How You Can Protect Yourself

1. Use Strong Passwords

- Use a passphrase: Create a memorable phrase instead of a single word.
- Length matters: Ensure your password is at least 16 characters long and includes upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Unique passwords: Use different passwords for each site.
- Avoid easy guesses: Don’t use personal information, dictionary words, or easily guessed passwords.
- Multifactor authentication: Enable it wherever possible.

2. Protect Your Devices

- Antimalware: Install and regularly update antimalware software.
- Updates: Keep your devices and software up to date.
- Backups: Regularly backup your important information.

For more tips, visit Banks Never Ask That

Identity Theft

What is it?

Identity Theft is when someone steals another person’s personal information to open accounts, make purchases, or commit other crimes in the original person’s name.

How to Protect Yourself:

- Personal information: Don’t release any personal information to unknown callers.
- Credit reports: Regularly review your credit reports at Annual Credit Report
- Credit freeze: If your identity has been compromised, consider freezing your credit to prevent new accounts from being opened.
For more information, visit USA.gov Identity Theft

Common Fraud Scams

Scammers are experts in separating you from your money. Technology has allowed them to create new ways to trick you and improve on classic scams. Remember, government and legitimate businesses will not coerce or threaten you to send them money. They don’t need to log into your computer and online banking to refund your money.

Tips to Protect Yourself:

- Remote access: Don’t allow anyone who has contacted you to remotely access your devices.
- Caller-ID: Don’t trust it. Hang up and call the legitimate number for the company to confirm they called.
- Job listings: Verify that the job listing is for a legitimate company before providing personal information. If the job is too good to be true, it probably isn’t.

Specific Scams:

- Business Email Compromise (BEC): If you receive an email from a business demanding payment, call them directly to verify.
- Tech Support: Never allow anyone to access your computer who has contacted you. Verify the correct contact information for any tech support number. Don’t trust popups.
- Social Media Scams:
  - Romance: Be cautious with online relationships, especially if someone asks for money.
  - 419 Scam: Victims are promised large sums of money in exchange for an upfront fee. The name comes from the Nigerian Criminal Code section 419.
  - Grandparent Scam: Criminals pretend to be loved ones in distress, often asking for bail money.
  - Online Marketplace: Both buyers and sellers can be targeted. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

How to Report

Newfield National Bank - Contact Us
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)