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Customer Identification Program In an effort to prevent the use of the U.S. Banking System in terrorist and other illegal activity, A.J. Smith Federal Savings is complying with federal regulations to obtain, verify and record identification from all persons establishing a new account or being added as signatories to existing accounts.
Please do not be offended when asked for identification as these requirements cannot be waived.
Phishing There’s a new type of Internet piracy called “phishing.” It’s pronounced “fishing,” and that’s exactly what these thieves are doing,: “fishing” for your personal financial information. What they want are account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers, and other confidential information that they can use to loot your checking account or run up bills on your credit cards. In the worst case, you could find yourself a victim of identity theft. With the sensitive information obtained from a successful phishing scam, these thieves can take out loans or obtain credit cards and even driver’s licenses in your name. They can do damage to your financial history and personal reputation that can take years to unravel. But if you understand how phishing works and how to protect yourself, you can help stop this crime. Here’s how phishing works: In a typical case, you’ll receive an e-mail that appears to come from a reputable company that you recognize and do business with, such as your financial institution. In some cases, the e-mail may appear to come from a government agency, including one of the federal financial institution regulatory agencies. The e-mail will probably warn you of a serious problem that requires your immediate attention. It may use phrases, such as “Immediate attention required,” or “Please contact us immediately about your account.” In a phishing scam, you would be requested to reply to an email and provide personal information to rectify any problems with either your account or personal information. If you provide the requested information, you may find yourself the victim of identity theft.
Pharming There is a second popular Internet threat and it's called Pharming (pronounced "farming"), which refers to the redirection of an individual to an illegitimate Web site through technical means. An Internet banking customer, who routinely logs in to his or her online banking Web site, may be redirected to an illegitimate Web site instead of accessing his or her bank's Web site. Here's one way it could be done.... You normally log into www.ajsmithbank.com for Internet Banking. You receive an email that reads “There is a question about your AJ Smith Checking Account. Please click the following link to log in to your Internet Banking account – www.ajsmthbank.com . If you look closely, the link you are to follow is missing the “i” in Smith. This is when the switch to an illegitimate Web site occurs. If this was an actual Pharming setup, clicking this link would have taken you to a Web site that although looks very legitimate, is not. Now when you continue by typing in your user ID and Password, you have just provided the Pharming thief with your log in information. There are other ways of Pharming, but the above example is probably the one used the most because it is the easiest to accomplish. Rule of thumb – legitimate companies will NEVER ask to confirm or check information through an email or email link. If you receive such a request, you should always contact them by phone to verify any information.
How to Protect Yourself 1 Never provide your personal information in response to an unsolicited request, whether it is over the phone or over the Internet. E-mails and Internet pages created by phishers and pharmers may look exactly like the real thing. They may even have a fake padlock icon that ordinarily is used to denote a secure site. If you did not initiate the communication, you should not provide any information. Always review what URL (Internet address) you have been moved to, when clicking a link inside of an email. 2 If you believe the contact may be legitimate, contact the financial institution yourself. You can find phone numbers and Web sites on the monthly statements you receive from your financial institution, or you can look the company up in a phone book or on the Internet. The key is that you should be the one to initiate the contact, using contact information that you have verified yourself. 3 Never provide your password over the phone or in response to an unsolicited Internet request. A financial institution would never ask you to verify your account information online. Thieves armed with this information and your account number can help themselves to your savings. 4 Review account statements regularly to ensure all charges are correct. If your account statement is late in arriving, call your financial institution to find out why. If your financial institution offers electronic account access, periodically review activity online to catch suspicious activity.
What to do if you fall victim: Contact your financial institution immediately and alert it to the situation. If you have disclosed sensitive information in a phishing or pharming attack, you should also contact one of the three major credit bureaus and discuss whether you need to place a fraud alert on your file, which will help prevent thieves from opening a new account in your name. Here is the contact information for each bureau’s fraud division: Equifax Experian TransUnion 800-525-6285 888-397-3742 800-680-7289 P.O. Box 740250 PO Box 1017 PO Box 6790 Atlanta, GA 30374 Allen, TX 75013 Fullerton, CA 92634 Report all suspicious contacts to the Federal Trade Commission through the Internet at www.consumer.gov/idtheft , or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT. You Can Fight Identity Theft, Here’s How: Never provide personal financial information, including your Social Security number, account numbers or passwords, over the phone or the Internet if you did not initiate the contact. Never click on the link provided in an e-mail you believe is fraudulent. It may contain a virus that can contaminate your computer. Do not be intimidated by an e-mail or caller who suggests dire consequences if you do not immediately provide or verify financial information. If you believe the contact is legitimate, go to the company’s Web site by typing in the site address directly or using a page you have previously book marked, instead of a link provided in the e-mail. If you fall victim to an attack, act immediately to protect yourself. Alert your financial institution. Place fraud alerts on your credit files. Monitor your credit files and account statements closely. Report suspicious e-mails or calls to the Federal Trade Commission through the Internet at www.consumer.gov/idtheft , or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT.
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