Author Archives: VP of Marketing and Business Development Jessica

Online Marketplace Scams Target Both Buyers and Sellers

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Whether you’re looking for a houseplant, a coffee table, or a new gaming console, online marketplaces can be great places to start. But be careful. Anonymous listings and virtual transactions are ripe for online marketplace scams, which can take a variety of forms.

You May Not Get What You Paid For

If you pay in advance for something you have not seen in person, the item may not arrive as advertised. In fact, it may not arrive at all. A picture of a cute puppy or designer jewelry is easy to post in a marketplace, but if you pay without knowing the seller personally or seeing the product, the seller can take your money and disappear.

Payment Type Matters

Pay attention to listings that insist on an unusual payment method, such as gift cards. Gift card numbers are hard to trace, so if you don’t get what you paid for and the seller’s profile has disappeared from the marketplace, it will be very difficult to track them down or get your money back. Also keep in mind that with many digital payment methods, once you send a payment it often can’t be reversed, making it even more important that you know who you are dealing with and what you are buying.

Scams Targeting Sellers

While many people are aware of scams targeting buyers on marketplace sites, sellers can get scammed too. One tactic is for scammers to fake payment receipts or confirmations with an amount that’s higher than the asking price. The supposed buyer may claim to have purchased a product above your listed price and request a refund without actually having placed an order.

Another marketplace scam growing in popularity involves a fake email appearing to be from Zelle®, claiming that a transaction cannot be completed until your Zelle® account is upgraded. In reality, the scammer is tricking you into paying them for an upgrade that doesn’t exist. Zelle® does not offer account upgrades.

Warning Signs: What To Watch Out For

  • Unreasonably low prices – Sometimes an incredibly low price is literally too good to be true. In most instances, it’s best to pass on this type of offer unless you can inspect the product in person and ensure its authenticity.
  • Sales pressure – If the seller creates a sense of urgency by warning that the item won’t last long or many others are interested, take your time and think it through. Creating urgency is a technique to get you to act on impulse instead of logic, and it could lead you to overlook something suspicious.
  • Fake profiles – Keep an eye out for telltale signs of a false profile, like a generic profile picture, only one friend or connection, or a profile name that does not match the name or email address on the invoice.

Slow Down, Ask Questions

When it comes to making safe marketplace purchases, remember to slow down and ask questions. If you detect suspicious activity, report the user to your marketplace platform.

At First Financial, our goal is to help protect our members from scams and identity theft. If you have any concerns or questions about any of your First Financial accounts, please call member services at 732.312.1500 or visit one of our branches.

To learn more about scams and ways to protect yourself, visit zellepay.com/pay-it-safe.

 

Zelle and the Zelle related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.

 

 

 

How Much Homeowners Insurance Do I Need?

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Your home is likely one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. That’s why protecting it is so important. When it comes to homeowners insurance though, many new buyers might not know where to start. Between securing a realtor, finding the right house, and understanding your mortgage options, there’s a lot to process. And with insurance on top of that, homeowners must make a lot of decisions fast. That’s why we’re here to help.

So, how much homeowners insurance will you actually need? It depends. Insurance premiums differ based on where you’re located, the condition and value of the home, claim history, the amount of coverage, deductible, and more. Insurance companies develop their pricing models based on the level of risk, which is why there are many factors determining what homeowners will pay. Let us explain.

Related Article: Looking to Buy Your First Home? Here’s Where to Start

Types of homeowners insurance coverage

There are three basic types of insurance that homeowners will need to choose from, which all have varied coverage and costs.

  • Actual cash value: Coverage based on your home’s current worth, not what you paid.
  • Replacement cost: Coverage based on what the home is currently worth up to the policy’s value.
  • Guaranteed cost: Provides coverage for the home and its contents up to a particular percentage above the policy’s maximum, based on the current cost to repair or replace them.

Overall, the more coverage you buy, the less you will have to pay out of pocket if you have damages to your home or its contents. Personal liability coverage is also an important piece too, as it will protect you in the case of someone else getting hurt on your property. Your mortgage company or insurance carrier may require you to insure your house for a certain limit as well.

What affects homeowners insurance costs

What you will pay for a premium varies by state. Factors in New Jersey include:

  • Construction types – Homes made of brick for example, will have lower rates since they aren’t as vulnerable to fires.
  • Newer houses typically have lower premium rates compared to older houses.
  • The overall condition of the home – Has it been maintained? What work needs to be done?
  • The home’s proximity to a fire hydrant or local fire department may also play a role.
  • The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.
  • Some carriers offer discounts for homeowners with ample smoke detectors or security systems.

There are savvy ways homeowners can lower their premiums. As a rule of thumb, the higher the deductible – or the amount you pay out of pocket, is the easiest way to lower your premium. For example, raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 can save you up to 25% on your premium. Making additions or repairs to your home may also lower what you pay. Upgrading plumbing, your fire-protection system, security, and the roof can also help since those repairs lower the risk to your home.

Working with an expert

At First Financial, we offer our members TruStage insurance products through Liberty Mutual Insurance so they can protect what matters most.* As a mortgage lender, we typically know what is required and can assess what additional protection you’ll need to ensure you have all your bases covered. Through the Trustage program, we are also able to offer accidental death & dismemberment insurance, auto insurance, and life insurance.

Don’t let securing the right homeowners policy get overwhelming. The team at First Financial is here to help. To discuss your options, call us at 732.312.1500, email info@firstffcu.com, or stop by any of our local branches.

Want to see more articles like this? Subscribe to First Financial’s monthly newsletter for financial resources and advice.

*TruStage insurance products and programs are made available through TruStage Insurance Agency, LLC. Life insurance and AD&D insurance are issued by CMFG Life Insurance Company. Auto and home insurance are issued by leading insurance companies. The insurance offered is not a deposit, and is not federally insured, sold, or guaranteed by your credit union.

Scams 101: What to Look Out for During the Holidays

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Now that Thanksgiving has passed, holiday shopping is in full swing. Even though inflation will affect consumer spending and shopping habits, holiday sales are still expected to reach $1.45 to $1.47 trillion this year. And as with any big shopping event, it’s expected that fraudsters will find ways to scam consumers.

Every year, scammers use similar tactics to trick shoppers. While some are more obvious than others, it’s important consumers stay aware of common holiday fraud patterns so they can protect themselves and their finances. Here’s what you should be on the lookout for this holiday season.

Online holiday shopping fraud

Malls and local department stores can be overwhelming this time of year, so it’s no surprise more individuals are choosing to shop online. In fact, e-commerce sales are expected to increase 14.3% and hit up to $264 billion. Convenience is key when it comes to shopping, but that means there’s more to be on the lookout for too – including scam e-commerce shops.

When looking for specific out-of-stock or pricey items, it may be tempting to purchase a version found on a website resembling a legitimate store. However, these scam shops can take your personal and payment information and then never actually ship the item. Fraudulent e-commerce websites are more common than you think. These fake sites mimicking legitimate stores grew 178% in 2021 with 5,300 new websites per week.

Trust your gut. If you see a site like this, do a thorough Google search to see if the company has legitimate reviews. If you see others mentioning it looks fake or is a scam, do not buy any items from their website.

Online banking scams

More than 65% of people use an online banking service to manage their finances. And as digital services have gotten more popular, scammers are using smarter con methods to access an individual’s finances or take their identity. Here are major online banking scams to look out for.

  • Loan scams: When scammers pretend to be a legitimate bank offering a low-rate loan through an email or convincing website. This is a way for them to take your information and access your bank account.
  • Wire fraud in real estate: A scam where someone will use already occurring real estate transactions to hack the company and make wire transfers to themselves. These transactions can seem legitimate and go undetected if not monitored.
  • Fraudulent checks: When an individual is used as a mule for fraudulent checks. This will look like an email or message from someone they know, asking the person to help by opening a bank account and cashing a check, and promising them a portion of the money. These checks will bounce and cause the victim’s account balance to go negative.

 Related Article: How to Avoid Banking Scams and Stay Safe Online

Seasonal job scams

With the increasing number of remote work opportunities, job seekers are vulnerable to employment scams. Typically with seasonal jobs, you might think of retail or restaurant gigs – but e-commerce roles are also becoming more popular. These scams can look like typical remote work, but contain promises that seem too good to be true. Oftentimes the company will ask you to cover work expenses upfront with the promise of paying you back through a check or transfer. With any job listing you’re applying to, it’s crucial you do extensive research on the company and assess if this is a legitimate opportunity.

Travel and vacation fraud

Holiday travel and family vacations are a desired market for fraudsters. In 2021, there were over 4,000 mentions of fraudulent airlines and hotel offers featured on the dark web. With such a large industry – travel fraud can take on many forms, including frequent flyer mileage scams, currency exchange, bogus travel agencies, rental cons, fake hotel or flight listings, and more. This is yet another way for scammers to take your information and access your finances. When it comes to travel (and any purchase), it’s important to buy from websites and companies you know and trust. If you see a package deal, do your research to ensure it’s a real offer.

You can count on First Financial to go above and beyond to help you avoid fraud and protect your finances. If you ever see something suspicious, you can always contact one of our financial experts to help you determine if the offer, website, or service is legitimate. Contact our member services department at 732-312-1500 or visit one of our branches.

We hope you have a safe holiday shopping season!

Want to see more articles like this? Subscribe to First Financial’s monthly newsletter for financial resources and advice.

Budget-Friendly Holiday Shopping Tips

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The holiday season is one of the most joyful times of the year – and the most expensive. Between parties, travel, and gift giving – November through January can be a big weight on your wallet. While you may want to spend hundreds on gifts to treat your loved ones, your budget could be heavily impacted by doing so. If you play your cards right, you can still get everything you need for the holiday season at a reasonable price. Here’s how.

Take care of your bills and consider loan options

Ahead of shopping, it’s crucial to take care of all your essential bills first – like rent, utilities, and groceries. This way you know what you have left to spend on gifts and can make a realistic budget that fits within your means. If you’re working with debt that needs to be paid off, we recommend considering a consolidation loan to help reduce your monthly expenses by centralizing your high-rate credit card payments and other loans into one simple payment. At First Financial, we also offer a holiday personal loan that’s available through mid-January, to make paying for all the gifts on your list easier than ever.*

Make a holiday shopping list – and stick to it

One of the best ways to avoid overspending and impulse buying is to make a list of every single item you need to purchase. This includes who you’re shopping for, what the gift will be, about how much it will cost, which decorations you need for your home, food items you may need to buy for holiday baking, and more. Are you taking a trip to visit family or friends? You’ll also need to add travel expenses to your list and check it twice!

You don’t only need to shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

There’s so much pressure for consumers to go ham on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but those big deals can cause impulse buys and have you end up spending more than you intended. Retailers can be clever and create deals that make it seem like you’re saving, but really they could be encouraging you to purchase more at once.

Instead, you should be strategic about when you’re buying your gifts. Sales happen over the course of the year, so there’s never a shortage of opportunities to buy. Refer to your shopping list and search when those items typically tend to go on sale. Of course, this method isn’t the easiest if you’re shopping last minute. Experts recommend instead focusing on finding savings on your everyday purchases around the holidays so you have more room in your budget for gifts.

Get decorations and small gifts at discount stores

You don’t need brand name items for your holiday decorations. You can find lights, garland, ornaments, cards, and gift wrap all at your local discount store for the best prices. Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Christmas Tree Shops, Big Lots, and outlet stores all have the tchotchkes and decor you’ll need to get in the holiday spirit without spending a small fortune.

Consider DIY gifts

Do you need to get gifts for your colleagues, extended family, teachers, or neighbors and are you cutting it close to your budget limit? Make something thoughtful or delicious instead. Bake cookies, make festive jams, create an ornament, paint a special wine glass, make homemade soaps or candles, put together a framed photo album or collage, thread up a scarf, or whip up your own bath bombs – the options are endless and thoughtful.

No matter how you’re celebrating this year, we’re wishing you a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Want to see more articles like this? Subscribe to First Financial’s monthly newsletter for financial resources and advice.

*APR = Annual Percentage Rate. APR as low as 9.99%, terms up to 24 months, minimum loan amount is $500, and maximum loan amount is $2,500. Loan payment example: A $1,000 Personal Loan financed at 9.99% APR for 24 months, would have a monthly payment amount of $46.14. Actual rate will vary based on creditworthiness and loan term. Subject to credit approval. One holiday loan open per member. Refinance option for prior holiday loan is available, see credit union for details. Maximum dollar amount able to borrow is based on creditworthiness and loan term. A First Financial Federal Credit Union membership is required to obtain a loan, and is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties. A $5 deposit in a base savings account is required for credit union membership prior to opening any other account/loan.

First Financial Business Member Spotlight: Hairstylist for the Nations

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“I have many ideas about my business and First Financial knows how to help.”

It’s Small Business Saturday, and we are taking the opportunity to highlight one of our wonderful business members to encourage the support of shopping and using local Monmouth & Ocean County small businesses! With that being said, welcome back to our First Financial member spotlight – a series where we feature some of our personal and business credit union members who we’ve happily worked with over the years. This time we’re shining a light on business member Ameerah Jones, the owner of Hairstylist for the Nations in Shrewsbury, NJ.

Ameerah started Hairstylist for the Nations in 2012 after working in the fashion industry. One of the first reasons she decided to bank with First Financial was because there were no monthly fees for business checking accounts. Over time, Ameerah learned that First Financial met her needs as a freelance business owner in a fast-paced environment where she is constantly on the go – especially with her business’ credit card processing. The credit union also continues to be invested in helping her business grow.

Learn more about her experience in banking with First Financial in the video below, and why Ameerah recommends our business banking to other business owners she knows.

If you’re looking to book your next hair appointment, check out Hairstylist for the Nations located at 1026 Broad Street, Suite 6 in Shrewsbury. You can also call 732.242.7733.

How to join First Financial

If you live, work, worship, volunteer, or attend school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties in NJ, you’re eligible to become a member. Businesses in Monmouth or Ocean Counties and our community partners are also eligible for membership. To join, all you have to do is open a savings account with $5. It’s that easy! Once you’re a member, your immediate family can also sign up. To get started, call us at 732.312.1500, email info@firstffcu.com, or stop by any of our local branches.

How to Keep Holiday Shopping from Draining Your Finances

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If you’re stressed and money is a worry this holiday season, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey, 61% of Americans worry about extra spending during the holidays. Last year, 1 in 3 consumers went into debt after the holidays. Half of those consumers took 3 months to pay their holiday spending back, while others needed 5 months to pay it back.

Keep reading to find out a few ways you can financially prepare this year, and soften the blow to your budget.

Be sure to set a strict holiday budget

The first thing you want to do, is see if you can figure out how much you spent last year during the holidays and look at the gifts, food, and decorations you bought. Did your shopping last year leave you financially strapped and did it take multiple months to pay off? If so, you’ll want to rethink this year’s spending.

Create a gift idea list and approximate costs for this year. If you can’t afford the grand total on your monthly income after your necessities are paid (housing, utilities, food, gas, etc.) you will need to reconfigure your list. You also don’t want to stray from your list, once it’s done it needs to be done – don’t keep spending money on extra items.

Think of ways you might be able to cut back this year – do you really need to buy gifts for every person in your family or for all your friends? Perhaps in a larger family or a group of friends you can suggest doing a Secret Santa with an affordable purchase limit. This way you’re only buying one gift instead of multiple. In your group of friends, can you skip giving each other gifts and just go out to dinner or have a potluck meal together at someone’s home instead? These are all ways to keep your holiday spending budget down.

Take a look at your regular spending habits

In November and December you might need to cut back on your regular entertainment or dining out expenses in order to put those funds toward holiday gifts. How often do you go out to eat, stop at the nearest drive thru for a seasonal coffee, or use delivery services like DoorDash? These purchases can really add up. Try to cut back or cut them out altogether during the holiday season, and use that money toward your gift list instead.

The same goes for other entertainment expenses. Take a look at your subscription and streaming services – how many services are you paying for and are you even using them during such a busy time of year? Maybe pausing them for a month or two will pay for another gift on your shopping list.

Add to your monthly income

Do you have any extra availability on nights or weekends to pick up a part-time job for the holidays? Depending upon where you work, you may even gain an employee discount to help you save a little on gifts you can buy. You’d also be able to bring in additional income to help you afford holiday expenses.

Do your research on sales and discounts

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming up, but many retailers will also offer sales and promotions all season long. Be sure to research the retailers you plan to purchase from this year, follow them on social media and sign up for their emails. A lot of times, signing up for emails or texts gets you a first-time enrollment discount too. If you know you’d like to purchase gifts from a particular store, check your email in the morning and see if they have any promotions, coupons, or discounts going on that day.

Don’t forget your rewards credit card

Do you have a rewards credit card that offers cash back for purchases during the year or offers merchandise and gift cards? Login to your account before you start shopping for gifts. If you have money you can redeem for cash back, you can use these funds to buy gifts on your list. If your rewards credit card has a merchandise catalog you can redeem points earned for or merchant gift cards, cash in and you might be able to check some more off your gift list!

Our First Financial Cash Plus Cards offer cash back, merchandise, retailer gift cards, travel experiences and more – through uChoose Rewards. Learn more and apply today!**

Plan ahead for next year

It’s never too early to start saving money. If you don’t want to feel stressed about the holidays again next year, look for ways you can start saving now. For instance, at First Financial we have a Holiday Savings Account which can help you save for all your holiday expenses during the year. This account will allow you to have money deducted from each of your paychecks and sent to your Holiday Savings Account. Come next October, it will have accrued for you all year long and be available for you to use.

Don’t let the holiday season become stressful or a drain on your budget. With careful planning and saving – you’ll find you can afford the extra expenses this time of year often brings, and help spread some holiday cheer at the same time!

Want to see more articles like this? Subscribe to First Financial’s monthly newsletter for financial resources and advice.

*A $5 deposit in a base savings account is required for credit union membership prior to opening any other account. All personal memberships are part of the Rewards First program and a $5 per month non-participation fee is charged to the base savings account for memberships not meeting the minimum requirements of the program. Click here to view full Rewards First program details. Some restrictions apply, contact the Credit Union for more information.

 **APR varies up to 18% for the Visa® Cash Plus Card when you open your account based on your credit worthiness. This APR is for purchases and will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Subject to credit approval. Rates quoted assume excellent borrower credit history. Your actual APR may vary based on your state of residence, approved loan amount, applicable discounts and your credit history. No Annual Fees. Other fees that apply: Balance Transfer and Cash Advance Fees of 3% or $10, whichever is greater; Late Payment Fee of $29, $10 Card Replacement Fee, and Returned Payment Fee of $29. A First Financial membership is required to obtain a Visa® Credit Card and is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers, or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties. A $5 deposit in a base savings account is required for credit union membership prior to opening any other account/loan.