Protecting your privacy, security and personal information is our top priority. We understand the importance of security when managing your finances online. We use advanced security methods to ensure your personal and account information is safe and secure. Click Here to see current Fraud Alerts.

Below are tips to keep you safe from many common Internet security risks.

Identity Theft
It’s important to protect your personal information, and to take certain steps quickly to minimize the potential damage from identity theft if your information is accidentally disclosed or deliberately stolen:

*Close compromised credit card accounts immediately.

*If someone steals your social security number (SSN), contact one of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion — and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports.

*Monitor your credit report. Keep in mind that fraudulent activity may not show up right away.

*Consult with your financial institution about handling the effects on bank or brokerage accounts.

*Contact relevant government agencies to cancel and replace any stolen drivers licenses or other identification documents, and to “flag” your file.

*Watch for signs of identity theft: late or missing bills, receiving credit cards that you didn’t apply for, being denied credit or offered less favorable terms for no apparent reason, or getting contacted by debt collectors or others about purchases you didn’t make.

More at www.onguardonline.gov/idtheft.html
(Source: onguardonline.gov)

Spyware
Spyware is software installed on your computer without your consent to monitor or control your computer use. Clues that spyware is on a computer include a barrage of pop-up ads, a browser that takes you to sites you don't want, unexpected toolbars or icons on your computer screen, keys that don't work, random error messages, and sluggish performance when opening programs or saving files. To lower your risk of spyware infections:

*Update your operating system and Web browser software, and set your browser security high enough to detect unauthorized downloads.

*Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, as well as a firewall, and update them all regularly.

*Download free software only from sites you know and trust. Enticing free software downloads frequently bundle other software, including spyware.

*Don't click on links inside pop-up windows.

*Don't click on links in spam that claim to offer anti-spyware software; you may unintentionally be installing spyware.

More at www.onguardonline.gov/spyware.html (Source: onguardonline.gov)

Phising
Phishing is a scam where Internet fraudsters send spam or pop-up messages to lure personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims. To avoid getting hooked:

*Don't reply to email or pop-up messages that ask for personal or financial information, and don't click on links in the message. Don't cut and paste a link from the message into your Web browser — phishers can make links look like they go one place, but that actually send you to a different site.

*Some scammers send an email that appears to be from a legitimate business and ask you to call a phone number to update your account or access a "refund." Because they use Voice Over Internet Protocol technology, the area code you call does not reflect where the scammers really are. If you need to reach an organization you do business with, call the number on your financial statements or on the back of your credit card, or type in the web address yourself.

*Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, as well as a firewall, and update them all regularly.

*Don't email personal or financial information.

*Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to check for unauthorized charges.

*Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them.

*Forward spam that is phishing for information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email. You also may report phishing email to reportphishing@antiphishing.org. The Anti-Phishing Working Group, a consortium of ISPs, security vendors, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, uses these reports to fight phishing.

*If you've been scammed, visit the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft website at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

More at www.onguardonline.gov/phishing.html
(Source: onguardonline.gov)

Pharming
Pharming refers to the redirection of an individual to an illegitimate Web site through technical means. For example, an Internet banking customer, who routinely logs in to his online banking Web site, may be redirected to an illegitimate Web instead of accessing his or her bank’s Web site. Pharming can occur in four different ways:

*Static domain name spoofing: The “pharmer” (the person or entity committing the fraud) attempts to take advantage of slight misspellings in domain names to trick users into inadvertently visiting the pharmer’s Web site. For example, a pharmer may redirect a user to anybnk.com instead of anybank.com, the site the user intended to access.

*Malicious software (Malware): Viruses and “Trojans” (latent malicious code or devices that secretly capture data) on a consumer’s personal computer may intercept the user’s request to visit a particular site, such as anybank.com, and redirect the user to the site that the pharmer has set up.

*Domain hijacking: A hacker may steal or hijack a company’s legitimate Web site, allowing the hacker to redirect all legitimate Internet traffic to an illegitimate site. Domain names generally can be hijacked in two ways: (1) Domain slamming: By submitting domain transfer requests, a domain is switched from one registrar to another. The account holder at the new registrar can alter routing instructions to point to a different, illegitimate server. (2) Domain expiration: Domain names are leased for fixed periods. Failure to manage the leasing process properly could result in a legitimate ownership transfer. In this instance, trade name laws usually must be invoked to recover lost domains.

*DNS poisoning: The most dangerous instance of pharming may be domain name server (DNS) poisoning. Domain name servers are similar to Internet road map guides. When an individual enters www.anybank.com into his or her browser, Domain Name Servers on the Internet translate the phrase anybank.com into an Internet protocol (IP) address, which provides routing directions. After the DNS server provides this address information, the user’s connection request is routed to anybank.com. Local DNS servers can be “poisoned” to send users to a Web site other than the one that was requested. This poisoning can occur as a result of misconfiguration, network vulnerabilities or Malware installed on the server. There are 13 root DNS servers for the entire Internet, which are closely protected and controlled. Most requests are directed by the local DNS server before they reach a root DNS server. However, if a hacker were to penetrate one or more of these root servers, the Internet could be severely compromised.
(Source: fdic.gov)

Cross-Border Scams
If you are using the Internet:

*Know who you're dealing with. In any electronic transaction, independently confirm the other party's name, street address, and telephone number.

*Resist the urge to enter foreign lotteries. These solicitations are phony and illegal.

*Delete requests that claim to be from foreign nationals asking you to help transfer their money through your bank account. They're fraudulent.

*Ignore unsolicited emails that request your money, credit card or account numbers, or other personal information.

*If you are selling something over the Internet, don't accept a potential buyer's offer to send you a check for more than the purchase price, no matter how tempting the plea or convincing the story. End the transaction immediately if someone insists that you wire back funds.

More at www.onguardonline.gov/crossborder.html
(Source: onguardonline.gov)

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