Customer Security and Education Center
If you use Online or Mobile Banking, you will be interested to learn that six federal financial industry regulators teamed up to make your accounts more secure. New supervisory guidance for the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) will help banks strengthen their vigilance and make sure that the person signing into your account is actually you. The supervisory guidance is designed to make online transactions of virtually all types safer and more secure.
New financial standards will assist banks and business account holders to make online banking safer and more secure from account hijacking and unauthorized funds transfers.
One of the most important tips for you to remember is that we will never contact you to solicit your account or other personal identification information via e-mail, text messages or over the phone.
Security/Fraud Alerts
The Fraud Center uses risk management and fraud detection tools to determine the likelihood of card activity being fraudulent. It monitors and scores transactions to identify potential fraudulent activity. The scoring used is based on pre-defined strategies, trends in fraud, cardholder location and cardholder spending patterns. It uses real-time scoring which means that the transaction could be declined at the point of authorization.
If a transition is shown to be potentially fraudulent, the Fraud Center will attempt to validate the transaction with the cardholder by methods of Text, Email, or Phone (Cell/Home). If they are unable to reach the customer, a warm-card block is placed to stop all debit activity and a message is left for the cardholder to contact the Fraud Center at the number provided. Once the transaction has been validated, either by phone or auto resolved by answering the text or email, the card status will return to active.
Debit and Credit Card Fraud
Use these easy tips to help reduce the chance of debit or credit card fraud.
Watched over is more like it. In fact, we’re “watching” your ATM and debit card transactions – day and night – with a high-tech, high-touch monitoring solution that protects your accounts using state-of-the-art intelligence technology and skilled fraud experts. If suspicious transactions are detected, a fraud specialist will attempt to contact you right away. Your card will be disabled immediately if fraud is confirmed, and if you aren’t available, your card will be assigned a special “watch” status until we know all is well.
It’s hard to put a price on peace-of-mind, but luckily you don’t have to. This innovative service is absolutely FREE.
What should I do if I have lost my debit card?
If your ATM or Debit card is lost or stolen, please contact us immediately. To report a lost or stolen ATM or Debit card after business hours, please call (866) 546-8273.
How does debit or credit card fraud occur?
Card fraud is theft and fraud committed using a credit or debit card. The fraudster may use the card to obtain products or services or to withdraw money from your account. Credit and debit card information is most often obtained through phishing and skimming.
Phishing
Phishing is exactly what it sounds like… ‘phishing’ for your information. Phishing typically comes in the form of an email. You open it thinking it’s legitimate business from your bank, or another business, asking for you to enter and verify your debit/credit card number, Social Security Number, or some other confidential information. You click on a link and are then routed to a legitimate looking website to enter your information. These scams can be very clever and realistic. The fraudulent website may even have the same logos and color schemes as the real one they are purporting to be.
Phishing is exactly what it sounds like… ‘phishing’ for your information. Phishing typically comes in the form of an email. You open it thinking it’s legitimate business from your bank, or another business, asking for you to enter and verify your debit/credit card number, Social Security Number, or some other confidential information. You click on a link and are then routed to a legitimate looking website to enter your information. These scams can be very clever and realistic. The fraudulent website may even have the same logos and color schemes as the real one they are purporting to be.
Remember, we will NEVER contact you to ask you for your information – we already have it! Just ignore these emails and contact us if you have questions about any online correspondence.
Skimming
Skimming is done by crooks setting up a device that captures the data on the magnetic strip and keypad information of a debit or credit card. The scammers try to steal your details so they can access your accounts. Once scammers have skimmed your card, they can create a fake or ‘cloned’ card with your details on it. The scammer is then able to run up charges on your account. Card skimming is also a way for scammers to steal your identity and use it to commit identity fraud.
Online Shopping
Pop up ads are not only annoying, but may pose a threat to your bank account. One way fraudsters con you out of cash is immediately after you make an online purchase, a pop-up ad will appear offering you cash-back rewards just by clicking on the ad. Before you know it, you are being charged monthly for a membership service. It can be extremely difficult and time consuming to cancel the membership and receive refunds. Pop up ads may also house spyware or other harmful malware designed to infiltrate or damage your computer.
What can I do to protect myself from card fraud?
- Sign the back of your card as soon as you receive it.
- Get eStatements instead of paper statements to ensure a more secure delivery.
- Review your statements immediately for any activity that you do not recognize.
- Be sure that all websites onto which you put your card information are secure. The URL should start with https; not http.
- Protect your cards like you would cash.
- Shred credit card applications you receive in the mail.
- Keep a record of account numbers, expiration dates, phone numbers and addresses for each card in a secure place.
- Never give your card number over the phone unless you initiated the call and are dealing with a trusted source.
- Do not keep your PIN with your debit card.
- When at an ATM machine, be careful when putting in your PIN number as there may be someone watching you.
- If you are using an ATM, take the time to check that there is nothing suspicious about the machine. If an ATM looks suspicious, do not use it and alert the ATM owner.