Be Fraud Smart – Safeguard Your Cards and Codes

Card Safety 

To gain access to your finances via your credit or debit card, scammers need your card number, expiration date, CVV, and sometimes your PIN. Here are some ways to safeguard that information.

Protect your card details. If you receive an unexpected call, text, or email asking for this information, hang up or ignore it. Remember that phone lines can be spoofed so always reach out to the source directly using the publicly listed phone number.

Keep guard over your physical card. Store it in a safe location when it isn’t being used. When making purchases be cautious of anyone attempting to take your card out of your sight unnecessarily. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN.

Use contactless payment when available. This allows information to be sent encrypted without having to pass through a machine.

Consider setting up a digital wallet on your mobile device. Sometimes called a mobile wallet, this payment method generates a unique number for each card transaction whether in person or online, eliminating the risk for your card number to be compromised.

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) Awareness

Setting up MFA helps protect your online accounts by prompting you to approve of login attempts.  These prompts ask you to enter a code, usually sent via text message. However, cybercriminals have begun using a tactic called MFA fatigue to access your account.  Stop MFA fatigue by following these tips.  

1. Never approve an MFA prompt you didn’t request or aren’t expecting. If you have a shared account, verify the MFA prompt with the other account holder before acting.
2. If you receive an MFA prompt you didn’t request, immediately change your password for the associated account.
3. Beware of a sense of urgency. Scammers can be very convincing when attempting to access your account. As your bank we will NEVER require you to provide an MFA code or password over the phone or via email. If you ever doubt the intentions of a call or text, hang up and call the Customer Care line directly at 1-800-482-1314.