Identity Theft and Fraud Prevention

At Jasper Banking Company, we take Internet security seriously. We value our customers and the relationships we have built with you and your family and hope that you never become the victim of Cyber-Fraud or Identity Theft. Because Cyber-Fraud and Identity Theft are such fast-growing crimes, we want you to be aware of the basic precautions you can take to protect yourself.

Internet fraud can be any type of scheme that uses the Internet—chat rooms, email, message boards or websites—to deceive prospective victims. These schemes, scams and frauds take advantage of the Internet’s unique capabilities—sending email messages worldwide in seconds or posting website information that is readily accessible from anywhere in the world — to carry out fraud quicker than ever possible in the past.

• Phishing
  Phishing is a high-tech scam that uses spam or pop-up messages to trick you into disclosing your personal credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords or other sensitive information.
  
  Phishers send an e-mail or pop-up message that claims to be from a business or organization that you deal with. For example, the e-mail may purport to be from your Internet service provider (ISP), bank, online payment service, or even a government agency.
  
  The message usually says that you need to "update" or "validate" your account information. It might threaten some dire consequence if you don't respond. The message usually contains a link to what appears to be the bank WEB site that looks just like a legitimate organization's site but is in fact a bogus site created to STEAL your identity and account information.
  
  Cyber-Defense Tactics against Phishing:
  
  
  • If you receive an email that warns you, with little or no notice, that your account will be shut down unless you reconfirm certain information, do not click on the email link. Instead, use a phone number or enter the web address yourself. Clicking on a link that looks legitimate may in fact direct you to a fraudulent website where crooks will steal your personal information. Remember, Jasper Banking Company or a government agency will never send you an alert asking you to disclose your personal information.
  
  
  • Before submitting any financial information to a legitimate website, look for the “lock” icon on the browser status bar, or look for “https” in the web address. Both are indications that the information is secure and encrypted during transmission.
    

• Spoofing
  Web spoofing allows an attacker to create a “shadow copy” of any legitimate website. Access to the shadow web is funneled through the attacker’s machine, allowing the attacker to monitor all of the victim’s activities, including any passwords or account numbers the victim enters. The attacker can also cause false or misleading data to be sent to web servers in the victim’s name, or to the victim in the name of any web server. In spoofing, an attacker gains unauthorized access to a computer or a network by making it appear that a malicious message has come from a trusted machine by “spoofing” the address of that machine. Phishing and spoofing often go hand-in hand in Internet fraud.
  
  Cyber-Defense Tactics Against Spoofing:
  
  
  • Be wary of unsolicited or unexpected emails from all sources.
  
  
  • If an unsolicited email arrives, treat it as you would a phishing source. Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from e-mails you receive, regardless of who sent them.
    

• Identity Theft and Fraud
  Internet fraudsters often use identity theft as a starting point for larger crimes. In one case, criminals obtained the names and social security numbers of military personnel then used them to apply to a bank over the Internet for credit cards. In another case, stolen personal data was used to submit car loan applications online.
  
  Cyber Defense Tactics against Identity Theft:
  
  
  • Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to determine whether there are any unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.
  
  
  • Your personal information can be obtained by “phishing,” “spoofing,” or the old fashioned way — dumpster diving. Make sure your unused checks, bills, credit/debit card receipts, credit card applications you receive in the mail where you have already been pre-qualified and statements are shredded before discarding.
    

General Tips against Cyber-Fraud:
Use Anti-Virus Software and keep it up to date. Some phishing emails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge. Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files. Anti-virus software scans incoming communications for troublesome files. Look for anti-virus software that recognizes current viruses as well as older ones; that can effectively reverse the damage; and that updates automatically.

Use a firewall. A firewall helps make you invisible on the Internet and blocks all communications from unauthorized sources. It’s especially important to run a firewall if you have a broadband connection. Finally, your operating system (like Windows, Mac OS or Linux) may offer free software “patches” to close holes in the system that hackers or phishers could exploit.

Use Common Sense. The Internet is a great tool for information, and to conduct on-line business, as long as consumers take appropriate precautions and are aware of the possibility that someone may be trying to scam them. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

You can file a complaint with the FTC against a company or organization that you believe has cheated you by contacting the Consumer Response Center by phone: toll free 877-FTCHELP (382-4357) – TTY: 202-326-2502

Consumer Resources:
The consumer information links below exist to assist customers in locating information about online security and providing guidance on how to file complaints when appropriate.

• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) www.ic3.gov
  The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National White Collar Crime Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance.  IC3's mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime.  The IC3 gives the victims of cyber crime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local and international level, IC3 provides a central referral mechanism for complaints involving Internet related crimes.
  

• Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force www.stopfraud.gov
  The Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force maintains a wide list of resources and information dedicated to helping find and report suspected cases of financial fraud.
  

• On Guard Online www.onguardonline.gov
  On Guard Online provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.
  

• FDIC Consumer Protection www.fdic.gov/consumers/theft/
  FDIC provides a list of resources on how to protect yourself from identity theft and fraud.
  

• FirstGov (Official portal of the U.S. Government) www.firstgov.gov
  “FirstGov” is a free-access website designed to give a centralized place to find information from local, state, and U.S. Government Agency websites. Consumers may call the toll-free number at 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636).
  

• Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General www.ssa.gov/oig/guidelin.htm
  The Social Security Administration provides guidelines for reporting fraud concerning Social Security benefits and crimes involving the misuse of Social Security Numbers.  To report fraud: 800-269-0271
  

• Microsoft Online Safety www.microsoft.com/protect/
  Online safety and private education for users of Windows.
  

• Apple Product Security www.apple.com/support/security/
  Guides and products to enhance the security of your Apple product.