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Privacy & Security > Fraud & Identity Theft
Fraud and Identity Theft Prevention
Fraud Summary
We are committed to help you fight fraud and identity theft.
Identity theft is the most popular – and profitable – form of consumer fraud. It occurs when someone else uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other identifying information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.
Continue reading to learn about the different types of fraud and how to prevent them, from spyware and other computer fraud to mail and phone fraud to e-mail phishing and web spoofing. You can also read some general tips below to help protect yourself.
Common ways identity theft can happen
- “Old-Fashioned” stealing. Thieves typically steal wallets and purses. They also steal mail such as credit card and bank statements, pre-approved credit card offers, check orders and other financial mail.
- Dumpster Diving. Thieves dig through trash looking for bills, financial and other personal information.
- Change of Address. Thieves modify or redirect your billing statements to another address by completing a “change of address” form.
- Phishing. Thieves may send unsolicited e-mails, pretending to be a financial institution or a company, asking you to click a link to update or confirm your personal or login information. The link is directed to a “spoof” website designed to look like a legitimate site.
- Skimming. Thieves may use a card reader device to copy the card’s magnetic strip to duplicate without the owner’s knowledge.
Keep track of transactions on your accounts by logging in to “online banking”, where you can view up-to-the-minute activity as it occurs throughout the day.
Protect you personal information
- Do not carry your social security card in your wallet.
- Do not have personal information such as your social security number and driver’s license number printed on your checks.
- Keep your new and cancelled checks in a safe place.
- Do not leave your purse, wallet, checkbook, or any other forms of identification in your car.
- Shred or tear up any documents containing banking or credit information, especially pre-approved credit offers, before you throw them away. To opt out of preapproved credit offers, call 1-888-567-8688.
- Keep your Access IDs and passwords a secret. Do not write them down or share them with anyone. To learn more, read our ATM safety tips.
Order a copy of your credit report each year – now available for free in Texas. The Fair and Accurate Transactions Act (FACT Act) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report every 12 months, from annualcreditreport.com.
If you have already received your free credit reports in the last 12 months, you can order a copy from the credit bureaus for a fee.
- Equifax 1-800-685-1111
- Experian 1-888-397-3742
- Trans Union 1-800-888-4213
Phishing and Spoofing
“Phishing” scams target consumers by using email messages, urging you to click on a link within the message and enter your personal information. Here’s how it works:
- You receive an email message, asking you to click on a link in order to update some sensitive personal information.
- The link will redirect you to a “spoofed” website, which is designed to look like a legitimate website.
- The website will ask you to input personal information such as your account numbers, PINs, or social security number.
To protect yourself from going to a spoofed website, always type www.VBTexas.com into your browser when you login to online banking, instead of clicking a link in an email.
E-mail protection tips
- Do not click links in emails to log in, or to update or confirm your sensitive information.
- Do not fill out forms in e-mails.
- Be cautious about opening attachments or downloading files, regardless of who sent them.
- “Spam” or mass email messages often contain links to phishing websites and other unsavory websites.
- Many phishing scams originate outside the United States. Be wary of emails from people or sources you do not know or trust.
- Poor grammar and misspelled words from unknown sources asking you for personal information are clear warning signs of a phishing scam being operated outside of the United States.
- Legitimate companies or organizations will never ask you to divulge personal information over an email.
- Phishing emails may also be fake contests or offerings, asking you to input personal information.
- If an offer or email is too good to be true, it most likely is.
For your protection, we will not send you an email to update or confirm your sensitive information by clicking a link or requesting a reply email.
Resources for more information:
- Federal Trade Commission “How Not To Get Hooked By A Phishing Scam” http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt127.shtm
- Department of Justice “Special Report On Phishing” http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/docs/phishing.pdf
Computer Security
Vista Bank Texas continues to make investments in online banking security to ensure we protect the confidentiality of every customer’s online information and to provide the utmost security for every user.
Online Banking Security Profile
We ask all our online banking customers to set up a Security Profile, which is added security to help protect your account information. The Security Profile includes a unique picture and phrase verifying your identity and helps you recognize “website” as an official site.
Commercial Online Banking Security Tokens
Security Tokens are an additional, optional layer of security for Business Online Banking, ACH Origination and Wire Transfer Origination. After a one-time registration process, the Security Token allows you to login to Business Online Banking with your current IDs and passwords and a uniquely generated nine-digit Security Token Password. This additional layer of security identifies you by something you know (user ID/password) with something you have (the Security Token)
Computer Protection Tips
Update your computer operating system on a regular basis:
- Microsoft Windows
- Apple Macintosh
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x-6.x
- Netscape 6.x-8.x
- America Online 5-8
- Mozilla Firefox 1.5
- McAfee
- Norton
- Windows Defender
- Ad Aware
- Spy Sweeper
- Spybot Search & Destroy
Download free software only from sites you know and trust.
Do not install software without knowing exactly what it is or what it will do (read the end-user-license-agreement).
Close pop-up ads by clicking the “X” instead of clicking within the advertisement itself.
Review your browser security settings and set them to a high enough level to help detect unauthorized downloads. (Click your browser’s “help” menu for steps).
Do not click inside spam e-mail, especially e-mails claiming to offer anti-spyware software.
Install a personal firewall on your computer. A firewall works like a filter that prevents access to information on your computer.
Resources for more information:
- Federal Trade Commission “FTC Consumer Alert: Spyware Tips” http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/spywarealrt.shtm
- National Cyber Security Alliance http://www.staysafeonline.org/practices/index.html
- OnGuard Online http://onguardonline.gov/index.html
Mail and Fraud
Learn ways to protect yourself from common fraud schemes
Vishing
Vishing scams targets consumers by spoofing text or voicemail messages that ask you to call a phone number and give your personal information. Here’s how it works:
- You receive a “spoof” e-mail or text message about suspicious account activity.
- The text or voicemail message will ask you to call a “customer service” number.
- When you call the customer service number, a recording will ask you to provide personal information such as account numbers, passwords, a social security number, or other critical information.
- The recording may not mention the company’s name and could potentially be an indication the call is being used for fraud.
- You can also receive a phone call and the call could be a “live” person or a recorded message.
- The caller may already have your personal information, which may seem as if the call is legitimate.
Lottery/ Sweepstakes scams target consumers by a notification, which arrives through the mail, by email, or by unsolicited telephone call. Here’s how it works:
- The notification advises that you have won a prize, but you did not enter any type of lottery or sweepstakes by the promoter contacting you.
- The promoter will ask you to send a payment to cover the cost of redeeming the prize when the prize does not exist.
- In this type of scam, you may rarely if ever receive any winnings in return.
Check overpayment scams target consumers who sell items through an online suction site or a classified ad. Here’s how it works:
- The seller takes a big loss when the buyer passes a counterfeit cashier’s check, money order, corporate or personal check as payment.
- The counterfeit check is written for more than the agreed price.
- The “buyer” will ask the consumer to wire the difference after the check has been deposited.
- The check will more than likely bounce and the consumer becomes liable for the entire amount.
- Deposit outgoing mail at the Post Office.
- Remove incoming mail from your personal mailbox as soon as possible, or use a P.O. Box or locked, secure mailbox.
- Request a mail hold (online from the United States Postal Service or call them at 1-800-275-8777) if you plan to be away from home for an extended period of time.
- Know your billing cycles. If bills are late or missing contact your creditors.
- Watch for your new replacement check card from us. You should receive it within five business days.
- Do not give out personal information, such as your account numbers, card numbers, Social Security/tax identification numbers, passwords, or PINs, unless you have initiated the call.
- We will not make an unsolicited call requesting your personal information.
- If you ever believe you are not talking to a representative of a legitimate company, hang up and call the phone number listed in the telephone book.
- Secret Service http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/index.shtml
- United States Postal Service “Mail Fraud” http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/fraudsch.htm
- Federal Trade Commission “Check Overpayment Scams” http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/overpayalrt.shtm
- Federal Bureau of Investigation “Common Fraud Schemes” http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.htm