Security StatementAt Hometown Bank, 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. |
PhishingPhishing 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. Listed are a few tips to help you avoid getting hooked by a phishing scam: Your Cyber-Defense Tactics
SpoofingWeb 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. Your Cyber-Defense Tactics
Identity Theft FraudsInternet 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. Your Cyber-Defense Tactics
General Tips Against Cyber-FraudUse 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. Look for anti-virus software that recognizes current viruses as well as older ones; that can effectively reverse the damage; and that updates automatically. 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. Patch your software. This is especially important for your operating system (like Windows or Linux) which generally offer free software "patches" to close holes in the system that hackers or phishers could exploit. Automatically install current updates when they are made available from the vendors. Use Common Sense.Contact Hometown Bank to report suspicious activity or with questions about this security statement.Consumer ResourcesThe 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. The consumer information links below exist to assist customers in locating information and providing guidance on how to file complaints when appropriate.
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