Did you know that October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month? Every October this national campaign is designed to increase the public’s awareness of cybersecurity and cyber crime issues. Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. In 2015, there were 13.1 million victims of identity fraud in the U.S., according to Javelin Strategy and Research. To help keep our customers safe and their privacy protected, Astra Bank recommends following these tips to keep your information, and your money, safe.
1. Don’t share your secrets.
Don’t provide your Social Security number or account information to anyone who contacts you online or over the phone.... ever! Protect your PINs and passwords and do not share them with anyone. For secure passwords, use a combination of letters and numbers and change them periodically. Do not reveal sensitive or personal information on social networking sites either.
2. Shred sensitive papers.
Shred receipts, banks statements and unused credit card offers before throwing them away. Every year Astra Bank offers a community shred day where customers can bring in their sensitive documents and we’ll shred them for you!
3. Keep an eye out for missing mail.
Fraudsters look for monthly bank or credit card statements or other mail containing your financial information. Consider enrolling in online banking and sign up for eStatements to reduce the likelihood of paper statements being stolen out of your mailbox. In addition to being more environmentally friendly and faster than paper statements, it’s more secure. Also, don’t mail bills from your own mailbox with the flag up – take your outgoing payments to the post office (or, enroll in automatic payment and save the stamp)!
4. Monitor your credit report.
Order a free copy of your credit report every four months from one of the three credit reporting agencies at annualcreditreport.com. This provides you the ability to check what items show up on your credit history and report any unusual activity immediately.
5. Protect your computer.
Make sure the virus protection software on your computer is active and up to date. When conducting business online, make sure your browser’s padlock or key icon is active. Also look for an “s” after the “http” to be sure the website is secure (like when you visit https://www.astra.bank).
6. Protect your mobile device.
Since these little devices have a lot of sensitive information on them, including access to your contacts, calendar, email accounts and banking information, be sure to use the passcode lock on your smartphone and other mobile devices. This will make it more difficult for thieves to access your information if your device is lost or stolen. Before you donate, sell or trade your mobile device, be sure to wipe it using specialized software or using the manufacturer’s recommended technique. Some software even allows you to wipe your device remotely if it is lost or stolen.
7. Be careful with your downloads
Always use caution when downloading apps for your mobile device and ensure that you only are downloading apps from legitimate sources. It’s also a good idea to be suspicious of any attachment that is sent to you via email that you’re not expecting… even if it comes from someone you know. Malware can take over a friend’s computer and automatically send email messages to their contacts (like YOU), so even though it may look legitimate, be suspicious! These attachments may contain the same malware and you could be helping spread the infection to your connections.
8. Double check your social connections, especially on Facebook
If you’re already friends with someone on Facebook and you get another invitation to be their friend, chances are their account is being impersonated by a fraudster who’s trying to get access to your friend list. Contact the “real” account to let them know and you can even use Facebook’s reporting process to send the impersonated account to them for review.
9. Report any suspected fraud immediately.
If you discover any unusual activity, don’t hesitate to contact the us immediately. Your friendly Astra Bank-er can help with the investigation and reporting process of unusual activity on your account(s) and we’re here to help.
We hope these tips have provided you with some helpful ideas to keep safe and protect yourself from ID theft and online fraud. If you have any questions or need help, just let us know. You can contact us online, call your local office or just stop by for a chat. However you prefer to get in touch, we’re here for you!