Avoid This Popular Mortgage Scam

A postcard arrives in your mailbox. It references an “important matter” regarding your recently closed mortgage. And because it’s urgent, you should call the phone number right away.

It’s a scam!

And if you recently purchased or refinanced your current mortgage, you could be a prime target.

So how does this happen? Many records become public information after you move or close on a house. That means that any interested party may be able to access details about the mortgage lender, the borrower, the loan amount, the mortgage number, and the property address through public records. After fraudsters have this information, they use it to impersonate a financial institution that reaches out to you, saying they must conduct important and urgent business.

If you are a First Bank and Trust Company customer, be assured we have security measures and fraud prevention tools to protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use.  We will never send you a postcard, or an email, referencing details about your home mortgage.  One of the most important things you can do is be ready and aware to identify a scam attempt.

Here’s what the postcard may look like:

Be alert for these red flags:

  • There’s no clear indication who the postcard is from.
  • The small print may indicate that the information is provided by H.W.C., Home Warranty Corporation, Mortgage Recovery Services, or another business that is neither affiliated with, nor sponsored by,  First Bank and Trust Company.
  • A Mortgage ID number is displayed and does not match your First Bank and Trust Company Loan number.
  • The phone number displayed does not match First Bank and Trust Company’s phone number: 308-832-2030.
  • You receive information about your mortgage via a postcard instead of a sealed first-class letter.

What you should do

If you receive a postcard like this, please be aware that it is NOT First Bank and Trust Company, nor is this business affiliated with us in any way. You DO NOT need to call the 800 number on the card, and you DO NOT need to take any further action. Simply throw the card away. If you’re unsure if it’s a scam, please call us to verify at 308-832-2030. We’re always happy to help!

We're here to help.