Tips for a Safe, Secure Online Shopping Experience

With the holidays quickly approaching, the Independent Community Bankers of America ® (ICBA) and NorthSide Community Bank offer consumers the following tips to consider if they are planning to make any of their holiday purchases online.  “Even though the holiday season can be quite busy, it’s never too busy to ensure that your personal information is safe when shopping online,” said Bill Loving, ICBA chairman and president and CEO of Pendleton Community Bank, Franklin, W.Va.  

The total financial loss attributed to identity theft in 2013 is estimated to be $21 billion, according to the Department of Justice and Javelin Strategy and Research. Consumers need to be on high alert this holiday season, and any time they choose to make purchases online, to avoid falling victim to identity theft and to protect their sensitive financial information.

With that in mind, ICBA and NorthSide Community Bank offer the following tips:

• Make sure your computer and browser are secure. Set your firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware software to automatically update and scan your computer.
• Don’t create passwords that include easily accessible personal information, such as mother’s maiden name or date of birth. Instead, use something unique that only you know.
• Don’t give personal information over the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless you know whom you’re dealing with and preferably only if you’ve initiated the contact. Never give out Social Security or driver’s license numbers. If you must share personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization.
• If you receive an email asking for personal information, do not hit the reply button or click on any link in the email. Instead, go directly to the sender’s site by typing in its website address.
• Look for secure sites with an “s” in the URL (https://) and a closed-padlock icon on the Web page when making purchases. These websites are secure.
• Always double-check the URL to be sure you are shopping with the company you intended to shop with. A simple typo can help identity thieves.

“The most important thing is our customers’ safety and financial security,” Patricia Clausen, President, NorthSide Community Bank “If any customer has questions about the security of their financial information, our team at NorthSide Community Bank is than happy to answer any problems or concerns you might have. We want information about you and your family to be safe and protected at all times.”

Important Debit Card information if you're traveling out of the United States 

During any time of year, NorthSide Community Bank and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) want consumers to have the information they need before they leave home to keep their money safe.

Financial professionals agree that the safest and most convenient way to travel with your money is to take a small amount of cash with you. It’s also a good idea to carry a debit, credit or ATM card. These cards are convenient while traveling because they are easy to carry, easy to use and often offer the lowest fees and the best exchange rates.

However, travelers still need to plan ahead to be prepared. To help, we offer these tips to consumers about what they need to take care of before they take off:

• Let us know when and where you will be traveling to avoid account holds or transaction rejections when out-of-the-ordinary transactions are presented for processing or posted.
• If you're traveling overseas, keep in mind that ATMs in many countries only accept four-digit personal identification numbers (PINs) and some countries have keyboards with numbers only, while others do not acknowledge zeros. Ask your community bank if you should create a new PIN for your account before you take your trip.
• Carry a back-up card that you keep in a separate place. Families or couples may get even greater back-up coverage if each person takes a different card.
• Make copies of all the cards you’ll be carrying. Be sure to copy the front and back of the card. Take a copy with you and give a copy to someone you trust back home. Be sure to also include the security code for the card and the customer service phone number.
• Bring a list of emergency phone numbers, but remember, 800 numbers can only be used in the United States and Canada. Be sure to get a number for your bank that you can call if you’re out of the country.
• Check your balance before you leave. Know the limits on how much you can withdraw. Save all your receipts.
• Thoroughly check any ATMs that you use; fraudsters are increasingly altering the facades of ATMs in an effort to capture card data.  Ensure the card reader does not look tampered with and pull on it to ensure it’s not a layover.

For your protection against debit card fraud, NorthSide Community Bank has restricted transactions originating in countries with a high level of fraudulent transaction.

Click here to see a listing of restricted countries. If you are traveling to one or more of these countries just call us first!

With fraud on the rise, consider the Northside Community Bank IdentityIQ product

In 2009, more than 11 million adult consumers in the US were affected by Identity Theft – up 12% from 2008.  Identity Theft represents 26% of all complaints to the Federal Trade Commission and has been its most frequently reported crime for the last 8 years.  Women and young adults, aged 18-29, are the most frequent victims. 

Click on the image above to register for a free three month trial to IdentityIQ. 

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Click Here to learn about the expiration of the Temporary Full FDIC Insurance Coverage for Noninterest-Bearing Transaction Accounts.

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