| Bank with Security and Privacy |
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Pay bills online as a replacement for mailing paper checks. If you do use paper checks,
store them in a secure location |
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Arrange for your paycheck and other regular deposits to be made using direct deposit.
It’s not only more secure; it’s more convenient, too |
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Eliminate having your statements sent to you in the mail. Instead, get statements
delivered to your personal email |
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Review your bank statements, as well as credit card statements to ensure all transactions
are accurate |
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In place of carrying cash, use an Ocean Bank MasterCard Check Card to make purchases.
If you do use the ATM, do so with full awareness of your surroundings |
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Create Online User IDs, Passwords and PINs that are not easy to guess and
change them frequently |
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Avoid using public computers to access online banking |
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| Secure Personal Information |
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Request a free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies at least once a year. Examine the reports to ensure accuracy. To request reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228. If you have a discrepancy, report it immediately by contacting the agency:
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Equifax 800-525-6285 / Experian 888-397-3742 / TransUnion 800-680-7289 |
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Shred or destroy all documents that contain personal information. This includes direct mail with special promotions that may contain your name, address and other personal information |
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Store all personal documents such as social security cards, birth certificates, passports,
real estate deeds and legal documents in a safe deposit box |
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Never give personal information over the phone to an unsolicited caller |
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Be careful when giving out your social security number; avoid carrying your social security
card in your wallet. Instead, store it in a safe deposit box |
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Avoid storing your car registration and automotive insurance card in your car |
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If out of town for an extended period of time, take advantage of free hold mail service
offered by the United States Post Office |
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Avoid mailing checks and other correspondence with personal information in a
curbside mailbox |
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Never give personal, bank or credit card information over the telephone unless you have initiated the contact |
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| Shop Online with Confidence |
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Be cautious when making purchases from unknown merchants |
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Use a credit card instead of a debit card to make online purchases to avoid giving merchants direct access to your account |
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Before entering personal information, be sure the site is secure by checking the URL in
your browser bar at the top of your computer screen. A secure URL will begin with “https”,
as opposed to the normal "http". The 's' at the end of the series of characters means the connection is secure |
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When available, opt to use secure methods of payment that do not involve sending
account information online |
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If you are a frequently online shopper, consider getting a credit card with a limited low limit to use just for making online purchases to minimize your potential exposure |
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Remember to logout once you have completed your transaction |
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Avoid using public computers to make online purchases |
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| Protect Yourself When Using Email, Internet, Wireless Networks and Text Messaging |
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Use caution when opening emails and text messages from unknown sources |
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Never provide personal information to unknown sources unless you have solicited
the interaction |
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Store online user IDs, passwords and other login data in a secure location; avoid storing this information on your phone or other portable device that may get lost or stolen |
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Change User IDs and passwords frequently |
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Load and continually upgrade virus protection software on your computer |
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Destroy the hard drive of a computer that you dispose of or donate |
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When setting up a personal wireless internet connection at your home or office, be sure to follow the encryption instructions. Encryption ensures that only authorized users access your connection. As part of this process, you will be asked to create a WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol) key. Use a series of numbers or letters that is not easy to guess |
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Be patient when asked to answer security questions in order to access an online account.
These questions are layers of protection that help ensure a safe online environment |
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Please note that Ocean Bank will never use email or text to request personal information
or account information. |
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| Definition of Terms |
| Encryption -
The encoding of information that makes it unreadable |
Firewall - A barrier on your computer than prevents the transmission of certain types of information
that are detected |
Identity Theft - All types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another
person’s personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain
(Source: U.S. Justice Department) |
Malware - Software that has the potential to harm computer programs installed on your computer
and prevent them from operating as intended |
| Phishing - Email messages that are intended to solicit personal information for wrongful purposes |
SMShing (SMS text phishing) - Text messages that are intended to solicit personal information
for wrongful purposes |
| Spam - Largely broadcasted email from unsolicited sources, primarily marketers |
| Virus - A series of codes that prevents computer programs from operating as intended |
| Whaling - Spam that specifically targets executives (big fish) of companies |
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