Keep your Internet Banking Safe
When it comes to protecting your internet banking you can never be too careful. With the advancement of technology and the increase in internet banking users it is important to make sure you take the necessary precautions to prevent fraud.
There are simple practices that you can utilize when you do your banking online that will help decrease your chances of becoming a fraud victim.
General Internet use practices include:
DO NOT
- Conduct banking transactions while multiple browsers are open on your computer Use public or unsecured computers for logging into personal accounts
- Share your account information with third party providers
- Leave a computer unattended while logged in
DO
- Be aware of your surroundings, make sure no one is shoulder surfing (watching and recording your key strokes)
- Take care to properly store any documents that you use while internet banking, such as statements and invoices
Password guidelines include:
DO NOT
- Share your password information with anyone
- Use account login features that store your information
- Use Social Security Numbers, driver’s license, birthdates, family names, school, pets or workplaces for passwords
- Use a pattern when changing your password
- Use the same password for multiple accounts
DO
- Use at least 8 characters
- Include special characters, numbers and capital letters Change your password frequently
Monitoring your account practices include:
DO NOT
- Assume that fraud will not happen to you
DO
- Check the last login date/time every time you login to make sure it was you
- Review account balances and detail transactions regularly to confirm payment and other transaction data
- Immediately report any suspicious transactions to your financial institution
- View transfer history and confirm that there are no unauthorized transfers
Protecting your computer practices include:
DO NOT
- Open mails from unknown sources
- Click on links embedded in suspicious emails
- Download attachments in suspicious emails or attachments that you were not expecting Allow unauthorized access to your computer
DO
- Install and maintain anti-virus, anti-malware, and anti-spyware software on your computer
- Check your browser security settings and select at least a medium level of security
- Clear the browser cache before online banking (this includes history, cookies and any copies of web pages that have been stored on the hard drive
- Monitor and clear your cookies as necessary
Wireless Network protection practices include:
DO
- Change the network password from a default to a complex and unique password
- Disable remote administration for the wireless network hardware
- Enable WPA encryption when possible
- Disable broadcasting the network SSID
Social Network practices include:
DO NOT
- Download free applications from unknown users
- Share user names, passwords or the information you use for authentication of your internet service with others
DO
- Be aware of how much information you publish and who is able to view it
- Treat downloads and applications like suspicious email until you can confirm the known trusted source
Some signs that your computer may be infected include:
- You computer will run slower than normal
- Continued or repeated Error messages
- It will not shut down or restart
- Displays a lot of pop-up ads when you are not connected to the internet
- Computer sends emails that you did not write
- A downloaded email appears with two different extensions (i.e jpg, exe, pdf, or bll)
- Repeatedly being asked to enter your user name or passwords
- Being asked challenge questions if your computer was previously registered
Central Savings Bank Consumer eBanking Tips:
Central Savings Bank will never send you an email asking to confirm your personal information.
Consumer eBanking does not:
- Use pop up windows to display login messages or errors
- Use error messages that include an amount of time to wait before trying to login again
By incorporating these practices in your internet banking use you will be taking precautions to protect yourself from fraud. If you have any questions or would like more information on practices for protecting your internet banking please contact customer service.
All About Fraud
The most common scams and how to avoid them.
Although it may seem like it, scam artists are not just pushy salespeople trying to make a living. They are criminals who are out to take their victims’ life savings. Often they will use scare tactics to sell products or services, and other times they will impersonate well-known companies or charities to trick their victims.
The most common types of scams are work-at-home scams, prizes and sweepstakes scams, Medicare Rx drug coverage scams, lotteries and lottery club scams, fake check scams, and Nigerian money offers.
Central Savings Bank has equipped you with this page that outlines some things to remember in order to avoid falling victim to a scam.
Central Savings Bank is a member of Fraud-Net, which is an online platform that allows members to read and post alerts about fraudulent activity in their areas.
For more information regarding the latest scams, please contact Central Savings bank at (906) 635-6250, or visit www.fraud.org.
Fake Check Scams:
- Fake check scammers hunt for victims
- They often claim to be in another country
- They tell you to wire money to them after you’ve deposited the check
- You don’t have to wait long to use the money, but that doesn’t mean the check is good
- You are responsible for the checks you deposit
- There is no legitimate reason for someone who is giving you money to ask you to wire money back
- Don’t deposit it — report it!
CSB TIP: Before disposing of mail items containing personal information, always remember to ensure that your personal information is no longer legible.
Nigerian Money Offers:
- Be aware that these scams are well-known
- These promises are never true
- Once you are on the hook, they’ll never let you go
- Don’t believe photographs of the “treasure”
- Be wary of offers to send you an “advance” on your “commission”
- Never provide your bank account or other financial information
- Don’t agree to travel anywhere to meet these people
- Remember that these are hardened criminals
- If they get your money, you’ll never get it back
CSB TIP: If you receive fraudulent material, or believe you have fallen victim to a scam, visit us at Central Savings Bank, where our staff is trained to recognize fraudulent information and deal with it appropriately.
Lotteries and Lottery Club Scams:
- Crooks take advantage of our natural desire to win
- It’s illegal to use the mail or phone to play lotteries across borders
- No matter how official these solicitations look or sound, they’re not real
- Joining a lottery “club” won’t improve your chances of winning foreign lotteries
- Giving your credit card or bank account numbers to strangers is dangerous
- Lottery scammers often insist the money be wired to them
- Your chances of recovering money from foreign crooks may be even worse than your chances of actually winning a lottery
- The only guarantee is that you’ll end up on more “sucker lists”
Work-at-Home Scams:
- Know who you are dealing with
- Don’t believe that you can make big profits easily
- Get all the details before you apply
- Find out if there is really a market for your work
- Get references for other people who are doing the work
- Be aware of legal requirements
- Know the refund policy
- Be wary of offers to send you an “advance” on your “pay”
- Do your own research about work-at-home opportunities
CBS TIP: Regardless of whether you’re opening mail, checking e-mail, or answering the phone, always remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Prizes and Sweepstakes Scams:
- Never pay to play
- Buying something doesn’t improve your chances of winning
- Don’t believe that you have to give the company money for taxes on your prize
- Guard your credit card and bank account numbers
- Be on guard for imposters
- Be wary of offers to send you an “advance” on your “winnings”
- Get the details in writing
- Don’t be fooled by official-looking mail
- Be especially cautious about foreign sweepstakes companies
- Remember that con artists lie
Medicare Rx Drug Coverage Scams
- Check the list of Medicare approved prescription drug plans
- If someone says you must join or you’ll lose your other Medicare benefits, it’s a scam
- Guard your personal information from identity thieves posing as salespeople
- Never give out your bank account, credit card, or life insurance policy numbers
- Know the law on how Medicare prescription drug plans can be marketed
- Don’t be fooled by sales materials that look like they’re from the government
- Don’t confuse other types of drug coverage with Medicare plans
- Report suspected Medicare drug plan scams to the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-337-4950