Online Safety

• Federal Regulators have reported that online threats have changed in recent years. Criminals use various methods to gain access to personal information. Understanding these threats is the first step to building a good defense.
  
  • Phishing – Fraudulent emails claiming to be from your bank, or another trusted source, that provide a link to a website that looks legitimate. You are then asked to verify or enter personal information that is used to access your online account.
  • Pharming – Internet traffic is intercepted and rerouted to a fraudulent website.
  • Malware – Software designed to damage a computer system without the owner’s knowledge. Examples include viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware, and adware.
  
  
  Fifth District understands the importance of having a safe and secure environment when accessing your accounts online and has taken several steps to ensure your personal account information is protected.
  
  
  • Password Protection – Be sure not to share your password with anyone. Most fraud involving stolen account information starts with someone the victim knows.
  • Encryption – When accessing your accounts online, your transactions and personal information are encrypted so that it is readable by only you and the Bank. Website encryption is indicated by the “s” in the “https” part of a website address.
  • Two Factor Authentication – Enhanced security is critical. The Bank will send a 6-digit security code to your phone to log in to FDSB Connected. Be sure not share to this code with anyone.
  • Privacy Policies – The Bank has established policies and procedures to protect your personal information.
  • Account Information – Account information is never stored on the computer or device used to access online banking.
  
  
  
  When using FDSB Connected, there are several precautions that you can take to help protect your personal information.
  
  • Passwords – Security begins with a strong password. Experts suggest a strong password include a combination of letters and numbers.
  • Anti-virus Protection – Make sure the anti-virus software on your computer is current and scans your email as it is received.
  • Email Communication – Email is usually not encrypted. Fifth District will never ask for personal information in an email. Be careful when sending personal information. If you receive a suspicious email, contact the Bank immediately.
  • Avoid public access points – Never use a public computer or wireless network to access personal information.
  • Be Aware – Verify the website address prior to logging into online banking. Do not respond to any unusual requests for personal information. When you are unsure or see something unusual, call the Bank.
  
  
  
  The FDSB Connected Application is a fast and easy way to access your account from a mobile device. There are additional actions you can take to help ensure a safe environment while using The FDSB Connected Application.
  
  • Enable password protection or biometric authentication (Face ID or Touch ID) on your device. This will increase security if your device is lost or stolen.
  • Do not connect to FDSB Connected through a public wireless (WiFi) network. Data transmitted over wireless networks is not encrypted and can be easily intercepted.
  • Turn off the Bluetooth connection when not in use. This will reduce the risk of someone using Bluetooth to connect to your mobile device.
  • Regularly install operating system and software updates on your device.
  • Consider installing mobile antivirus software on your device.
  • Try to download mobile applications from verified sources. This will reduce the risk of downloading malicious applications.
  
  
  
  If you would like additional information about online safety, you may visit one of the following websites.
       • Internet Crime Complaint Center – www.ic3.gov
       • Consumer Fraud (Department of Justice Homepage) – www.usdoj.gov
       • Federal Trade Commission Consumer Response Center – www.ftc.gov
       • Consumer Guides and Protection – www.usa.gov
       • On Guard Online – www.onguardonline.gov
  
  
  
  Thank you for choosing to bank with Fifth District. If you have any questions, please contact the Electronic Banking Department at (504) 363-6513.
  
  

  FTC Consumer Alert

  
  

  How Not to Get Hooked by a 'Phishing' Scam

  Internet scammers casting about for people's financial information have a new way to lure unsuspecting victims: They go "phishing".
  
  
  Phishing is a high-tech scam that uses spam or pop-up messages to deceive you into disclosing your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information.
  
  
  According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), phishers send an email or pop-up message that claims to be from a business or organization that you deal with - for example, 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 directs you to a Web site that looks just like a legitimate organization's site, but it isn't. The purpose of the bogus site? To trick you into divulging your personal information so the operators can steal your identity and run up bills or commit crimes in your name.
  
  
  The FTC, the nation's consumer protection agency, suggests these tips to help you avoid getting hooked by a phishing scam:
  • If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply or click on the link in the message. Legitimate companies don't ask for this information via email. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company's correct Web address. In any case, don't cut and paste the link in the message.
    
  • Don't email personal or financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your personal or financial information through an organization's Web site, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser's status bar or a URL for a website that begins "https:" (the "s" stands for "secure"). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some phishers have forged security icons.
    
  • Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to determine whether there are any unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.
  • Use 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.
  • Antivirus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files. Antivirus software scans incoming communications for troublesome 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. Finally, your operating system (like Windows or Linux) may offer free software "patches" to close holes in the system that hackers or phishers could exploit.
  • Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them.
  • Report suspicious activity to the FTC. If you get spam that is phishing for information, forward it to https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/(Opens in a new Window). If you believe you've been scammed, file your complaint at www.ftc.gov(Opens in a new Window), and then visit the FTC's Identity Theft Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft(Opens in a new Window) to learn how to minimize your risk of damage from ID theft. Visit www.ftc.gov(Opens in a new Window) to learn other ways to avoid email scams and deal with deceptive spam. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit http://www.ftc.gov(Opens in a new Window) or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
  
  
  For more information on Privacy, Identity & Online Security, please visit the Federal Trade Commission website(Opens in a new Window).

Thank you for choosing to bank with Fifth District.  Please visit our website at www.fifthdistrict.com.  If you have any questions, please contact the Electronic Banking Department at (504) 363-6513.