Security

Cybersecurity Tips

8 Tips for Banking Online Safely

1. Monitor your accounts regularly.
   Make sure that all transactions posted are ones you have authorized. Report any suspected fraudulent or suspicious activity to your bank immediately.
2. Look out for strange emails!
   Don’t respond to emails that claim to be from your bank (or any other company) requesting your account details or passwords. Banks will not reach out to you over email to ask for your account details.
3. Avoid clicking links in emails.
   It is usually much safer to log in to your bank website manually to ensure you are entering a secure site.
4. Change your bank passwords regularly.
   Avoid using the same password across multiple sites and make sure you are choosing a strong password that is a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. Avoid using any words or phrases that contain your name, initials or your birthdate.
5. Enable two-factor authentication.
   Many financial institutions have added a layer of security for account holders. Two-factor authentication requires you to enter an extra verification credential before you can access your account.
6. Disable automatic login.
   Do not allow your web browser to store private username and password information for your online banking websites.
7. When available, only use your bank's official mobile apps.
   And make sure you download apps from reputable sources such as the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
8. Not sure if something is legitimate?
   Do you have questions about your bank’s technology? Call them—they will be happy to help!

8 Tips To Be More Cybersecure

1. Email Fraud
   If it seems too good to be true, it is probably fraud. Don’t believe that lottery awards staff or princes from a foreign country will contact you by email!
2. Fraudulent Payments
   Be on guard against fraudulent checks, cashier’s checks, money orders or electronic fund transfers sent with a request for you to wire back part of the money.
3. Unsolicited Offers
   Be wary of unsolicited offers that require you to “ACT FAST.”
4. Stay Up-To-Date
   Make sure your device is up-to-date with the latest security updates for your operating system — Windows, Apple IOS, mobile phone IOS (Apple, Android, etc).
5. Warnings and Errors
   Do not trust websites with certificate warnings or errors.
6. Beware of Email Attachments
   It’s never a good idea to click on an email attachment or free software from unknown sources. You could end up exposing your system to online fraud and theft.
7. Sharing Online
   Watch how much you share online. The more you post about yourself on social networking sites, the easier it may be for someone to use that information to access your accounts, steal your identity and more. Protect your personal information by maximizing your privacy settings.
8. Financial Scams
   Be aware of disaster-related financial scams. Con artists take advantage of people after catastrophic events by claiming to be from legitimate charitable organizations when, in fact, they are attempting to steal money or valuable personal information.

Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity thieves may rent an apartment, obtain a credit card, or establish a telephone account in your name. If identity theft is not resolved quickly, some victims may lose substantial sums of money and time trying to clear their name. Identity theft can severely damage a victim’s credit report, along with their ability to obtain loans, buy a home or car, and even get a job. In rare cases, a victim may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit.

Protect Your Information

We advise all of our customer take these steps to protect their information:

• Secure your Social Security card in a protected location like a safety deposit box. Don’t carry your card in your wallet.
• Shred receipts, credit offers, account statements, and expired credit cards to prevent “dumpster divers” from getting your personal information.
• Use extreme caution when sharing personal information (birthdate, Social Security number, or bank account number). Ask the requestor why they need that information and how they’ll protect it.
• Collect mail every day. Place a hold on your mail when you’re away from home for several days.
• Pay attention to your billing cycles. If bills or financial statements are late, contact the sender; a bill or statement that didn’t arrive may have been stolen for the financial details it contains.
• Review your credit card and bank account statements. Compare receipts with account statements. Watch for unauthorized transactions.
• Review your credit reports once a year to ensure they don't include accounts you didn’t open.
• Use the security features on your mobile phone.
• Update sharing and firewall settings when you're on a public wi-fi network. Use a virtual private network if you use public wi-fi.
• Install firewalls and virus-detection software on your home computer.
• Create complex passwords that identity thieves cannot guess. Change your passwords if a company that you do business with has a breach of its databases.

If You Think Your Identity Has Been Stolen

If you see potentially fraudulent activity on any account or credit card and think your identity has been stolen, immediately:

• Contact us so we can freeze your accounts.
• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review them for any unauthorized activity.
• Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
• File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission online or at at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

Other Resources

Find other tools and advice at https://staysafeonline.org or https://www.ftc.gov.

Travel Security

Notify us before you travel abroad so we know you’ll be using your debit or First National Bank of East Texas credit cards outside of the U.S. Because we have stringent fraud protection services, we may deny purchases you make outside the U.S. if we have not been informed.

Debit Card Security

The convenience of a debit card is unmatched. However, because these cards give instant access to your money, they can also be susceptible to abuse or theft.

• Make it a habit to review your bank account online at least once a week, or even daily.
• Protect your personal identification number (PIN). Don’t give your PIN to anyone and don’t keep it written down anywhere in your purse or wallet.
• Don’t use your PIN at the gas pump; use your card in the credit purchase function to avoid someone seeing it.
• Some consumers choose to use only credit cards online, because a fraudulent credit card transaction takes more time to process and can become an item of dispute rather than an instant removal of cash from your account.
• Check for a security symbol such as an unbroken key or a padlock on each website before you order anything online. These symbols indicate that your information will be encrypted and is therefore safer. Also, make sure the website address begins with https://. Do not make a financial transaction on a site that doesn’t have the “s” following http, an indication of a higher level of security.
• Only use ATMs at a bank. ATMs located in convenience stores, subway stations, airports, and other places have a greater risk of having a “skimming” device, which thieves use to intercept and store your debit card data.
• Don’t use public wireless access for financial transactions. Always use a password-protected wireless signal to check your bank account balance, pay bills, or shop so that hackers have less chance to capture your password and account information.
• Report unauthorized transactions immediately.

Mobile Device Security

While your mobile device provides convenient access to your email, bank, and social media accounts, it can also potentially provide the same convenient access for criminals. We recommend following these tips to keep your information and your money safe.

• Use the passcode lock on your smartphone and other devices to make it more difficult for thieves to access your information if your device is lost or stolen.
• Log out completely when you finish a mobile banking session.
• Protect your phone from viruses and malicious software, or malware, just like you do for your computer by installing mobile security software.
• Use caution when downloading apps. Apps can contain malicious software, worms, and viruses. Beware of apps that ask for unnecessary “permissions.”
• Download the updates for your phone and mobile apps.
• Avoid storing sensitive information like passwords or a social security number on your mobile device.
• Notify us immediately if you change your phone number or lose your mobile device.
• Be aware of shoulder surfers. The most basic form of information theft is observation. Be aware of your surroundings especially when you’re entering sensitive information.
• Wipe your mobile device before you donate, sell, or trade it using specialized software or the manufacturer’s recommended technique. Some software allows you to wipe your device remotely if it is lost or stolen.
• Beware of mobile phishing. Avoid opening links and attachments in emails and texts, especially from senders you don’t know. And be wary of ads that aren’t from your security provider claiming that your device is infected.
• Don’t perform banking transactions on your mobile device on a public network. If you need to access your account, disable wi-fi and switch to your mobile network.
• Report any suspected fraud to us immediately.

Elder Financial Abuse

Targeting

The elderly are attractive targets for financial abuse because they have the following characteristics:

• They may be unfamiliar with technology and have problems managing their finances.
• Perpetrators may assume that the elderly person is so frail that they won’t survive long enough to intervene legally once they are exploited.
• The elderly may be severely debilitated so that they aren’t likely to take actions against the perpetrators.
• The elderly may be embarrassed to go to authorities.
• They may have predictable patterns and receive their social security checks at the same time of the month.
• Perpetrators can predict when the elderly person will be flush with cash.
• The elderly person may have a disability that creates dependence on others. Those who help them may also be perpetrators of financial fraud against the elderly person.
• The elderly person may not recognize that their assets have increased in value (particularly the value of their homes).
• Older people tend to have more wealth than younger people.

Signs of Financial Abuse

If you see several of these signs, it may mean your loved one is being financially exploited. Signs of financial abuse against the elderly include the following:

• Canceled checks or bank statements that go to the perpetrator’s home.
• Large bank withdrawals or transfers between different accounts that can’t be explained.
• Eviction notices, evidence of unpaid bills or utilities being discontinued due to nonpayment.
• The perpetrator refers to the elder as their new “best friend.”
• The elder person’s care is substandard even when they can pay for it.
• There are ATM withdrawals the elderly person could not have made or other unexplained withdrawals.
• The elderly person is coerced to sign powers of attorney or other legal documents they didn’t understand.
• The perpetrator shows an inordinate interest in how much money the victim is spending.
• There are missing belongings or property that is missing.
• There are forgeries on legal documents or on checks.
• Financial arrangements are sketchy and lack documentation.
• The explanations about the elder’s finances as explained by the perpetrator are implausible.
• The elderly person does not know or understand their own financial situation.

Other Links and Resources

• https://www.medicareadvantage.com/complete-guide-to-elder-financial-abuse 
• https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/protect-your-money/elderly-financial-abuse