Privacy & Security
|
Protect Yourself from Fraud |
| What is "Phishing" |
| The act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established
legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private
information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the
user to visit a web site where they are asked to update personal information,
such as passwords and credit card, social security, and bank account numbers
that the legitimate organization already has. The web site, however, is
bogus and set up only to steal the user's information. |
| About Credit Card Phishing |
| You may receive an email or phone call from someone claiming to be from
a legitimate credit card company and asks cardholders to reactivate their
cards by providing account information and then creating a new password.
The caller may also state that if the cardholder does not comply, the account
will be suspended indefinitely. Usually, a legitimate credit card company
will never ask cardholders to divulge account information, passwords or
the three digit code on the back of the credit card via email or phone.
Should you receive any questionable emails or phone calls asking for personal
and confidential information such as passwords or account numbers, please
DO NOT reply or respond to the web site referenced in the email. Contact
the credit card company for verification and more information. |
| How to Tell if an E-mail Message is
Fraudulent |
| Here are a few phrases to look for if you think an e-mail message is a
phishing scam. |
| "Verify your account." |
| Businesses should not ask you to send passwords,
login names, Social Security numbers, or other personal information through
e-mail. If you receive an e-mail from a company asking you to update your
credit card information, do not respond. |
| "If you don't respond within 48 hours,
your account will be closed." |
| These messages convey a sense of urgency so that
you'll respond immediately without thinking. Phishing e-mail might even
claim that your response is required because your account might have been
compromised. |
| "Click the link below to gain access
to your account." |
| HTML-formatted messages can contain links or forms
that you can fill out just as you'd fill out a form on a web site. The links
that you are urged to click may contain all or part of a real company's
name and are usually "masked", meaning that the link you see does
not take you to that address but somewhere different, usually a phony web
site. |
| Tips on How to Avoid Phishing |
|
If you receive an unexpected e-mail saying your account
will be shut down unless you confirm your billing information, do
not reply or click any links in the e-mail body. |
|
Before submitting financial information through a
web site, look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status
bar. It means your information is secure during transmission. |
|
If you are uncertain about the information, contact
the company through an address or telephone number you know to be
valid. |
|
If you unknowingly supplied personal or financial
information, contact your bank and credit card company immediately. |
|
Suspicious e-mails can be forwarded to uce@ftc.gov,
and complaints should be filed with the state attorney general's office
or through the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov. |
|
Beware of Internet fraud. The Bank will never request
confidential information through e-mail. |
|
Exercise your rights to review your credit record and report fraudulent
activity. To order your free annual credit report from one or all the
national consumer reporting companies, visit www.annualcreditreport.com
or call toll-free 1-877-322-8228. |
|
| For more information about the steps to take on obtaining your credit
report, contact the credit bureaus listed below: |
| Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 or www.equifax.com |
| Experian: 1-888-397-3742 or www.experian.com |
| TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 or www.transunion.com |
