blog

Check Security

Check Security: 10 Things You Should Do

1. Guard your checkbook and checks.

2. Never give your account and routing numbers to people you do not know, especially to anyone over the telephone even if the individual represents him or herself as a bank employee.

3. Guard your deposit slips. Never use your deposit slip for "scrap" paper and then give it to someone.

4. Properly store or dispose of canceled checks.

5. If your checkbook is lost or stolen, immediately inform us.

6. When traveling for a period of time, it is wise to leave your checkbook at home, locked away, and purchase a travel card or use your ATM/CheckCard.

7. Write your checks using ink pens...never pencil.

8. Write the payee name and the dollar amount in both numbers and letters, as far to the left in the allotted space and draw a line through the unused space to the right of the letters and numbers to prevent additions.

9. When writing the payee name on the "Pay to the Order of" line, make sure the name is spelled out so it cannot be altered.

10. Promptly balance or reconcile your checkbook register with your monthly bank statements.

ATM Security

ATM Security: 10 Things You Should Do

1. If possible, avoid using ATMs during hours of darkness. If you must do so, try to have another person accompany you.

2. If an ATM facility must be used at night, try to select one in an area that is well lighted.

3. When possible, try to choose an ATM that has limited foliage and is well trafficked.

4. Thoroughly observe the area around the ATM.

5. Be cautious of anyone who engages you in conversation as you approach the ATM, while you are using it or immediately thereafter.

6. Be suspicious of anyone who closely observes you while you are using the ATM: Protect your PIN from view.

7. Spend as little time at the ATM as possible.

8. Don't count or needlessly expose cash at the ATM.

9. Don't leave your receipt at the ATM.

10. Don't reveal your PIN to anyone in person or over the telephone for any reason, even if the individual represents him or herself as a bank employee.

Definitions of Mishing Vishing and Phishing

Mishing

'Mishing' is a combination of the words mobile phone and phishing. Mishing is very similar to phishing the only difference is the technology. Phishing involves the use of emails to trick you into providing your personal details, whereas mishing involves mobile phones. If you use your mobile phone for purchasing goods and services and convenient banking, you could be more vulnerable to a mishing scam.

A typical mishing call or message involves a scammer, posing as an employee from your bank or another organization, claiming to need your personal details.

Scammers are very creative and they could tell you many different reasons why they need this information from you perhaps to verify your account or maybe to authorize a purchase you have made on your mobile.

Vishing

'Vishing' is a combination of the words voice and phishing. Vishing is very similar to phishing the only difference is the technology. Phishing involves the use of emails to trick you into providing your personal details whereas vishing involves voice or telephone services. If you use a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service, you are particularly vulnerable to a vishing scam.

A typical vishing call involves a scammer, posing as an employee from your bank or another organization, claiming to need your personal details.

Scammers are very creative and they could tell you many different reasons why they need this information from you. Do not assume you won't be a target of a vishing scam.

Regardless of the story you are told, the scammer will be aiming to convince you to divulge confidential personal and banking information, such as your PIN or password. Even if you use your telephone keypad or keyboard to type in your details, if you are on the line to a scammer, the scammer can record them.

In the majority of both of these scams, the telephone calls will be automated, if the call is not answered a message will be left on the telephone asking them to call back and provide the information.

Phishing

'Phishing' refers to emails, sent to you by scammers, which are designed to trick you into providing your personal and banking information.

Typically, scammers will send phishing emails which often appear to be from your bank, a government organization, a company or other financial institutions urging you to click on a link to update your personal profile or 'validate' or 'confirm' your personal details.

By clicking on the link in the email, you will be taken to a fake website designed to look like the real thing and prompted to enter your password, PIN and other personal information. Any details you enter are recorded by the scammer.

Some phishing emails contain spelling mistakes or other errors that may alert you to the scam, but other messages look so genuine that you could be fooled if you are not careful. Scammers are creative and manipulative. They can easily copy an institution's logo and message format to make their email look genuine. It will also be easy for them to set up a fake website.

Page 2 of 2