Your Online Security
Avoiding Phishing and Other Online Scams
Please read carefully!
When you pay for a meal with a credit card, there is a risk of an employee misusing your number. If you make a purchase over the telephone, the person you’re speaking to may not be who you think. Likewise, sending sensitive information over the internet (through internet sites or email) may always pose a risk. We have taken serious steps to protect your sensitive information & identity, but there are several steps consumers must take on their own. That’s why we have developed this section to aid you in making your online banking account safe. If careful steps are taken, you can drastically reduce your chances of identity theft. The two types of internet scams most used to intercept personal information are phishing scams and keyloggers/Trojan horse viruses.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation defines phishing as “a scam that encompasses fraudulently obtaining and using an individual’s personal or financial information.” The typical way that criminals “phish” is by sending an email to people that virtually copies a bank’s email asking for the customer to submit account information. When you visit the fraudulent website and type in your account information, it is sent to the criminals. This information is then used to make purchases on your bank account. At Catahoula – LaSalle Bank, we will NEVER send you an email asking for your account number, password, balance, or social security number. If you receive an email that appears to be us asking for this information, please follow these simple rules:
- Do not click on a link or reply to the email.
- Contact Catahoula – LaSalle Bank immediately so we can issue a warning to other customers and report the incident to authorities.
The other type of online threat is the use of keyloggers / Trojan horse viruses. A keylogger is a program, installed without your consent, that is placed on your computer and keeps a log of all keystrokes typed. This is done invisibly. The most common ways that keyloggers install on your computer are as follows: the user clicks on an unfamiliar email (spam) which leads to an unfamiliar site or the user visits a second-rate site (sites exhibiting illegal content, sites with questionable content, and pornographic sites). It is difficult for a keylogger to install on your computer without a virus. A Trojan Horse virus gives a criminal unauthorized access to your computer. This allows the criminal to install the keylogger on your computer and track down your important information. There are four ways to protect yourself from keyloggers.
- Only open emails that are familiar to you.
- Only visit sites you feel are reliable and not questionable.
- Make sure anti-virus software & anti-spyware software are installed and updated on your computer. There are many full-security suites available that will suit both of these needs including:
If you follow these simple rules, your chances of being a victim of online identity theft are very low. Together, we can make the internet a safer place to bank. For more information about phishing, please contact us for a brochure. If you wish to learn more about online scams, please visit the following links:
- http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/index.html
- http://www.consumer.org.nz/newssummary.asp?category=Scams
