The Internet banking service has several effective security techniques that we encourage you to implement when you use the Internet banking service:
- Never reveal your password to anyone or leave your password anywhere that someone else can obtain and use it.
- Change your password on a regular basis.
- Use the Exit button to end each Internet banking session. Do not use the Back button to exit the site.
- Change your session timeout in User Options to a time that meets your needs.
- Balance your account on a regular basis. Internet Banking makes it easy!
Identity Theft Information
Fraud Prevention Information
The information below will help you recognize common fraud schemes.
Don’t Be the Victim of a Check Scam!
Account Fraud Prevention Brochure
Work from Home Scam
Example: Work from home scam
Lottery Scam
Example: Lottery scam
Jury Duty Scam
Example: Jury Duty scam
Victim Testimonials
Security Tips, Games and Videos at OnGuard Online
This site provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry. Click the image below to learn more.
Tips from the Fraud Prevention Department
The most recent examples of fraud can be found below. Please check this space often for the most up-to-date information we have.- November 2009
NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association has received reports that individuals and/or companies have received a fraudulent e-mail that has the appearance of having been sent from NACHA warning users about failed ACH transactions. See sample below.
The e-mail includes a link that, if clicked, redirects the individual to a fake web page that appears to be a NACHA website and contains a link that almost certainly leads to a Jabber/Zeus malware download.
Phishing E-mail Sample ContentFrom: nacha.org [mailto:report@nacha.org]Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:25 AMTo: Doe, John
Subject: Rejected ACH transaction, please review the transaction reportDear bank account holder,The ACH transaction, recently initiated from your bank account, was rejected by the Electronic Payments Association. Please review the transaction report by clicking the link below:
Unauthorized ACH Transaction Report(this is how the link is presented)= = = = = End of Sample E-mail = = = = = = - October 2009
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has become aware of e-mails appearing to be sent from the FDIC that are asking recipients to download and open a "personal FDIC insurance file" to check their deposit insurance coverage. These e-mails are fraudulent and were not sent by the FDIC. The FDIC is attempting to identify the source of the e-mails and disrupt the transmission.
Currently, the subject line of the fraudulent e-mails includes the wording "check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage." The e-mails state: "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets."
The e-mails ask recipients to "visit the official FDIC website" by clicking on a hyperlink provided, which appears to be related to the FDIC and directs recipients to a fraudulent Web site. The Web site includes hyperlinks that appear to open forms. However, it is believed that clicking on the hyperlinks will cause an unknown executable file to be downloaded. While the FDIC is working with the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) to determine the exact effects of the executable file, recipients should consider the intent of the software as a malicious attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to online banking services or to conduct identity theft. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the Web site or download the executable files provided on the Web site.
Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-3054, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.
For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2009/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.
- October 2009
A fresh string of phishing attacks have struck financial institutions nationwide. Fraudsters have sent mass text messages to hundreds of random cell phones claiming to be their bank. Typically, recipients receive a text message claiming their bank card has been deactivated and instructing them to call a toll-free number to reactivate it. In actuality, these culprits are tricking individuals into providing their debit card number, checking account number, and even their personal identification number.
Republic Bank will never ask you to provide personal information through a text message, email or unsolicited phone call.
- March 2009
Have you ever heard of malware? Malware is formed from the words malicious and software and is a general term used by computer professionals to refer to many different kinds of computer software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner’s knowledge or consent. Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware and many other malicious and unwanted software types.
Sometimes referred to as Bankpatch.C, Agent-IPS Trojan or by several other names (there are several known variants), some malware targets online banking users. Once the infection is present, the malware attempts to trick users by popping up fraudulent login screens for the purpose of acquiring sensitive data such as usernames, passwords, challenge questions, token challenge numbers and other information.
You can help protect yourself from malware by keeping your anti-virus software up to date and running and by keeping you operating systems and applications updated with the latest patches from the manufactures.
As a general precaution, you should close all other browser sessions and tabs before logging into a banking session. Also exercise extreme caution when you notice login windows or messages that appear strange or different.
- November 2008
Many banks in our area have clients who have received phone calls telling them that there is a problem with their credit/debit card. They are given a phone number to call to resolve the problem. When they call the number they are asked to enter their credit card number and expiration date. Republic Bank will never call you and ask for your account or card number. If we call you we will have your card number.
Never give your card or account number over the phone unless you called the bank directly. Never give out your PIN/password over the phone or internet for any reason.
Do not open any email unless you know the person who is sending it to you. Viruses and Spyware that can take over your computer are easily spread through unsolicited email.
- Scheme Purportedly Announcing A Millionaire Contest
The Internet Crime Complaint Center of the FBI (IC3) has been alerted to the circulation of a fraudulent e-mail, purportedly from The Oprah Winfrey Show, notifying recipients of their nomination for the “Oprah Millionaire Contest Show.” To participate, recipients are requested to mail their contact information such as full name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address; however, no mailing address was provided. Verified contestants are then required to purchase airfare and a ticket to attend The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as complete a forthcoming contest form containing personal questions. The contestants are then promised a seat for The Oprah Winfrey Show in April and asked to provide their responses to the personal questions for a chance to win a million dollars.
Consumers always need to be alert to unsolicited e-mails. Do not open unsolicited e-mails or click on any embedded links, as they may contain viruses or malware. Providing your personally identifiable information will compromise your identity!
Individuals who receive such e-mails are encouraged to file a complaint at www.ic3.gov
- Fake Military Twist On Vehicle Sale Scams
The FBI continues to receive reports of individuals victimized while attempting to purchase vehicles via the Internet. Victims find attractively priced vehicles advertised at different Internet classified ad sites. Most of the scams include some type of third-party vehicle protection program to ensure a safe transaction. After receiving convincing e-mails from the phony vehicle protection program, the victims are directed to send either the full payment, or a percentage of the payment, to the third-party agent via a wire payment service. No vehicles are delivered to the victims.
In a new twist, scammers are posing as members of the United States military. The fictitious military personnel in the scam have either been sent to a foreign country to improve military relations, or they need to sell a vehicle quickly and cheaply because of their upcoming deployment to either Iraq or Afghanistan.
Consumers are advised to do as much due diligence as possible before engaging in transactions to purchase vehicles advertised online. Consumers are also cautioned to be aware of the rules of or warnings posted by the Internet sites they visit. If someone is asking you as a consumer to break or avoid the rules of the website, it is possible that person is trying to scam you
- Work-At-Home Scams
Consumers need to be vigilant when seeking employment online. The IC3 continues to receive numerous complaints from individuals who have fallen victim to work-at-home scams.
Victims are often hired to “process payments,” “transfer funds,” or “reship products.” These job scams involve the victims receiving and cashing fraudulent checks, transferring illegally obtained funds for the criminals, or receiving stolen merchandise and shipping it to the criminals.
Other victims sign up to be a “mystery shopper,” receiving fraudulent checks with instructions to cash the checks and wire the funds to “test” a company’s services. Victims are told they will be compensated with a portion of the merchandise or funds.
Work-at-home schemes attract otherwise innocent individuals, causing them to become part of criminal schemes without realizing they are engaging in illegal behavior.
Job scams often provide criminals the opportunity to commit identity theft when victims provide their personal information, sometimes even bank account information, to their potential “employer.” The criminal/employer can then use the victim’s information to open credit cards, post on-line auctions, register websites, etc., in the victim’s name to commit additional crimes.
