January 25, 2022

How to Protect Yourself from Fraud

Follow these steps to avoid and prevent financial fraud.

Discovering fraudulent activity on your account can be a frustrating experience. While you can’t always stop fraud from occurring, there are steps you can take to minimize it. Here are some helpful tips to help protect yourself from financial fraud:

Stay alert while online.

When you’re online, be on the look out for scams. It’s important to acknowledge that scams do exist no matter how legitimate a person, company or product may seem. When shopping and making online purchases, be sure to confirm its reliability by conducting some quick research. Sometimes, scammers will create websites that replicate reliable ones. Be sure to check that your website has the correct URL and a padlock icon next to the site URL before entering in all your personal details.

Upgrade your password protection.

When it comes to passwords, make sure to choose them strategically. It’s common for people to reuse the same password on multiple accounts. Doing this heavily increases your chances of fraud. Make sure to regularly update or change your account passwords and always use password protection. Also, never share your passwords with anyone (even remotely) and try to avoid using public Wi-Fi when accessing any personal information or online banking accounts.

Review your privacy and security settings on social media.

Another good way to protect yourself from fraud is to check your social media account settings regularly. Scammers and hackers can gain access to your accounts without your permission or knowledge through data leaks. By monitoring your account closely, you’ll be able to review and remove any unwanted account log-ins. Consider making your social media accounts private as an added precaution.

Secure your personal details.

When it comes to your personal details, it’s important to keep everything secure. Any unnecessary banking records, deposit slips, statements, or account information you may have laying around should be either kept in a safe location or shredded. Consider purchasing a locking mailbox to ensure that your mailing documents remain sealed. When online, never share your personal information or passwords unless it is through a secure site. It’s crucial to keep your financial information private in person and online.

At Citizens First Bank, we are committed to protecting your finances. If you ever find fraudulent activity on your account, feel free to stop into your local branch or give us a call. Have questions about banking security? Feel free to stop in or give us a call today.