We will never ask you to send us money upfront for any reason.

Working together will help prevent Fraud. First Financial will never ask you to send us money upfront for any reason.  In addition, ask for your bank account information or social security number over the phone or by email. First Financial does not do phone or email applications. We do not use any direct mail, email, text or phone solicitation for any service we offer.

First Financial will never offer to deposit money into your bank account, then ask you to take a portion of the money out and send it to us on a prepaid debit card. We do not require insurance on loans, upfront fees or processing fees of any kind. In addition, we do not have foreign call centers or automated phone dialers. We do not do direct mail, email or phone solicitation for any service we offer to prevent fraud.

Do not send money or give anyone your banking information over the phone, thru email or on a paper application you received. Our applications online are the safest and most secure way to submit your application. Every day in the United States, hundreds of people turn over the last of their hard-earned money to scam artists. According to the FBI, scams related to cash advances and loan offers add up to millions each year.

How can so many be defrauded so easily? Careful criminal planning can prevent fraud?

American and overseas operations start by creating websites that resemble those of a government agency or a familiar banking institution like Citibank, Money Mutual or First Financial. Some websites advertise loan offers at very low rates on these websites, but they never make a single loan. They simply collect your personal data including bank account numbers, social security numbers and more. These companies deny every applicant, BUT the information they’ve collected is a gold mine.

They sell it to a second operation. Using a familiar bank name and the target’s personal information, this second company has little problem convincing unsuspecting consumers that it’s legitimate. Often, it explains that it has “more flexible” loan requirements because it is larger or more efficient or specializes in a certain area. The borrower need only prove they can make the first payment to win the loan. Here’s where alarm bells should go off. The “loan agent” then asks the borrower to put the first payment on a Walmart Green Dot or other cash card or wire the money electronically.

When the loan amount doesn’t arrive in the borrower’s bank account, the “loan agent” explains that another sum is needed for insurance. This technicality can be taken care of, again, by putting the amount on a cash card and providing the cash card numbers to the “loan agent” . . . as soon as possible, of course. To learn more signs of certain fraud, read the Beware Common Cash Advance and Loan Scams to prevent fraud: Clear Signals of Fraud page in our consumer notices section. More about First Financial Security

Cash Advance and Loan Fraud Will Always Be with Us So We need to Prevent Fraud

Most of us can’t comprehend taking someone else’s money let alone spending months constructing elaborate schemes. Telephone scripts and letters to defraud people in sometimes desperate situations. Our own rejection of such malicious acts sets us up to believe the friendly “loan agent”. When a loan proves to be fraud, many prefer to keep the incident to themselves. If you’re in this situation, please don’t let embarrassment paralyze you. These criminals worked hard to concoct the perfect fraud. You didn’t stand a chance to prevent fraud.

But by reporting everything you know to the proper authorities, you can help keep more people from becoming victims. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the FBI both work hard to find and shut these scams down. If you or a loved one has become a victim of fraud, report the crime to the FBI at https://www.ic3.gov If an illegitimate “loan agent” uses the name First Financial, please call us right away at 800-315-7791 so we can report it to https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspxthe state attorney general’s office.

Report a crime: FBI – https://www.ic3.gov / Federal Trade Commission – https://www.ftc.gov