Fraud Education
5 tips to keep your debit card safe and lower your chances of fraudulent use.
Monitor your credit union account -
Make sure you are watching your checking account. The more often you check your account, the sooner you will recognize suspicious transactions and be able to stop them.
We make monitoring your account easy with our Online Banking and our Mobile App, with these two services you can see what we see on your account.
Turn off your debit card when you are not using it -
One feature that is located on our Online Banking and Mobile App is called “Remote Control Cards”. This feature lets you turn your card off (put a block on the card) while you are not using it. When you need to use the card, simply turn the card on and it is ready to go. Turning your card off will prevent any fraudulent transactions from posting to your card.
If you use your card occasionally, or if you use your card online, this feature can be very handy and stop fraud before it hits your account.
Download the SHAZAM BOLT$ App -
SHAZAM BOLT$ is an app for your smart phone that was created by our card processor SHAZAM. This app will let you set up customized alerts which will notify you when your card is used.
The app also lets you know what merchants are trying to get authorizations on your card. If you do not recognize the merchant, then you know there is a high probability that it is fraud and you can shut off your card.
SHAZAM BOLT$ also gives you the ability to shut off your card right through the app. This app also has other helpful features that will help you lower your risk of debit card fraud.
Be smarter with your debit card online -
A vast majority of debit card fraud occurs on the internet. When you purchase an item from an internet vendor, your card information is vulnerable to being stolen and used frequently.
No matter how secure the website claims to be, thieves and hackers eventually will gain access to a website that you have used. Sometimes it is the employees of the company that you made a purchase from that will steal the card information and sell it on the internet.
Regardless of how it happens, be smart when you go online with your card.
Consider using a credit card to make your online purchases. Credit cards offer more protection under consumer protection laws.
Make sure that the website you are purchasing from is reputable and has many security features.
If you are going to use our card online, consider getting a new card with a new number every couple of years. Often thieves will not sell or use your card information right when they obtain it. They will wait and sell the information months or years later. By getting a new number, you can thwart this activity before it can have an effect on your account.
Be vigilant with your debit card -
When you are using your card at a store or gas station or wherever, be vigilant. Cover your PIN when you are using an ATM machine. Never write your PIN number on your debit card. Choose a PIN number that is not easy to guess. Use ATM machines that are in secure locations. ATM machines that are “out of the way” are susceptible to thieves tampering with them. Skimming devices can be planted on the machine and you will be totally unaware that someone is stealing your card information while you are using the ATM machine.
Keep your information current with us. This will help us notify you quickly if there is suspected fraud.
Lastly, never give your card information to anyone over the phone, internet, or by email unless you are the one that initiated the contact. There are countless schemes that request your card information with the promise of big returns.