Online Banking Tips – How to Protect Your Identity
By admin • Aug 1st, 2007 • Category: PhishingMost financial institutions offer online banking services now. However, not all of them are safe. And not all online entities who claim to be financial institutions – and safe ones at that – are, in this world of online theft, especially identity theft. So remember these safe practices for your online banking.
1) Check out financial institutions online thoroughly before pursuing any type of online banking with them. Begin by searching the About Us or Contact Us web page on the site to find street address (not a P.O. Box), phone number and other complete info. Then check the Better Business Bureau website at www.bbb.org to make sure there are no or very little legitimate complaints filed against the company’s website link and address.
2) As you register for accounts, you should be prompted to click a confirmation link inside a reply email. So watch for it. And afterwards, always log in to the site from your browser, not any email links. Too many thieves and unscrupulous people pose as financial entities in fake emails, inviting you to click their links and submit your access info (user name and password). Then they log in the real banking site and steal your identity and funds. So beware! And when in doubt, call the bank direct – -not from the number on the email, but from the real website or other documentation you have on file (like an invoice or statement that arrived in the postal mail).
3) When you log in to your banking account area, you should be in a safe zone or web page granting you secure access beginning with “https” instead of just “http.”
4) When you make online transactions like payments, print out your confirmation numbers or write them in your checkbook for safe keeping. That way if a payment doesn’t post, you’ll have a reference number to give customer service so they can find out what happened.
5) Check your statements regularly to make sure all charges going through were indeed made by you. And question any that you are unsure of and that you don’t understand. Your identity theft protection is very important.
Financial institutions often close down their entire site when they upgrade online features or do other online site maintenance. So plan ahead for down times. Have your account info handy to call in and have your registers balanced and entries up to date.
banking, banks, identity theft protection, Identity Theft Resources, online banking, Phishing
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Very useful tips!
Especially, “Check out financial institutions online thoroughly before pursuing any type of online banking with them. Begin by searching the About Us or Contact Us web page on the site to find street address (not a P.O. Box), phone number and other complete info. ”
AND
“Then check the Better Business Bureau website at http://www.bbb.org to make sure there are no or very little legitimate complaints filed against the company’s website link and address.”
Thanks for sharing it.
I use a shared computer, it is absolutely essential that you don’t save any passwords on the computer. I Never save my card number. As soon as the next person accesses the same bank from that computer, my card number will come up on the screen for signing in. SO I suggst You should also change your sign in information on a regular basis to prevent any unauthorized access to your account.
It’s completely logical. I’m the same way. I won’t do any kind of banking or bill paying online. I still pay my bills the old fashioned way…..the check’s in the mail. Online banking is not a risk I’m willing to take.
Thank You for these useful tips while using online banking. I have a few point that are useful while using a online bank:
* Make sure your online bank is legitimate
* Confirm that your online bank funds are FDIC insured
* Don’t share your personal information
* Understand your consumer rights
Do remember these as well
Does anyone know where I can find more information about this?
I’ve never given this a try, but I think it’s about time I do.
Its really very helpful tips on online banking. people will get a good help from this post. Specially 2nd and 3rd pints a very helpful. Actually all of them are helpful. nice post. Thanks.