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Customers are often victims of crimes, which involve their financial institutions (FI). Depending
on the type of crime, the customer and/or FI can sustain losses of varying
severity, and it is conceivable that physical harm may occur during the commission of certain
crimes. It behooves you to be aware of such crimes and assume a protective attitude in order to
avoid becoming a victim. Following are some of these categories of crime, along with safety and
security tips that can be helpful to you in attempting to avoid the situations that may cause you
to be vulnerable.
If it seems too good to be true…it probably is!
Credit cards may look like plastic
Do:
Sign your credit cards.
Exercise care in protecting your bankcards. Remember, they are very valuable.
Check your cards regularly to ensure you have them.
Report a lost of stolen card to the bank immediately. The longer you delay, the more time the thief has to run up charges.
Review your monthly financial statements closely and immediately contact your bank or credit card
company if you discover any unauthorized charges.
Record your bankcard numbers and keep it where it will be safe but easily available to you.
Open your credit card bills immediately - even if you intend to pay the bill later. Review the charges to see that they were for
purchases YOU made. If you find unauthorized charges, call the issuer of the card immediately.
Watch carefully (where possible) as clerks fill in credit card slips to prevent a dishonest clerk from making a second slip and
submitting a phony charge later.
Ensure that it is your- card that is returned to you after each purchase.
Carry your cards secured safely in your wallet or purse.
Retain card receipts and carbon copies, which carry your account number.
Be aware of those around you in crowded places such as malls and entertainment or sporting events.
Don't:
Carry credit cards that you use infrequently. Keep them in a safe place.
Give credit card numbers to "telephone survey" people claiming to work for credit card companies, or to any unknown caller.
Leave your credit cards anywhere in your automobile, even if it's locked.
Leave your credit cards unsecured and unattended even at work.
Leave your credit cards unsecured and unattended in a hotel or motel room.
Treat your credit cards casually. They are worth money, so make sure they are returned promptly by clerks.
Be fooled by "Good Samaritan" callers who say they have found your credit cards and promise to mail them to you right away.
This just gives thieves time to run up charges. CALL THE ISSUER IMMEDIATELY.
Ever lend your credit card to anyone.
Check Security
A significant number of check fraud losses that occur involve customer accounts. In order to avoid becoming an unwitting victim
of fraud schemes, you need to know about the existence and consequences of fraud, proper check issuing, and timely statement reconcilement.
Following is a brief list of checking account protection tips.
- Guard your checkbook and extra (new) checks.
- Never give your account and routing number to anyone over the telephone.
- Never use your deposit slip for "scrap" paper or notes and then give it to someone. Guard your deposit slips.
- Properly store or dispose of canceled checks.
- If your checkbook is lost or stolen, immediately inform us.
- When traveling for a period of time, it is wise to leave your checkbook, at home, locked away, and purchase traveler's checks.
- Always write checks using ink pens or typewriters - never in pencil.
- Write the payee name, and the dollar amount in both numbers and letters, as far to the left in the allotted space as possible and draw
a line through the unused space to the right of the letters and numbers to prevent additions.
- Balance or reconcile your checkbook register with your monthly bank statements.
- When writing the payee name on the "Pay to the Order of" line, make sure the name is spelled out so it cannot be altered (e.g., I.B.M.
could be changed to I.B. Maroney).
ATM Security
If possible, avoid using ATMs during hours of darkness. If you must do so, try to have another person accompany you.
If an ATM facility must be used at night, try to select one in an area that is well lighted.
When possible, try to choose a facility that has limited foliage and is well-trafficked.
Familiarize yourself with security devices in place at the ATM you elect to use.
Thoroughly observe the area around the ATM before approaching and using the machine…look for suspicious persons loitering nearby, especially
people who remain in parked cars.
Be cautious of anyone who engages you in conversation as you approach the ATM, while you are using it, or immediately thereafter.
Be suspicious of anyone who closely observes you while are using the ATM; protect your PIN from view.
Spend as little time at the ATM facility as possible.
Don't count or needlessly expose cash at the ATM. It should be counted in a secure place away from the machine.
Don't leave your receipt at the ATM because it may contain account information.
Don't reveal your PIN to anyone in person or over the telephone for any reason, even if the individual represents himself as a bank employee.
This is especially important if you have recently lost or had your card stolen.
SCAMS
Swindlers sometimes convince bank account holders to withdraw funds, promising them an immediate windfall or telling them that their money will
be immediately redeposited in order to test the honesty of a bank employee. Don't withdraw large sums of cash, either to show to a stranger or give,
even for a few minutes, to someone you do not know. One of the most prevalent of these types of con games is known as the…
BANK EXAMINER SCHEME
The phony examiner scheme is a popular swindle usually perpetrated against elderly customers. One variation of the scheme involves the con artist
impersonating the financial institution's auditor or a law enforcement officer, such as an FBI agent, rather than an examiner. The elements of the scheme are:
- The customer (victim) is confronted in person or by telephone by a stranger who claims to be a federal/state bank or savings and loan examiner.
- The stranger claims an employee of the financial institution is altering deposit records and stealing the funds.
- The stranger asks the customer to withdraw funds, mark the money and give it to him. He says that he will then redeposit it, creating a trap if the employee alters
the deposit slip and attempts to steal the money. The customer never sees the stranger - or his or her money - again.
IDENTITY THEFT
The FBI says identity theft is the fastest growing white-collar crime in the nation. It involves criminally using another individual's personal identifiers, which
are acquired through various means, including one's own mailbox. The identity
thief needs only to get your name, address, and bank or credit card account numbers or your Social Security number, etc., to take over your identity. The crook can then
change your address, open new accounts at banks and credit card companies in your name and deplete your funds, running up huge credit card balances and generally creating
havoc with your good name and credit rating. Here are a few pointers to help you avoid becoming a victim.
Do not reveal personal identifiers unless you know how they will be used or shared.
Deposit outgoing mail at the post office and remove delivered mail immediately.
Carry only the identification and bank/credit cards you actually need.
Do not give out personal data over the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you have initiated the contact.
Shred or tear up your charge receipts, credit cards, statements, checks or other sensitive personal information.
Give your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other identifiers.
PARKING LOT SECURITY
Be alert to your surroundings and other people around you.
Never display cash in a financial institution parking lot if possible, not even a "bank bag".
When you conduct banking business during the hours of darkness, have someone accompany you.
Park as near as possible to your destination, e.g., branch entrance, ATM of night depository.
Establish your banking relationship with a financial institution that provides an obviously safe and secure environment, including the parking lot. Look for the following characteristics:
-Well lighted parking lot and exterior
-Landscaping or other objects which do not provide "hiding places" for robbers
-Located on a well traveled street
-Unobstructed visibility in all directions
Source: © National Association for Bank Security
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Equal Housing Lender.