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Fraud Protection Center |
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Great Internet Habits
Although 100% prevention is impossible, there are some logical precautionary measures that you can take to reduce the potential of being conned by phishing scams.
Type important web URLs
Access your Internet banking or other important URL by typing the address into your browser. If you are unsure of what the correct URL is, contact your bank by phone. Do not use URLs from emails claiming to be from your bank.
Don't reply to phishing emails
Scammers 'phish' for your personal information in a variety of ways. Most commonly, this is done through fraudulent emails claiming to be from your bank or other institution. The emails will often ask you to confirm personal details that the requesting institution should already possess.
Never respond to emails that ask for personal information. Banks and other organizations that hold your personal information will never send an email asking you to verify personal information. When in doubt, always check with the organization via contact details they have given you previously, not the contact details within the email.
Never click on links within emails
The "real" URLs in links within fraud emails are often hidden or disguised. The text you see as a link may not be where the link takes you. If you are unsure of the source of the email, you should not click on links within emails that appear to be from a legitimate company. Instead, directly type the URL in your browser address bar, or call the company on a contact number previously verified or known to be genuine.
Look for "https" and a padlock icon for sites that requests personal information
Information entered on a web site can be intercepted by a third party. Secure web sites (web sites that properly use the https protocol) are protected against this possibility. When submitting sensitive financial and personal information on the Internet, look for the locked padlock on your browser's status bar or the "https://" at the start of the URL in the address bar.
Note: The padlock and HTTPS do not guarantee that a site is legitimate or secure. However, the absence of these features indicates that the web site is definitely not secure.
Check your bills and records
Each month, closely inspect your credit card bills, banking receipts, and other financial records for unusual items or purchases.
Check your credit report
If you have responded to a fraudulent email, you may be at risk of identity theft. A virus could have been implanted within the email, which may find and pass on sensitive personal information about you.
Check your credit report. If you suspect identity theft, subscribe to a credit-report monitoring service; you will be alerted if your personal information is used fraudulently. See If you are a victim of identity theft.
Seek Advice
If unsure as to the legitimacy of an email, seek advice from the legitimate corporation using verified contact details--don't use any contact information in the suspected email. For other potentially fraudulent emails, delete the email, or forward the message to a fraud protection service that investigates such incidents.