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CUSTOMER ALERT
CUSTOMER ALERT
Stay Alert – Prevent Theft From Your Bank Account
There have been dramatic increases in account takeover fraud and new account fraud in the last couple of years. Why? Chip technology has made it more difficult to make counterfeit credit cards, so criminals will “steal the person,” meaning their identity, “instead of the card.” They’ll then use that identity theft to, among other crimes, access or open bank accounts and steal money.
Although banks have high-level cybersecurity systems, there’s not much they can do to stop a criminal who is able to assume your identity from accessing your account. That’s why it’s vitally important for you, as a banking customer, to take security precautions including these:
There have been dramatic increases in account takeover fraud and new account fraud in the last couple of years. Why? Chip technology has made it more difficult to make counterfeit credit cards, so criminals will “steal the person,” meaning their identity, “instead of the card.” They’ll then use that identity theft to, among other crimes, access or open bank accounts and steal money.
Although banks have high-level cybersecurity systems, there’s not much they can do to stop a criminal who is able to assume your identity from accessing your account. That’s why it’s vitally important for you, as a banking customer, to take security precautions including these:
- Never reuse passwords. You should have a different password for all your online accounts. Websites are frequently hacked, compromising sometimes millions of passwords. Once stolen, usernames and passwords are often sold on underground markets to cybercriminals, who can then test them on bank login pages. You’re more vulnerable to identity theft if you use the same or similar passwords in many places.
- Set up multifactor authentication (MFA) on your accounts. Banks increasingly use MFA to add an extra layer of security. You’ll log in using your username and password, then be prompted for some second stage of verification, such as a one-time code sent by text.
- Check your accounts frequently. If you notice any irregular charges or activity, call your bank. Keep an eye out for very small transactions, since criminals will often test to see if a transaction of a few dollars goes through before stealing larger amounts.
- Check your credit score several times a year. That way you’ll see if someone has used your personal information to take out a loan or credit card in your name.
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December Tech Tip: Cleaning & Caring for Your Devices
December Tech Tip: Cleaning & Caring for Your Devices
In a time of heightened awareness for germs, our phones, tablets, and laptops are often overlooked when cleaning and disinfecting. Screens are very dirty surfaces but require extra caution when cleaning. Do not use harsh chemicals like bleach when wiping your screen, but rather a damp cloth with mild soap. Special screen cleaning sprays and cloths are also good options for cleaning screens.
It’s also good to periodically clean out your laptop battery, fan, and wireless router. These elements are great at collecting and trapping dust that can hinder performance over time. Opening the side panel or removing the battery and spraying with a can of compressed air will reduce the risk of the device overheating or malfunctioning.
While you have the can of compressed air out, spray a few puffs into your USB ports and in the grooves of the keyboard to ensure dust and debris aren’t building up and limiting functions. Ports such as USB, headphone, and charging should never have cotton swabs inserted inside of them. The cotton end on a cotton swab can get stuck inside these small ports and cause damage to your device. If necessary, use a toothpick or something with a sharp end if you need to dislodge something inside one of these ports. Dust and lint building up in the charging port can sometimes prevent your phone from getting a good connection, resulting in poor battery life.
Some other general care and maintenance tips for your devices include using a carrying case for laptops and cell phones and reducing exposure to extreme temperatures for all device types. Thermal cycling is one major cause of premature hardware failure. Thus, reducing the number of times your device is exposed to extreme heat or cold will extend the life of your device. Further, if your device is left in extreme temperatures, it is best to allow it to slowly return to room temperature before powering on to reduce the effects of thermal cycling.
