Understanding Common Online Threats
Phishing is the practice of sending fake e-mails that pretend to be from a trusted source. They ask you to click onto a fraudulent website that looks just like the real one and then they try to solicit personal information from you. Your best defense here is to delete any suspicious e-mails that you receive.
Malware is designed to infiltrate and damage computers without you knowing about it. Some examples are viruses and worms. Again, your best defense is to be aware of who is sending you e-mails and deleting the suspicious ones.
Pharming intercepts Internet traffic and routes it to a fraudulent site where the user is susceptible to malicious activity. Your best defense is to stay away from Web sites that aren’t known to be at least reasonably trustworthy and not to blindly click on links in emails.
Fraudulent Emails and Scam
The email provides a link to what appears to be a WashingtonFirst site but is really a fraudulent Web site. This is an attempt to steal your personal information or download spyware. These emails are fraudulent. WashingtonFirst will NEVER send you an email REQUESTING confidential account or personal information.
Service Deactivation Threat
Fraudulent emails often circulate claiming some account services will be deactivated or deleted. It asks you to sign in to a fraudulent Web site to renew these services in an attempt to steal your personal information.
Virus Alert—Install Software Update
Another fraudulent email claims "our" firewall has determined that emails containing worm copies are being sent from your computer. It asks that you install updates for worm elimination and "your computer restoring." A file is attached and may be named something like "Update-KB1218-w86exe". This email or any like it are NOT from WashingtonFirst. This is a scam. Any action taken as a result of such an email could compromise your computer. WashingtonFirst will NEVER send you an email requesting the download of software.
"Account Manager" Scam
One email and the Web scam offers to let you become an "Account Manager" or "Transfer Agent" for a third party, usually someone in an ex-Soviet bloc country.
Scammers try to solicit you through an email or an advertisement on the Web, offering to let you "work from home" and be an Account Manager or "Money Transfer Agent" for them, thus letting you "earn" commissions (usually 5%) for your trouble. They then transfer money OUT of an unsuspecting person's account and into yours. Once the money is in your account, they ask you to send it to them via Western Union.
Counterfeit Cashier's Check Scam
In response to a listing on an Internet auction or other site, a buyer (often from a foreign country) purchases the item and sends you a cashier’s check for a lot more than the agreed-upon selling price. The buyer then asks you to wire the excess funds back. Within a week, the bank is notified that the check is a worthless counterfeit and you are out thousands of dollars. In these scams, the cashier’s checks are excellent counterfeits and very difficult to spot.
In another twist to this scam, the buyer requests your bank account and routing numbers so that he or she may wire funds to your account. Do NOT give your account numbers to anyone.
Million Dollar Sweepstakes or Windfall Scam
In another widespread scheme, a person receives an unsolicited letter, email or fax from an “official” in a foreign government offering to share a multimillion dollar windfall in “over-invoiced contract funds.” It sounds too good to be true—and it is.
The “official” claims to need your bank account number and other personal information to transfer the money out of his country. And he will also “need” up-front cash from you to bribe other officials. You could lose the entire contents of your checking account. Beware! Remember...if an offer sounds too good to be true—it probably is!
Visa®/MasterCard® Security Code Scam
In this scam, the caller claims to work for the fraud department at Visa or MasterCard and tells you his badge number. He then asks if you recently purchased an anti-telemarketing device for $500. When you say "no," he tells you that his fraud department has been watching that company. He offers to block the charge. Because he has secured your name, credit card number and expiration date from a charge receipt, he is convincing when he provides you with this information to verify.
What he does not know—and wants you to divulge—is the three-digit security code on the back of your card. Without it, he cannot use your credit card number to shop on many sites on the Internet. Don't give out your code. Hang up.
To begin with, credit card companies—such as Visa and MasterCard—are not the credit card issuer. Financial institutions—such as banks and credit unions—issue credit cards. And credit card companies DO NOT call cardholders asking to disclose any information about their cards.
WashingtonFirst Bank strives to provide the latest in banking products, services, and technology while at the same time protecting your personal financial information. Be sure to contact us at (202) 587-7000 with any questions or concerns you may have.
Identity Theft
WHAT IS IDENTITY (ID) THEFT?
Identity Theft occurs when someone uses your personal information [credit card account numbers, social security number or other financial information] without permission to commit fraud or other crimes. Learning about Identity Theft can help protect yourself and give you information on what to do if you suspect that you are a victim of Identity Theft.
HOW IS YOUR IDENTITY STOLEN?
There are numerous methods now in play to get your personal financial information:
- Dumpster Diving: Going through your trash
- Skimming: Stealing credit card account numbers with a special storage device
- Phishing: Pretending to be a financial institution and sending spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal personal information
- Changing Your Address: Diverting some or all your mail to another address
- Stealing: Your wallets and purses, bank statements, credit offers and new checks
TIPS ON PROTECTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
At WashingtonFirst Bank, we work hard every day to ward off threats of identity theft, but maximum security is possible only with your help. Here’s what you can do:
- Don’t give out financial information over the phone unless you initiate the call.
- Report lost or stolen checks immediately. Review your delivery of new checks to make certain none were stolen in transit.
- Store personal information in a safe place and tear up or shred credit card receipts and statements, ATM receipts and credit offers.
- Guard your credit card and ATM Personal Identification Number (PIN). Never write it on the card.
- Pay attention to when you receive your credit card statements each month. Call your credit card company if you do not receive a monthly statement to verify whether someone filed a false change-of-address to divert your mail.
- Order the free copy of your credit report from the three credit reporting agencies every year. Click on this link: https://www.annualcreditreport.com for ordering information.
COULD YOU BE A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT?
To learn more about Identity Theft and the “Identity Theft Task Force” or if you think you may be a victim of Identity Theft, the Federal Trade Commission’s website is the place to start. Click on this link: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ to go to their “Deter, Detect and Defend” Identity Theft home page.
Safe Online Banking Tips
Secure and Reliable
At WashingtonFirst Bank we recognize how important it is for our customers to feel confident in the knowledge that their online banking experience is free from “security worries”. Whether you are paying bills, transferring money between accounts or reviewing your balances, you are in a secure website. Here’s some ways we do that:
- Everyone has their own unique online ID and password which is always the first line of defense. They should not be written down or shared with anyone.
- We employ Multi-Factor Authentication which includes not only your online ID and password, but also challenge questions based upon your activity. A Personal Identification Image that is assigned to you assures you are always logged into our WashingtonFirst Bank website.
Safeguarding Precautions
Follow these suggestions to help keep your information protected while online either banking, shopping, or just ‘surfing’:
- Your password should be a combination of letters and numbers that is not easily guessed such as your birth date, anniversary, or home address.
- Don’t provide any personal information in replies to e-mails from someone you do not know or to addresses you don’t recognize.
- Make certain that you have an anti-virus protection program that will scan all incoming e-mails for computer viruses.
