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Steps You Must Take To Protect Yourself From Fraud
Published on 9/21/2021
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month occurs every October as a national campaign designed to increase the public's awareness of cybersecurity and cyber crime issues like malicious software, phishing and social engineering scams. Across the financial industry there is an increase in spoofed websites and mobile apps in the effort to obtain people's banking credentials. Thousands of people daily fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts and calls from scammers pretending to be their credit union or bank. These communications are designed to trick you into providing important personal information like account numbers, passwords, pins, or birthdays either online or by phone to someone pretending to be a credit union or bank employee.
Be assured that Orlando Credit Union is committed to protecting our institution and our members from any threats. We deploy standard security protocols and best practices to our systems and train all our employees. With cybercrimes on the rise, members play a vital role in assisting with keeping their accounts safe. The tips below are some steps members can take to #BeCyberSmart.
Be assured that Orlando Credit Union is committed to protecting our institution and our members from any threats. We deploy standard security protocols and best practices to our systems and train all our employees. With cybercrimes on the rise, members play a vital role in assisting with keeping their accounts safe. The tips below are some steps members can take to #BeCyberSmart.
- Double your login protection. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts and devices to ensure that the only person who has access to your account is you. Use it for email, banking, social media, and any other service that requires logging in. If MFA is an option, enable it by using a trusted mobile device, such as your smartphone, an authenticator app, or a secure token—a small physical device that can hook onto your key ring.
- Shake up your password protocol. According to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidance, you should consider using the longest password or passphrase permissible. Get creative and customize your standard password for different sites, which can prevent cyber criminals from gaining access to these accounts and protect you in the event of a breach. Use password managers to generate and remember different, complex passwords for each of your accounts.
- Play hard to get with strangers. Cyber criminals use phishing tactics, hoping to fool their victims. If you're unsure who an email is from—even if the details appear accurate— or if the email looks 'phishy,' do not respond and do not click on any links or attachments found in that email. If you're ever in doubt about a communication you receive from Orlando Credit Union, call or email us using contact information from our website and verify. You can forward any suspicious emails from Orlando Credit Union to our Risk Department at RiskManagement@OrlandoCreditUnion.org.
- Never click and tell. Limit what information you post on social media—from personal addresses to where you like to grab coffee. What many people don't realize is that these seemingly random details are all criminals need to know to target you, your loved ones, and your physical belongings—online and in the real world. Keep Social Security numbers, account numbers, and passwords private, as well as specific information about yourself, such as your full name, address, birthday, and even vacation plans. Disable location services that allow anyone to see where you are – and where you aren't – at any given time.
- Stay protected while connected. Before you connect to any public wireless hotspot – like at an airport, hotel, or café – be sure to confirm the name of the network and exact login procedures with appropriate staff to ensure that the network is legitimate. If you do use an unsecured public access point, practice good internet hygiene by avoiding sensitive activities (e.g., banking) that require passwords or credit cards. Your personal hotspot is often a safer alternative to free Wi-Fi. Only use sites that begin with 'https://' when online shopping or banking.
- Keep tabs on your apps. Most connected appliances, toys and devices are supported by a mobile application. Your mobile device could be filled with suspicious apps running in the background or using default permissions you never realized you approved—gathering your personal information without your knowledge while also putting your identity and privacy at risk. Check your app permissions and use the "rule of least privilege" to delete what you don’t need or no longer use. Learn to just say "no" to privilege requests that don’t make sense. Only download apps from trusted vendors and sources.