Protecting Yourself Against Email Fraud

What is e-mail fraud

Among the most common types of email fraud include phony e-mail messages sent to you in order to steal personal or financial information. These messages are often disguised as legitimate e-mail from companies you trust and are an attempt to entice you to provide various types of personal or confidential information including online IDs and pass codes, Social Security numbers, and account numbers.

The practice of e-mail fraud is commonly known as phishing or spoofing. Phishing is used by criminals to gain access to your existing accounts or to use your personal and financial information to open new accounts.

Recognizing e-mail fraud

Spotting phony e-mail messages is not always easy, and the criminals making the phony messages are becoming more sophisticated. Phony emails will often times ask you to follow a link that will take you to a website outside of the Integrity Bank and Trust website. The will also ask you for sensitive personal, financial, or account information.

Common aspects of fraudulent e-mails:

• Urgent Appeals: Fraudulent e-mails frequently claim that your account will be closed if you fail to confirm, verify, or authenticate your personal information immediately.
• Requests for Security Information: Many times fraudulent e-mails may claim that they have lost vital security information that needs to be updated immediately. You may even be asked to go to an outside web site to enter the information.
• Typos and Other Errors: Fraudulent e-mails and web sites will often times contain typographical and grammar errors. The writing may seem awkward, tilted, or even inappropriate. The visual design or quality may be poor.

Protecting yourself from e-mail fraud

Simple steps that will protect you from e-mail fraud do exist.

• Make sure your computer and the system you are using are updated with the latest protection software.
• Do not trust a website based on looks or professional appearance. It is not that difficult to create fraudulent emails or web pages.
• Confirm the validity of all requests for sensitive information by responding directly to the institution by phone or regular mail.
• Do not share your IDs or pass codes with anyone. Integrity Bank & Trust will never ask for sensitive information through email.
• If you think you may have provided personal or account information to a fraudulent email, report the fraud immediately. Change your pass codes and monitor any activity on your accounts frequently.
• Always sign off websites or secure areas of websites that you use a pass code to enter.
• When your computer is not in use, disconnect it from the internet.
• Be selective when providing your email address to any web sites. The more often you share your address, the more likely you will receive fraudulent emails.
• Review your monthly bank and credit card statements thoroughly. Investigate any suspicious activity to catch any fraud before it occurs.

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