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With many different forms of fraud in today's world, we're committed to helping our members learn how to protect their financial wellbeing and information.
If your personal information is compromised by criminals, you might find unexplained withdrawals in your bank account or receive letters seeking repayment of debts you haven't incurred. It can take a lot of time and effort to resolve such issues and your credit rating may be affected as a result.
Use this advice to help you safeguard your money and information:
By instantly getting an email, text message (or both) when important activity happens on your account, you can quickly identify and address potential threats, or prevent unwanted fees. See: How to set up account alerts
It is important that you protect the confidentiality of your passwords, namely your Personal Identification Number (PIN) and/or your Personal Access Code (PAC). Think of your PIN and your PAC as "keys". Instead of unlocking the door to your house or car, they serve to unlock the gateway to your financial and personal information. Here are some helpful tips to keep these two "keys" safe:
Can we swiftly get in touch with you? Having current contact information on file can make all the difference when our advisors have a reason to reach out. Call us or visit online or mobile banking to confirm or update your details.
Scams come in all sizes—from $100 stolen by a fake online seller to $100,000 (or more) in life savings lost in a deceptive investment. No matter the type of fraud, financial or personal information, the impact on your wellbeing can be serious. Being familiar with the ways criminals are trying to compromise people’s finances and information could save your pocketbook. Learn to spot the signs of common fraud today.
Do not give out personal information or account numbers to anyone until you have confirmed the identity of the person asking for it. It is also a good idea to shred all documents containing your personal information.
Some examples of personal information which can be used by an identity thief to impersonate you are:
If you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft, you should:
When you’re making a financial decision, do it with confidence by verifying the information you have from unbiased sources. Take time to check facts and do some research using trustworthy sources. Our advisors are here to help provide neutral information about financial decisions. They are trained to recognize the risk of various financial options, as well as in common scams that criminals use. Don’t hesitate to reach out when a second opinion can help you make a decision with confidence.
Criminals will often try to lure you in with attractive offers, pressure you to act in a rush, pose as a caring friend, or try to scare you with consequences. If you feel like over-excitement or concern are influencing your choices, pause and limit exposure to the person so you can give the decision more neutral consideration. Only act when you’re feeling cool-headed and confident. Our advisors are here to help if you want advice you can trust.
Protect Your Desktop Device
Protect Your Mobile Device
When sending an Interac e-Transfer, you have a role in protecting yourself against fraud by ensuring the recipient’s contact details are correct and up-to-date, and that you’ve chosen a security question that’s hard to guess.
What is an intercepted Interac e-Transfer?
Interac e-Transfer is a popular method for sending money given its convenience and efficiency. All you need is access to online or mobile banking and the email address or mobile phone number of the recipient, and you can send money instantly to anyone in Canada.
While Interac e-Transfer uses a number of security measures, including encryption technology and secure login processes, money can still fall into the wrong hands in one of two ways:
When sending an Interac e-Transfer, you have a role in protecting yourself against fraud by ensuring the recipient’s contact details are correct and up-to-date, and that you’ve chosen a security question that’s hard to guess.
If you are a member of First West Credit Union and you suspect you’ve been a victim of Interac e-Transfer fraud, please contact us right away.
How to protect yourself from Interac e-Transfer interception
Protect yourself when sending an Interac e-Transfer by following these best practices:
Protect your email from being compromised with these tips:
Phishing, Vishing and Smishing
Phishing, vishing and smishing are all scams that involve fraudsters who use email (phishing), telephone calls (vishing) or text messages (smishing) to obtain personal information such as bank account information, credit card numbers and social insurance numbers from unsuspecting victims.
While an internet fraudster can easily obtain and share your email address on the internet, it is unlikely he or she will have a lot of additional information about you. To obtain additional information a fraudster may use an official looking, but fake email known as a phishing email.
Phishing emails usually include links to websites that appear to direct you to a legitimate company. However, these links go to fraudulent websites and any information you submit via the website is gathered by a fraudster. Fraudsters often target companies with a large customer/member base and send thousands of phishing emails to reach as many potential victims as possible.
Island Savings has clear guidelines about the information they will request via phone or email. If you have any concerns about a request, please contact us immediately.
Trojan Horses
Fraudsters have successfully found a way to extract banking information from computers by using virus programs known as Trojan horse. A Trojan horse lies dormant on your computer, monitors your activity and then activates if you visit a targeted website, such as an online retailer or a financial institution. The program can then record keystrokes, such as usernames and passwords, and other information stored on your computer and sends them to the creator of the Trojan horse.
A Trojan horse may also allow hackers remote access to your system. Operations which can then be conducted by the hacker include:
How to Protect Yourself
Additional Resources
There are numerous websites with useful security information and tips. Whether you are looking for general security advice or free security tools (antivirus, firewall, malware removal, browser security, encryption, vulnerability scanner, just to name a few) these listed sites are great security resources:
Don't be a victim of cheque fraud—if someone sends you a cheque, asks you to deposit the money in your account, then requests you forward most of the funds by wire transfer or money order elsewhere, be alert.
How this scam looks:
Although there are many variations to these scams, they almost always have one thing in common: they seem too good to be true—and are!
Wondering how it works? The cheque sent to you isn’t usually drawn on an account in the name of the person or company with which you’ve been dealing. Instead, these cheques are usually counterfeit or stolen or altered. Sometimes other fraudulent payment items such as traveler’s cheques or money orders are used. Weeks or even months later you discover that it was fraudulent and the cheque is returned to you unpaid and the full amount is deducted from your account. Unfortunately, when this cheque or other form of payment is returned unpaid, you are responsible for any related loss.
The bottom line? Use your best judgment before accepting payments and depositing cheques in your account.
Debit card fraud occurs when your MEMBER CARD® debit card is lost, stolen or counterfeited and used to obtain funds from your account without your authorization.
What is your responsibility?
It is your responsibility as an Island Savings MEMBER CARD® holder and/or electronic banking user to protect your passwords in order to protect yourself from this type of fraud.
What is card skimming?
Card skimming involves the unauthorized copying of electronic data from your debit or other cards. Hidden equipment typically obtains your PIN (i.e. cameras or false/altered PIN pads). The stolen data is then encoded onto a counterfeit card, which is used to withdraw funds without your knowledge.
How it happens
Protect Yourself
Safeguard your cheques
Don't be a victim of cheque fraud—if someone sends you a cheque, asks you to deposit the money in your account, then requests you forward most of the funds by wire transfer or money order elsewhere, be alert.
How this scam looks:
Although there are many variations to these scams, they almost always have one thing in common: they seem too good to be true—and are!
Wondering how it works? The cheque sent to you isn’t usually drawn on an account in the name of the person or company with which you’ve been dealing. Instead, these cheques are usually counterfeit or stolen or altered. Sometimes other fraudulent payment items such as traveler’s cheques or money orders are used. Weeks or even months later you discover that it was fraudulent and the cheque is returned to you unpaid and the full amount is deducted from your account. Unfortunately, when this cheque or other form of payment is returned unpaid, you are responsible for any related loss.
The bottom line? Use your best judgment before accepting payments and depositing cheques in your account.
Whether you've got a large business or a smaller one, it’s important to consider how fraud can affect your business. The following information can help you begin the process of putting systems in place that will save you time and money.
Know and protect your account
Protecting your business account information is a key measure in minimizing the risk of fraud against your business.
Employee Management
According to research, typical organizations lose nearly 5 percent of their gross revenues to fraud each year, through employee theft of inventory, assets, cash, or company documents. Protection from employee fraud will minimize your losses.
Reduce the Risk of Bookkeeper Fraud
Protect your business from being a victim of bookkeeper fraud with these added tips:
Protect Your Business Premises
We keep your online and mobile banking experience as secure as possible through the following measures:
To prevent certain forms of session hijackings, online and mobile banking sessions automatically end if inactive for 15 minutes.
Criminals will try to brute force their way into accounts by password guessing. To help guard against this activity, we temporarily disable access to online accounts if too many failed attempts to login are recorded. If this occurs, contact our Member Advisor Centre for help.
Any information in transit between your desktop or mobile device and our banking environment is encrypted so that it cannot be read or altered.
Two-step verification can help ensure you're the only person who can access your online banking or mobile app, even if someone knows your password. You are required to confirm a one-time verification code sent to your email address or your phone via text any time there is a potential risk to your online banking account. For example, if you're using a new device to log in to your online account.
If you've entered an incorrect one-time verification code too many times, and are locked out, our Member Advice Centre team can help you out.
Enabling two-step verification:
Use this short video for a step-by-step guide.
How to update your two-step verification details:
Use this short video for a step-by-step guide.
As a safeguard, we’ll never ask you to share your login details, passwords/PINs or 2SV code via a phone call, email, text, or link.
If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud where it pertains to your account(s) with Island Savings, please call our Member Advice Centre at 1-888-597-1083 or visit your branch right away.
Call 1-888-597-1083 to report a lost or stolen MemberCard debit card. (You may be asked to leave a message: please include your name and phone number so we can verify your information.)
Counterfeit Currency
How you can tell if money is counterfeit, and what you should do if it is.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Center (formerly known as Phonebusters)
Find out the latest emerging fraud trends, advice on protecting yourself and a victim's guide that will help you recover from fraud loss.
BC Securities Commission's Invest Right Website
Find out more on avoiding investment frauds and scams.
Government of Canada's Public Safety Website
Get public safety tips on a variety of topics
Little Black Book of Scams
Become a real-life superhero by arming yourself with the information you need to fight fraud and keep yourself, your family and your money safe.
Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus
Prevent fraud by working with trustworthy companies and organizations.
Everything is easier with a little help.
We acknowledge that we have the privilege of doing business on the traditional and unceded territory of First Nations communities.
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