How to Protect Yourself

Follow these tips to protect your identity from being stolen online.

1. Learn about fraudulent email and identity theft schemes such as phishing, vishing and smishing. These scams target our credit union members and non-members alike.
2. Never send credit card numbers, account numbers, PIN codes, social security numbers or any other personal information that you do not want publicly exposed in an email. Any information sent in an email should never be considered secure. (We will never ask for this information on an unsolicited basis. We offer secure messaging for our Digital Banking members that wish to contact us electronically and provide this information to us in a secure manner.)
3. Be highly suspicious when prompted to provide personal financial information over the phone. Hang up immediately and contact us directly by visiting our website and selecting "Contact Us"
4. Minimize the number of different computers you use for Digital Banking. Avoid the use of public computers, such as those at an airport kiosk or internet café, whenever possible. If you must use a public computer, always log out and close your browser when you are finished. Be sure that you are discreet when typing usernames and passwords to prevent scam artists from obtaining that information by simply observing you.
5. Be wary of clicking on a link in an email to our website (or any website). We recommend typing our credit union's URL (or the appropriate website address) directly into the address bar of your browser or use a bookmark to visit our website. Before you click on a link in an email, you should verify that it is legitimate by hovering your mouse over it to display the URL. Delete emails which are from unknown senders, or that have nonsensical information or spelling errors; they are likely fraudulent. Emails with an official-looking logo should not be considered safe.
6. We recommend that you use the most current version of your browser and enable ad-blockers as an added layer of security. Also, install and update your anti-virus, enable your computer's firewall, and keep your software updated for maximum protection.
7. Switch to eStatements to lower your risks of identity theft and mail fraud.
8. Sign up for free Bill Pay to pay your bills automatically and securely.
9. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication whenever possible, this will help deter unauthorized users from logging in using your credentials.
10. Limit the information you share on social networking websites. Many settings do not allow full privacy, and identity thieves can gain access to your personal information, and even know when you are away from your home for extended periods of time.
11. Set strong passwords, and never use the same one to access all your personal accounts. Use a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters for maximum security. Do not write your password down and never share it with anyone. Use a password manager to securely store and manage your passwords, many are free and are more secure than storing your passwords elsewhere. Use a complex passphrase or a randomly generated complex password for particularly sensitive sites, such as for online banking. Do not use the "auto-complete" option on your computer which will autofill your password. While this is convenient, it defeats the point of a user-specific password.
12. Regularly delete temporary files and folders on your computer. Ensure you are deleting "cookies,” which may be used to track your online activity, including sites accessed and passwords used.
13. Utilize your card’s contactless payment or EMV chip when paying at a point-of-sale terminal, this will minimize the risk of your card information being stolen by a skimmer.
14. Be cautious when online shopping. Technology can encrypt sensitive information, such as your credit card number, so that it can be read only by the merchant you are dealing with and your credit card issuer. This ensures that your payment information cannot be read by anyone else or changed along the way. There are several ways to determine if you have that protection when you are sending payment information on the web. Look for a picture of an unbroken key or closed lock in your browser window. Either one indicates that security is enforced. A broken key or an open lock with a “Not Secure” warning indicates it is not. Ensure the web address on the page asking for your credit card information begins with "https:" instead of "http:" Some websites use the words "Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)" or a popup box that confirms that you are entering a secure area.
15. While the previous tips apply to consumers, businesses and commercial banking members should be aware of them as well. Commercial banking members should also perform an online risk assessment and controls evaluation periodically to ensure the security of their online banking credentials and other sensitive information.
16. Commercial banking members are also encouraged to password-protect any computers that may contain member or business information. Ensure only trusted individuals and staff can gain access to the data.

Contact us immediately at (800) 334-8788 if you believe you may have been a victim of fraud.