August 10, 2021
Several First Bank & Trust customers have contacted us regarding letters or postcards they received, claiming a time-sensitive matter with their mortgage (for example, warranty coverage about to expire). In reviewing copies of these notices, we can confirm that these letters were not sent by First Bank & Trust, and they are a scam. Please do not respond to the sender, and disregard/discard these letters.
Examples of Mailings:
We’re relieved that our customers questioned these letters, suspecting they were not from First Bank & Trust. We understand, however, that the specific information referenced in the letter (name, address, mortgage date, and loan amount) can be concerning. Please know that:
- We do not sell or distribute any private, non-public information to non-affiliate third parties.
- Some information about mortgages, regardless of lender, is public record. Scammers harvest and use this information to sound legitimate and encourage your reply.
Ways to Identify Phishing Attempts:
- Correspondence is unexpected and contains a sense of urgency.
- Offer comes from an unknown entity with whom you have no previous relationship.
- Contact information on correspondence does not align with published and trusted contact information for the business it appears to be coming from.
- Account number cited on correspondence does not match your actual loan number.
- Sensitive information is requested, such as usernames, passwords, financial information, personal information, etc.
You can expect any correspondence from First Bank & Trust to display our logo, as well as include an address and phone number. If you are ever in doubt, please feel free to call us at 800.843.1552.