Security Tips

Tips for Using Your Devices Safely

• Set your screens to lock automatically after a period of inactivity so your device will be accessible only by entering a strong password.
• Install or activate tracking software to ensure you can see your device over the web in case it's lost or stolen. In some cases, you’ll be able to wipe all the data contained in the device if it cannot be recovered.
• Enable automatic updates for the operating system software. (When manufacturers know there is a software vulnerability, they will usually push out a software update to patch up what hackers could exploit.)
• Disable location tracking when configuring your new device for the first time.
• Synchronization of your apps and devices isn’t necessarily bad, but be aware that the same information you shared may appear on other devices without your knowledge.
• Do not hack into your own devices since this will make all the security controls you have enabled useless. Bypassing your controls means the device is vulnerable to hackers.
• Avoid downloading apps from untrusted sources.
• Discard any apps you no longer use.
• Review and set privacy options for any new app you download.
• Download only apps that you need (and not just because they are popular).

Tips to Prevent Data Loss

• Identify what you want to back up. Is it just the data or everything on your devices, including programs, that you want to back up?
• Determine where you will be backing it up. You can store it in an external device or use cloud storage.
• Determine how often you will be backing up. The frequency will be determined by the volume of data you generate, but recurring backups are highly recommended.
• Establish that the process of retrieving the stored data is effective by testing it.
• Store your backup in a different place.
• Restrict access to the location where you keep the backed-up data. Only authorized people should access it, only when it is required.
• Make more than one copy and store them in different locations.
• Ensure all backups are updated with any new information.
• Have a durable and hardy device to use for the backup to ensure the data remains safe.

Tips for Email Security

• Avoid sending personal emails using your work computer since they can be monitored by your employer. Use your phone or other personal device when you need to communicate private matters.
• Cease from sending sensitive information by email altogether.
• Keep your email passwords secret. Your email is private, and no one else should have access to it.
• Limit work colleagues’ access to your work computer.  

Tips for Disposing of Electronic Devices

• Back up all the data because you may need some of it later.
• Erase all information in the device. (Erasing the data means it is not recoverable, as opposed to deleted data, which can still be recovered.)
• The best way to clear everything is to use the “factory reset” function on your device, which leaves it in the same condition as when the device was new.

Tips for Creating Strong Passwords

• Create long passwords — even though remembering them can be a challenge.
• Use a combination of special characters, letters (capital and lowercase) and numbers, making it difficult to guess.
• Use an easy-to-remember phrase, such as WeAreinD0wnt0wnBeaverD@m. (Note the numerals and special character.)
• Avoid using the same passwords for different accounts. Generate plenty of phrases you can easily remember.
• Change your password after using it on a different device than your normal access point.
• Do not share your passwords.
• Change your passwords regularly.
• Memorize passwords and never write them down.

What to do Right Now

If you think you have been a victim of identity theft, there are steps you should take immediately to protect yourself and your finances. Acting quickly will give you the best outcome and the least amount of damage to your finances.

• Contact all of your credit card account companies and cancel your cards. Alert them to the fact that your identity may have been stolen. They will freeze the charges on your old accounts and issue you new cards.
• Contact a Personal Banker at American Bank and let him or her know that someone may have access to your personal information. The bank can close your old account(s) and open new ones for you. He or she will also transfer your money into new account(s) but only if you appear in person to provide photo ID and sign the necessary documents.
• Create an Identity Theft and Fraud Report to protect yourself going forward and to catch anyone that may attempt to use your old personal information to make a purchase or open an account in your name.
• Order your credit reports, which are free to you on an annual basis. You may also subscribe to a credit report monitoring service, which provides you with real-time updates of activity on your credit reports and your credit scores.
• If you receive federal government benefits and they suddenly stop, contact your Social Security office immediately.

The Waiting Game

While you wait to see if someone is caught red-handed or the authorities are alerted to a crime in action, you can freeze all activity on your credit reports. This prevents anyone from accessing your credit reports for any reason, thereby banning anyone from gaining any sort of credit account with your name on it. You can also request extended fraud alerts for up to seven (7) years after you suspect that someone has stolen your identity.

Protecting Your Identity Going Forward

Protecting your identity going forward is not difficult. Just be careful about how you share information and whom you share it with. For example, do not share your Social Security number with anyone, and always choose encrypted websites to make purchases. Never give your credit card information out over the phone in a public place, and always make sure your security features on your phone and mobile or computing devices are turned on.

There are other devices, such as credit card readers, that can be used at places like gas pumps to steal your financial information as well. To protect yourself against this kind of information theft, always go inside the station to pay for gas with your card. Likewise, be sure you can see what the drive-through employee is doing with your card when you pay for food or go into the restaurant to pay. If you lose your wallet or purse, begin calling to cancel all of your cards right away.

For more information on how to protect your identity from would-be-thieves, click here to watch a short video.

Recognizing the Scam

Examples of these scams can include:

You get a call, email, text message, or pop-up from someone claiming to be:

• A family member (or someone acting for them), saying your relative is sick, has been arrested or is in serious trouble and needs money right away.
• A court official, indicating that you failed to appear for jury duty and need to pay a fine or you will be arrested.
• The police, saying you'll be arrested, fined or deported if you don't pay taxes or some other debt right away.
• From Social Security, claiming that COVID-19 related office closures mean your benefits have suspended. 
• From the IRS, saying you owe back taxes, there's a problem with your return or they need to verify information.
• From your Bank, claiming they need to verify personal information before they can send you a new card. 

 

Protecting Yourself

• Be Suspicious of any call from a government agency asking for money or information. Government agencies don't do that; scammers do.
• Don't Trust Caller ID. Even if it might look like a real call, it can be faked.
• Never pay with a gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. If someone tells you to pay this way, it's a scam.
• Check with the real agency, person, or company. Don't use the phone number they give you. Look it up yourself. Then call to find out if they're trying to reach you and why.

 

Report and Share

If anything suspicious happens to you, tell your bank right away. They will be able to clarify the situation for you. 

Share your personal knowledge of spotting and reporting scams and fraudulent activity with all friends and family. Protect yourself and others!

How to Avoid a Money Mule Scam

• Never use your own bank account, or open one in your name to transfer money for an employer, or anyone else.
• Never pay to collect a prize or move any money out of your "winnings."
• Never send money to an online love interest, even if he or she send you a check first.

 

Stopping a Money Mule Scam

• Break off contact with the scammers and stop moving money for them.
• Tell your bank and the wire transfer or gift card company right away.
• Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.

Signs of a Scam

• Professes love quickly. Claims to be overseas for business or military service.
• Asks for money, and lures you off the dating site.
• Claims to need money for emergencies, hospital bills, or travel. Plans to visit you, but can't because of an emergency.

 

What to do 

• Slow down- and talk to someone you trust. Don't let a scammer rush you.
• Never transfer money from your bank account, buy gift cards, or wire money to an online love interest. You won't get it back. 
• Contact your bank right away if you think you've sent money to a scammer. 
• Report your experience to the online dating site and Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How did the sender get information about my loan?

At American Bank, securing our customers’ personal information is a top priority. We do not sell any information. See our Privacy Policy for more details. However, some information about mortgages, regardless of who you work with, can be public record. This is one way scammers obtain your contact information and try to scam you.

 

Signs of a Scam

• Many letters come from companies pretending to be reputable home warranty businesses.
• Some of these letters will reference the name of a mortgage lender.
• The letter may also ask the recipient to respond to the notice by a certain date, and warns that failure to respond could result in potential loss of coverage.
• Typically whenever urgency is used, or threatening language, it is likely the communication is coming from a scammer.
• Many times the loan number on the notice will not match your actual loan number with the bank, and that can tell you it’s a scam
• A check may be included stating it is to cover expenses for the coverage. These checks are always fake and if you try to take them to the bank they won't take them.

 

What should you do?

• You can always call the bank to verify this notice, but we will most likely tell you it is a scam.
• We recommend that you disregard and shred these notices if you do receive one.
• Do not call the number on the notice as it may connect you with a scammer who could ask for your personal information. If you do give out your information it could result in identity theft, your bank account being hacked, and other damaging consequences.