Who’d ever think that 50 years ago, your money was safer in your bank account than it is today in this “modern” age: remote theft. If you bank with a large or small bank, your account may be at risk by hacking rings.
However, most of the time, but not always, if your account is drained by a cyber thief, the bank will cover it for you.
The latest information is that a big attack is planned in the spring, but it’s the “It’s easier to get one dollar from a million people than it is to get a million bucks from one person” type of attack plan. The apparent hacking plan involves stinging mass numbers of banking customers via the customers’ computers.
Because banks are a favorite target for cyber thieves, financial institutions are always improving their cyber security. However, criminals get into bank accounts by suckering customers into revealing personal information; we’re talking thieves who don’t directly hack the bank, but hack YOU.
- Never click links inside e-mails—including those that SEEM to be coming from PayPal, Chase or whatever institution you use.
- Typically, these scam messages are constructed by thieves posing as your bank. They tell you your account is about to be compromised, or there are suspicious withdrawals or something else to grab your attention, and that to correct the problem, you must visit their site and enter some information. This is a scam to get your login information! The phony site that the link goes to is constructed to look exactly like the authentic bank sites.
- If you’re not convinced these scammy e-mails you got have gone to a million other people, then phone your bank and inquire about the message.
- Never use the “remember your computer” option that banks offer. Forget the convenience; just deal with the login hassle every time for better security.
- Don’t hide your savings in your house because you figure they’re safer there. If you follow the aforementioned rules, your money will be far safer in your bank than hidden inside your toddler’s teddy bear.
Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert to TheBestCompanys.com discussing identity theft prevention. For Roberts FREE ebook text- SECURE Your@emailaddress -to 411247. Disclosures.
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