Video
A 10-minute educational video that provides an overview of identity theft and outlines the steps consumers can take to deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.
AVOIDING PHISHING ATTACKS AND ID THEFT
Criminals are using many ways to commit identity theft or internet fraud. The methods used by these criminals can vary from a simple email sent to thousands or millions of email addresses requesting personal information, to sophisticated software (malware) loaded onto your PC without your knowledge through email attachments/links, or by clicking on a link from an infected website you visit.
Criminals are also moving to social networking sites Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.
You can help to avoid becoming a victim by following these steps:
1. Regularly scan your PC with current and well known antivirus software programs. Keep those programs with the latest versions as new viruses are created daily.
2. Ensure that any website you visit is legitimate and trusted before clicking on any links.
3. Do not trust any email that urgently requests personal information of any kind. City First Bank of DC and other reputable financial institutions/businesses/organizations do not send these types of email.
4. Never click on links in emails claiming to be from City First Bank of DC, or a legitimate business or organization, until you have confirmed the email is authentic. Many phishing attacks download Trojan horse viruses and other malware onto your computer when a link in the email is clicked on.
5. Never enter your username and password until you are sure you are at a legitimate website. City First Bank of DC or legitimate businesses will never ask you to verify a username, password, debit/ATM card number or PIN via email.
6. Do not call any number or use any link in a suspect email. Always verify the phone number through a reputable source before calling. All valid City First Bank of DC contact numbers can be found on our website.
7. Suspect every impersonal email or those containing spelling or grammatical errors.
8. Phishing attacks often ask for personal financial information. Never fill out personal information of any kind through a form on the Internet that you have accessed via an email link. A request of this kind should be a big warning. City First Bank of DC will never ask for this information via email.
9. Do not open email attachments unless you are expecting to receive one. Even if the sender is known to you, be careful of attachments that are forwarded to you with a generic or impersonal message. In particular, email attachments with ".exe" file extensions are potentially malicious.