Financial well-being December 2, 2015 By
Holiday fraud could put a damper on your holiday festivities, but you can prevent the trouble with these tips from First United Bank.
Never provide personal info when solicited by phone or email. Called “phishing,” scammers may pose as a legitimate source and ask you to provide them with your personal information.
Donate only to charities you know. The holidays are the season of giving, but take caution with charities that solicit donations from you, particularly when you haven’t heard of them. If a new charity seems like a worthy cause, verify it at charitynavigator.org.
Invest in identity protection. For less than $6 a month, First United Bank offers Secure Checking accounts as a simple way to protect yourself and your family against identity fraud. This feature monitors customers’ credit with all three credit bureaus, reimburses fraudulent charges, and provides a service to resolve identity theft.
Report lost debit or credit cards quickly. If a card goes missing during your holiday shopping, report it immediately. If you expect to have limited Internet access, jot down your card carrier’s phone number in a safe place, so you have what you need to report the missing card with little delay. First United Bank’s customers with the mobile app, can easily turn their card off or on in real time.
Check the website address when shopping online. When a website address shows “https” that means it’s a secure site to enter your payment information. Also check the spelling of the merchant’s website. Any difference from the retailer’s main website address could mean that the website’s security has been compromised.
Protect your business. Businesses can also be protected from fraud with First United Bank’s Positive Pay, a service that red flags fraudulent charges through a verification process. When a check from your business is presented for payment, Positive Pay matches it to records that have been previously authorized by the business.
