive a suspicious call, text, or email claiming to be from Community First Bank:
When it comes to fraud, it's always better to verify than assume.
Contact Community First Bank
Don't panic, but don't wait.
If you believe your debit card information, online banking credentials, or security codes may have been compromised:
Our team can help determine the appropriate next steps and work with you to secure your accounts.
Victim Resources and Reporting Fraud
Fraudsters are constantly changing their tactics, but our commitment to protecting our customers never changes.
Whether you have questions about a suspicious text message, an unexpected phone call, or a transaction you don't recognize, our team is here to help. If something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and reach out to Community First Bank.
When it comes to preventing fraud, awareness is your first line of defense.
Need assistance? Talk with a Community First Bank banker at one of our branches or call us at 833-380-2321.