Online banking enables you to conveniently access your financial information, better organize your financial records, and manage banking activity anytime, anywhere. However, with increased online access, comes the increased risk of internet fraud and cybercrimes.

Cyber criminals use the internet to defraud consumers in a variety of clever ways. By simply performing an action such as opening an email attachment, accepting a fake friend request on a social networking site, or visiting a compromised (e.g. infected) website, you could be opening yourself and your computer equipment up for cybercrime.

Cyber criminals are targeting individuals who are not cyber “savvy,” and computers that are not adequately protected.

Having protection software is only half of the equation. Understanding what potentially risky actions you or your family may be engaging in will also give you an added layer of security to help you avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime.

The best practices developed in this handout are intended to raise consumer awareness of ways to better manage today’s online risks:

• Protect
• Detect
• Educate

Protect

Don’t Click the Link – The threat of cybercrime most often begins with “phishing” – a cybercrime in which a target is contacted by email, telephone or text message by someone posing as a legitimate institution to lure individuals into providing sensitive data such as personally identifiable information (e.g. name, social security number, date of birth, mother’s maiden name), banking and credit card details, and passwords.

Cyber criminals attempt to infect your computer with “malware”, which is short for malicious software.
Malware includes viruses, spyware and key loggers that get inadvertently loaded on your computer, allowing the criminals to monitor, control and track your online movements, steal your passwords and compromise your accounts. Be extremely cautious when clicking a link unless you know who sent it and what it is. When in doubt, throw it out!

Links in email, tweets, posts, and online advertising can send you to sites that masquerade as your favorite sites, or appealing new sites, but may automatically download malware without your knowledge.

Opening attachments, even those that appear to come from a friend or co–worker, can install malware on your computer.

Type a site’s URL directly into your browser. Check for indicators that the pages are secure, such as a padlock symbol at the bottom of the page and a URL that begins with “https” instead of “http.” Look for clues that would identify the site as fake such as misspellings and incorrect information.

Change your Passwords
Create strong passwords, not something that is easily guessed. Try using a sentence with punctuation, special characters or a mix of letters and numbers.

• Don’t use the same password for all your online accounts.
• Change your passwords often.
• When you are signing into a webpage and given the option to save your password, select “No”.
• Consider using a password manager. These services can help protect you from  cybercrime by generating and storing a different password – one that’s long and complex – for each of your online accounts.
• Considering using a reputable website/resource that allow users to check if their personal data has been compromised by data breaches.

Session Log-off – Always log off from your online banking session before exiting. Simply clicking “X” or closing a window does not mean you logged off. Shut off your computer or disconnect from the internet when not in use.

Arm your Computer with a Security Toolkit – A security toolkit includes anti–virus and virus detection
software, personal firewalls, and adware/spyware blocking software.

Update your toolkit frequently:

• Install security patches issued by your software vendor (e.g. Norton, Microsoft, etc.)
• Update firewall, operating systems, and browser software issued by your vendor (e.g. Windows, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.)
• Lock it up – Do not share your secure User ID and password. Should you have a problem with your ACCOUNTable Card online banking account, ACCOUNTable Card will ask for your User ID when you initiate a call, but ACCOUNTable Card will never ask for your password.

Make sure all of your authorized joint account holders who access online banking know the assigned User ID, password, and answers to the authentication questions.

Several wrong attempts will result in automatically locking your access. If this happens, you must call ACCOUNTable Card’s Web Banking department at 888.444.9876 to restore access for all users.
This procedure is in place for your protection.

Be Social Media Conscious – Consider blocking sites that may be contributing to your risk of cybercrime.
Clicking pop–ups, downloading “free” games or programs, and clicking on information found on social networking sites, blogs, and instant messenger may install malware or spyware.

Detect

Monitor and Reconcile Your Accounts Regularly – Reviewing accounts regularly enhances the ability to quickly detect unauthorized activity. The quicker this activity is detected, the sooner you can take action to prevent or minimize losses.

If you detect suspicious activity:

• Immediately cease all online activity and disconnect the ethernet cable and/or wireless connections.
• Immediately call ACCOUNTable Card at 888.444.9876.
• Be wary of cybercriminals attempting to redirect you to non–ACCOUNTable Card phone numbers.

Note any changes in the performance of your computer(s)

• Significant loss of speed, malfunction, or repeated error messages.
• Computer locks up so the user is unable to perform any functions.
• Unexpected rebooting, restarting, or the inability to shut down.
• Numerous pop–up ads or ads that display when you’re not surfing the web.

Educate

Ask Questions – If you feel your online account or personal computer has been compromised, contact ACCOUNTable Card at 888.444.9876 or send an email to ACCOUNTable Card from your Web Banking home page.

ACCOUNTable! Card Bank site – ACCOUNTable! Card offers resources to help educate you and to help you avoid becoming a victim of fraud:

• ACCOUNTable Card Fraud Center
• ACCOUNTable Card Cyber Security & Fraud Education

Be Cyber–street savvy – Just as you would not share your financial information with a stranger who came knocking at your door, you should not give out personal information online unless you’ve initiated the transaction. Be wary of communications that implore you to act immediately, offer something that sounds too good to be true, or ask for personal information such as Social Security numbers or account numbers.

Be on cyber patrol – Keep your home computer in a central and open location so you can physically monitor your children while they are online. Also, remember that young people have many options to connect to the internet beyond a home computer, via phones, tablets, gaming systems, and TVs. Although these are separate physical systems, malware, viruses, and spyware can be transmitted to your home computer through these devices. Be aware of all the devices your children are using and be sure they know how to use them safely and responsibly.

If you have wireless access to the internet, use the appropriate controls to ensure neighbors or others cannot connect through your wireless access point.

Consider separate accounts on your computer. Most operating systems allow you to create a different account for each user. Separate accounts can lessen the chance that your child might accidentally access, modify, change settings, and/or delete your files. You can set up certain privileges – actions that can and can’t be done – for each account.

Keep informed – The online world is ever–changing. New services with great features continually emerge.
The internet has brought the world to your living room, 24/7. While there are endless opportunities with online access, cyber criminals are also working hard thinking up creative ways to compromise your personal information. Keep pace with new ways to stay safe online. Knowledge is power!

Cyber Resource Links
Stay informed about current consumer alerts and additional ways to stay safe online by having these online resource links saved in your browser favorites.

Please provide the information in below sections where applicable. Use a separate form or additional pages to document each dispute.

If you have any questions, please call the number printed at the back of your Card.

If this form is received within 10 business days from the date of your initial call, and the investigation is not complete, a provisional credit will be issued to your Card account on the 10th business day.

We will complete our investigation within 45 days, unless the alleged error involves a foreign transaction or a point-of-sale transaction, in which case the investigation may take up to 90 days.