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Archive for the ‘Safety & Security’ Category

17 Sep 2010

How You Can Help Protect Yourself From Identity Theft II

BankAtlantic

BankAtlantic

 

More facts about Identity Theft:

-  Respondents in the 2008 Identity Theft Resource Center survey spent an average of $739 dollars in out-of-pocket expenses for damage done to an existing account.

-  73% of respondents reported financial only identity theft crimes.

-  The emotional impact of identity theft has been found to parallel that of victims of violent crime. Long term emotional responses included: 30% felt unable to trust people, 4% felt suicidal, 25% were ready to give up the fight, and 10% believed that they have lost everything.

-  In 2008 the level of denied credit and credit card cancellations was at an all-time high of 70%.[1]

Here are some ways to protect yourself at home and at work:

 

At Work: Don’t let an ID thief catch you sleeping on the job.  

-  Keep your purse locked up at work. Workplace theft is more rampant than most people realize. Ask your employer for a safe place to lock your purse or wallet if none is provided.  

-  Ask your employer about its security procedures for personnel files. Make sure they are locked and that there is a policy in place to protect theft. Many cases of identity theft have originated at work, and involved coworkers stealing personal data.  

-  Don’t log onto personal financial accounts from work and don’t set work computers to remember personal passwords automatically. Finally, don’t store personal information in your desk or in work computers. (more…)

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25 Aug 2010

How You Can Help Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

BankAtlantic

BankAtlantic

Some Facts About Identity Theft:

- 11.1 million adults were victims of identity theft in 2009

- The total fraud amount was $54 billion

- The average victim spent 21 hours and $373 out of pocket resolving the crime

- 4.8% of the population was a victim of identity fraud in 2009

- 13% of identity fraud crimes were committed by someone the victim knew[1]

This four part series about identity will include information on various ways to protect your information at home, at work, online, and what to do if it happens to you.

(more…)

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20 Aug 2010

Hurricane Disaster Planning II: Prepare Before a Hurricane Hits

BankAtlantic

BankAtlantic

It is important to take preventive action that can help make you feel more secure during the storm. Having a disaster plan for your family can cut down on the stress and uncertainty when faced with an oncoming hurricane.

Here is a list of other things to do to help protect your family and your assets.floridahouse

• Prepare a personal evacuation plan. Be prepared when a hurricane warning is issued. Identify a safe location for shelter and plan driving directions and alternative routes. Fill your car’s gas tank and keep enough cash handy for emergencies.

• Review your disaster insurance policies, including flood, homeowners, and/or renters insurance. Check to verify the property is fully protected from damage in weather-related natural disasters. Lenders may be able to assist rebuilding efforts with insurance claim information. Often, the lender is listed as a lien holder on the insurance policy and can act as a valuable source of information.

• Review your mortgage information, including loan agreements and escrow papers. Major disasters often rely on records to establish ownership. Having mortgage documentation may shorten the time it takes to collect insurance and benefit claims due to natural disaster loss. Residents who have questions or concerns about their mortgage can contact their local lender, where they can receive information about loan options to rebuild their homes. (more…)

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20 Jul 2010

Hurricane Disaster Planning: Be Safe and Financially Prepared

BankAtlantic

BankAtlantic

Each year, to no surprise, hurricane season rolls around. Being prepared can help prevent loss of life and damage to property. In 2005 Hurricane Wilma left 98% of South Florida without power and destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes with damages reaching $20.6 billion.[1] Family, property, and your financial security are too important to let hurricanes surprise you.

This series will provide tips on how to plan ahead. Series topics include:

- Financial preparedness
- Preparing before the storm hits
- Tips on what to do after the storm
(more…)

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12 Mar 2010

Protect Yourself from E-Mail and Phone Fraud

BankAtlantic

BankAtlantic

Did you know that according to the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) [1], between October 2008 and June 2009, over 11 million computers were infected?

At BankAtlantic, maintaining the privacy and security of your account information is a top priority, which is why we will NEVER request your account information over the phone or via email. If you ever do receive an email or phone call from someone claiming to be from BankAtlantic and they request your private account information, DON’T GIVE IT OUT! It may be “phishing,” a criminal attempt to acquire sensitive information and gain access to your accounts.

If you receive a suspicious email, please forward it to us right away at:

TellUs@BankAtlanticSecurity.com

To send us a secure message, click here. You can also report suspicious phone calls or emails to BankAtlantic’s dedicated 7-Day Customer Service Center at 1-888-7-DAY-BANK (1-888-732-9226).

Protect your identity today!

NEVER reply to an email or pop-up message asking for personal or financial information! Also, NEVER fill out forms in email messages that ask for personal or financial information. ALWAYS delete suspicious emails without opening them. If you do open a suspicious email, don’t open any attachments or click on any links. Keep your computer operating system and Internet browser current by installing and updating virus protection software regularly.

When submitting sensitive information, always make sure the website is secure first.

When it comes to online passwords, the more complex, the better! Use a combination of letters, numbers and capitals, and change your passwords often. If you bank online, monitor your account activity on a daily basis to make certain that all transactions are legitimate.

Read more information on email and phone fraud from BankAtlantic

[1] http://www.antiphishing.org/reports/apwg_report_h1_2009.pdf

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20 Oct 2009

How to Safeguard Your Personal Financial Information

BankAtlantic

BankAtlantic

When it comes to personal finances you can never be too careful. Identity theft, email “phishing”, and credit card theft are all on the rise. At BankAtlantic we’ve taken extra steps to ensure that your information is secure. Below are a few ways that we protect your accounts and some additional tips to help keep your financial information safe.

Preventing Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone steals personal information such as your name, social security number, email address and password, to commit fraud. To help prevent this you should never answer a telephone or email request from a company to verify personal information. Do not use your mother’s maiden name as a password or carry your birth certificate or passport with you. Shred personal documents such as pre-approved credit offers and old credit card receipts.

Signs of Identity Theft and What Action to Take
If you are a victim of identity theft you can minimize damage by catching it early. Watch for strange bills to arrive in your name, debt collection calls for unfamiliar bills, and monitor your monthly credit card statements. If someone does steal your identity, cancel the account(s) that were compromised, notify all of your creditors and financial institutions by calling and in writing, and shred any checks and ATM cards associated with the stolen accounts. You should also file a police report.

Email Phishing
Unfortunately, email phishing (suspicious emails that appear to be from a reputable business asking for your personal information) is on the rise. BankAtlantic will never ask you to enter personal or account information in an email or to download an email attachment. If you accidentally reveal personal information in response to a fraudulent email, call BankAtlantic immediately at 1-800-741-1700; we will protect your accounts and place a fraud alert on your customer record.

Additional Access Authentication
As a safety precaution you will occasionally be prompted to answer your security verification question(s) when logging in to your Bank Atlantic Online Banking Bill Pay account. You can review your security verification question and answer in the “Manage Your Accounts” section under the “User Services” tab on BankAtlantic.com.

For More Information
For additional suggestions on enhancing the security of your financial and personal information and for details on BankAtlantic.com’s security measures please visit our online security policy, https://www.bankatlantic.com/securitypolicy/default.html or call 800-741-1700.

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