Five tips to prevent fraud on your accounts

The holiday season is here. With that comes an increase in online and offline shopping. It can also lead to an increase in fraudulent transactions on your debit cards, credit cards and financial accounts.

 

‘Tis the season to stay proactive in protecting your accounts from fraud and scams. Here are five tips to get you started.

 

1. Watch your accounts and card transactions.

 

Regularly review your transactions for fraudulent purchases. If you see something questionable, use Card Control to temporarily shut your debit or credit card off. You can also set up Card Control alerts to help detect fraudulent purchases as they occur.

 

2. Use credit and debit cards with fraud protection.

 

Many debit and credit card providers have fraud protection included. For example, with Visa’s^® “Zero Liability Policy” you won’t be held liable for unauthorized purchases with your card online or offline. If you find a fraudulent purchase on your account, contact your financial institution as soon as possible to quickly correct the issue.

 

3. Watch out for phishing and other scams.

 

Scammers want to trick you into providing your financial information via email, phone call or text message. This is called “phishing.” We will never ask for your digital banking username and password, account numbers or other personal information via text message. Check out our article to learn more about how to spot fraudulent messages and what you should do if you receive one.

 

4. Research websites before buying online.

 

When shopping online, make sure you’re buying from a website with a good reputation. Check reviews to make sure they are legitimate.

 

5. Review your credit score and report.

 

Federal law allows you to receive one free credit report annually. You can review the report to catch signs of identity theft early. Any sudden dips in your credit score can also be a sign that something is not right. There are many ways to view your credit score. Your financial institution may offer this for free. Check with them to see if it is available to you.

 

Learn more: Track your credit score for free

 

Scammers are working hard to get your financial information through fake e-commerce sites, phishing scams, identity theft and more. Being proactive in protecting your financial accounts and cards from fraud can help you save time and money.

 

To learn more about how we help protect your financial accounts, visit the Fraud Prevention section on our website.

 

Fraud Prevention Tips