Online Security

Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes. You can help protect yourself by following a few important steps:

• Never give your personal information over the phone, through the mail, or over the internet unless you initiated the contact.
• Change passwords often and always choose strong passwords with at least 12 characters, including numbers and symbols.
• Use different username and password combinations on different websites, especially for financial accounts.
• If unsure about a contact, verify it by visiting the company's website directly or contacting them through official channels.
• Memorize your Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and keep them secure.
• Make online purchases only from credible stores and monitor your account for any suspicious activity.
• Review account statements regularly and report any discrepancies immediately. Use online banking to monitor activity.
• Review your credit report annually.
• Shred all personal financial documents before disposing of them.
• Keep your Social Security card in a safe place and only share the number when necessary.
• Never leave your laptop, tablet, or cell phone unattended and use passwords for startup on all devices.
• Encrypt sensitive data on your devices to prevent data theft if the device is lost or stolen.

Phishing and impersonation scams can occur over the phone, text, email, paper, or face-to-face. Stay aware of the types of scams and keep personal information private:

• Account Takeover: Criminals gain control of a victim's bank account by stealing online banking credentials, often through malware.
• Baiting: Using something of value to entice a victim to click a web link, which may then infect the user’s system with malware.
• Email Account Takeover: Scammers hack into and take over email accounts. Confirm suspicious emails through different communication forms.
• Fake Checks: Scammers send fraudulent checks and request the victim to send them a check for the difference. Funds availability does not mean the check has cleared.
• Fraudulent Emails: Emails that look like they are from known contacts but are actually from fake contacts or compromised accounts.
• Malware: Malicious software like viruses, spyware, and Trojans, intended to steal personal information or access systems.
• Phishing: Emails that direct users to click a web link to deceive them into submitting login credentials or other personal information.
• SMSishing: Scammers use texting to falsely request private information for identity theft.
• Spam: Junk mail that can deliver malware, phishing, or other threats.
• Spoofing: False information to look like something else (e.g., caller ID spoofing or misleading web links).
• Vishing: Scammers use false identities over the phone to obtain private information for identity theft.

Trending scams include new and evolving methods that criminals use to defraud individuals:

• ATM Skimming: Devices on ATMs capture data from the card's magnetic stripe. Check for tampering of the machine and cover the PIN-pad when entering your PIN.
• Common Scams: Work-at-home scams, sudden riches, rental schemes, overpayments, romance scams, scammers pretending to be distressed family members, and foreign business offers.
• Do not let pressure from a scammer influence you into making a hasty decision.

Types of Check Fraud:

• Counterfeit Checks: Fake checks created to look like legitimate ones.
• Altered Checks: Legitimate checks that have been tampered with to change details like the payee or amount.
• Check Kiting: Writing a check from one bank account and depositing it into another without sufficient funds in either account.
• Forged Checks: Checks signed without the account holder's authorization.
• Stolen Checks: Intercepting checks in transit or from the victim's possession and using them fraudulently.

Common Scams Involving Check Fraud:

• Overpayment Scams: Scammers send a check for more than the amount due and ask the victim to send back the difference.
• Employment Scams: Victims are sent fake checks as payment for a job and asked to send money back for various fees.
• Lottery or Prize Scams: Victims are told they have won a lottery or prize but need to send money to cover taxes or fees using a check.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Verify Check Authenticity: Always verify the legitimacy of checks you receive by contacting the issuing bank.
• Be Cautious with Overpayments: Avoid transactions where someone overpays and requests a refund of the difference.
• Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check your bank statements and online banking accounts for unauthorized transactions.
• Secure Your Checks: Keep your checkbook in a safe place and report lost or stolen checks immediately.
• Use Positive Pay: Businesses should use Positive Pay services where available to detect and prevent check fraud.

Scams targeting seniors can be particularly devastating. Here are some tips to stay safe:

• Be skeptical of unsolicited calls, emails, or offers that seem too good to be true.
• Verify all requests for personal information with trusted family members or friends before taking any action.
• Regularly review your bank statements and credit report for unusual activity.
• Keep personal information secure and never share it over the phone or online unless you are certain of the recipient's identity.

At The Equitable Bank, we use advanced security measures to protect your accounts and personal information. Here’s how we do it:

• Fraud detection systems that monitor and analyze account activity for suspicious behavior.
• Secure online and mobile banking platforms with multi-factor authentication.
• Real-time alerts for unusual activity on your accounts.
• Secure person-to-person transfers with Zelle.
• Debit Card Control: Additional security measures to require approval and the ability to turn on or off a debit card.

• Keep records of fraudulent transactions.
• Notify creditors and financial institutions in writing and by phone.
• Report the crime to your local police and the Federal Trade Commission.
• Contact the credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report; Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.
• For further assistance, please contact us at (414) 475-1690.