Consumer Information
Online Banking Safety Tips
Privacy Policy, please.
Be sure to look over the privacy policy of your financial institution to learn what information the bank keeps about you and what they share with other companies. Since July 2001, all banks must provide one for new members and many banks make their policy available online. Also, you must be given the opportunity to accept or decline the sharing of your information for marketing purposes.
My passwords and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) are mine!
These should be necessary when accessing an account online. Avoid using passwords that are relevant to your personal situation. Change your passwords and PINs frequently, never using birth dates or other numbers or words that may be easy for others to guess. Take advantage of features that allow you to use symbols and combinations of upper and lowercase letters. Do not save them to a computer others might have access to, despite the convenience, because you are unable to know what happens on the computer when you are away from it. Your password(s) or PIN(s) should not be shared with other people.
Something smell phishy?
Scammers have found another way to get valuable information about you. They go "phishing." They create and send mass emails- often addressed to no proper names and appearing to be spam- as if casting bait in order to "hook" consumers into disclosing their credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security numbers, passwords, and other sensitive personal information. Avoid emailing personal and financial information. If you get an unexpected email from a company or government agency asking for your personal information do not respond, and contact the company or agency cited in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or start a new Internet session and type in the Web address that you know is correct. Many scammers have created websites very similar to that of the true company.
Source: FDIC: Tips for safe banking over the Internet
Federal Trade Commission Consumer Alert
Personal Safety at the ATM
- Be aware of your surroundings. If you observe or sense suspicious persons or circumstances, do not use the machine at that time. When using an ATM at night, choose one in a well-lighted area and with no blind spots such as shrubbery. Have someone you know and trust waiting nearby.
- Have your ATM card ready and in your hand as you approach the ATM. Don't wait to get to the ATM and then take your card out of your wallet or purse. When making a deposit, try to prepare it in advance or have your pen.
- Be careful that no one can see you enter your PIN at the ATM. Use your body to "shield" the ATM keyboard as you enter your PIN into the ATM. Your PIN should not be written on your card or carried around with you.
- To keep your account information confidential, always take your receipts or transaction records with you, and review them after leaving the ATM.
- Do not count or visually display any money you received from the ATM. Immediately put your money into your pocket or purse and count it later.
- If you are using a drive-up ATM, make sure passenger windows are rolled up and all doors are locked. If you leave your car and walk to the ATM, lock your car.
- Report a lost or stolen card at once. If the ATM ate your card do not push any more keys, and return to the bank or contact the ATM owner as soon as possible.
Source: American Bankers Association (ABA) Education Foundation: Consumer Connection
