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Fraudulent Cashier's Checks and Money Orders
05/31/2007
There's been explosive growth in counterfeit cashier's checks and money orders in the last few years.
But what's especially troubling is that individual consumers and businesses are losing significant sums in these scams because they deposited a check from a stranger, withdrew the funds and then sent money or merchandise before their financial institution discovered that the check was fraudulent.
What Can You Do To Protect Yourself?
1. If you deposit a check from a stranger, discuss the situation with your banker before spending that money or handing over anything of value.
2. Walk away from any deal if you get a check for more than the amount due and you're instructed to return the difference.
3. Take additional precautions to make sure a check is good.
4. Immediately report if you think you're a victim of a check fraud or if you notice something suspicous.
E-mail and Online Fraud
11/01/2006
"Phishing" is one of the latest scams criminals are using to obtain your personal information via e-mail and the Internet. Often, scam artists will send e-mails requesting information such as account numbers, ATM numbers, social security numbers, passwords and mother's maiden name. Customers are then asked to visit fraudulent websites that often appear to be identical to the financial institution's site, to complete forms giving out their personal information.
Please be assured that we will never e-mail or telephone you to ask for personal information to verify your identity. If you do receive an e-mail or a telephone call from a company representing itself as
First Shore Federal, please contact us as soon as possible.
Five Steps to Help Avoid Phishing Scams
1. Never respond to requests for personal information via e-mail. If in doubt, call the institution that claims to have sent you the e-mail.
2. Visit websites by typing the URL into your address bar. Do not follow links within an e-mail.
3. Check to make sure the website is using encryption. When using Internet Explorer, the yellow lock icon appears in the status bar at the bottom of your screen. Websites using encryption show this lock closed.
4. Routinely review your credit card and bank statements.
5. Report suspected abuses of your personal information to the proper authorities. Notify the company as soon as you suspect a scam. Provide details such as the e-mails you received to the FBI via the Internet Fraud Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov
Keep Your Operating System and Internet Browser Up-to-Date
11/01/2006
Frequently updating your Internet browser on your computer is an easy way to protect yourself against possible lapses in Internet security. Microsoft, Inc. offers updates to their operating system and Internet browser as a download from their Windows Update website.
By following these steps, you can easily ensure that your computer is up-to-date:
1. On your Internet Explorer browser menu, click on "Tools";
2. On the drop down "Tools" menu, click "Windows Update";
3. The "Windows Update" screen will be displayed. Click on the "Express" button to see if any high-priority/critical updates are available.
4. Critical updates will be displayed if they are currently available for your system. Select the Install Updates link to update your Internet Explorer program.
Note: It is recommended that you check your system for updates frequently to ensure the utmost security when conducting business online.
For more information regarding identity theft, please read the Protect Your Money section under our Home Banking link.
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