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Nebraska has been added to the list of selected states that offer consumers the ability to add a security freeze to their credit file. Identity Theft Prevention is the primary reason a consumer might consider adding a security freeze. A security freeze will help prevent credit bureaus from reporting your credit file to third parties, such as credit grantors and other companies and agencies, except those exempted by law or those for whom you request a temporarily lift of the security freeze. Therefore, a security freeze will require you to plan ahead for all your credit applications.
For more information visit the Nebraska Attorney General's Office online.
http://www.ago.state.ne.us/
Geneva State Bank would like to assist in an effort to educate the general public regarding the latest increasing trend of counterfeit checks. If you can answer YES to any of the following questions, you MAY have been the victim of a counterfeit scam, which is targeting Internet and Chat Room participants.
If any of the following are true, please contact your bank immediately to ensure that you do not fall victim to a foreign counterfeit scam and lose money.
- Have you recently been contacted via email, Internet chat rooms regarding the purchase of an item you have for sale on the Internet such as a boat, car, jewelry, etc?
- Have you recently been contacted by someone who wants to make an investment into a business you want to establish?
- Have you recently been contacted about winning a lottery that you did not enter?
- Did you receive a check within 24-48 hours from a person or entity other than the person or entity that indicated they were within your conversations?
- Did the check arrive with a Canadian or non-U.S. postal mark?
- Is the amount of the check more than the selling price of the item?
- Have you been asked to assist in the distribution of money form another country?
- Have you been instructed to wire funds out of the country as soon as possible due to a change in the original agreement?
Know who you are doing business with, and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
At Geneva State Bank our customer’s safety is of utmost importance. ATM facilities located outside the interior confines of a banking office cannot be made completely safe from crime such as robbery, kidnapping, hostage, extortion, etc. To avoid unsafe conditions we would recommend that customers be aware of some common safety warnings:
- Be aware of your surroundings – particularly at night.
- Consider having someone accompany you when using an ATM after dark.
- If you observe or sense suspicious persons nearby, do not use the ATM at that time. Or, if you are in the middle of a transaction, cancel the transaction. Leave the area and come back another time or use an ATM at another location.
- Have your ATM card ready before arriving at the machine.
- If making a deposit, fill out forms before arriving at the ATM.
- Be aware of other persons near you at the ATM.
- If you are approached by any person who asks you to do them a "favor" or tries to draw you into conversation, cancel your transaction and leave the area. Report the incident to us as soon as possible. Do not let strangers assist you if the ATM appears to be malfunctioning.
- Be alert to places of concealment or “hiding places” near or around the ATM.
- When using the ATM at night, pull close to the ATM in a well-lighted area and always lock your car.
- If the lights on or around an ATM are not working, don't use it. Report it to us the next day.
- If you are using another financial institution's ATMs and shrubs or trees block the view, select another ATM.
- To keep your account information confidential, always take your receipts with you.
- Don't display any cash. As soon as you complete the transaction, pocket the money and count it later.
- Report all crimes to the police immediately.
- Commit your PIN to memory and do not write the PIN on your card or share it with others.
- Be careful not to reveal your Personal Identification Number (PIN). When you enter it in, use your body to "shield" the keyboard. Don't carry your Personal Identification Number with your card, and never attach it to your card.
- If your card is lost or stolen, report it to us immediately
at (800) 759-3119 or after hours at (800) 535-8440
The most common types of online fraud are called phishing and spoofing. Phishing is the process of collecting, through fraudulent e-mails or websites claiming to be legitimate, your personal information. This information can include usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc. Often times the e-mail directs you to a website where you can update your personal information and because they often look “official”, they hope you’ll be tricked into disclosing valuable information that you normally would not reveal, often times, resulting in identity theft and financial loss.
Spyware and viruses are both malicious programs that are loaded onto your computer without your knowledge. The purpose of these programs may be to capture or destroy information, to ruin computer performance or to overload you with advertising. Viruses can spread by infecting computers and then replicating. Spyware disguises itself as a legitimate application and embeds itself into your computer where it then monitors your activity and collects information.
Fraudulent “Pop-up Windows” are a type of online fraud often used to obtain personal information. They are the windows or ads that appear suddenly over or under the window you are currently viewing. Fraudulent websites or pop-up windows are used to collect your personal information. Other terms for the fraudulent process of gathering your personal information include “Phishing or “Spoofing”. Additional links to real websites can be incorporated into the email to lead you to believe the email is legitimate.
Fraudulent websites, e-mails or pop-up windows will often:
- Ask you for personal information (Account number, Social Security Number, Date of Birth, etc.)
- Appear to be from a legitimate source. (Retail Stores, Banks, Government agencies, etc.)
- Contain prizes or other types of certificate notices.
- Link to other real or counterfeit websites
- Contain fraudulent phone numbers
Pop-up windows are often the result of programs installed on your computer called “adware” or “spyware.” These programs look in on your Web viewing activity and regularly come hidden inside many free downloads, such as music-sharing software or screen savers. Many of these programs enable harmless advertisements, but some contain “Trojan horse” programs that can record your keystrokes or relay other information to an unauthorized source.
How Does Geneva State Bank Help to Protect Me?
Geneva State Bank will never require customers to send personal information via email or pop-up windows. Any unsolicited requests for Geneva State Bank account information you receive through pop-up windows, emails, or Web sites should be considered fraudulent and reported immediately. You can contact us at 1 (402) 759-3114 or 1-800-759-3119.
Geneva State Bank also encourages you to:
- Receive and pay bills automatically online instead of by mail. Online Banking, Business Banker Online Services, and BillPay are secure methods for conducting transactions.
- Never click on a link contained in an e-mail. Always type the address in a new web browser window.
How can I protect myself?
With the proper precautions you can help protect your Geneva State Bank accounts and personal information from harmful pop-up windows.
1. Know the Scams
- Phishing, Spoofing, Pop-up Fraud – types of online fraud used to obtain personal information.
- Trojan Horse – Virus that can record your keystrokes. It can live in an attachment or be accessed via a link in the email, website or pop-up window.
- Counterfeit Websites – URLs that forward you to a fraudulent site. To validate a URL, you can type or cut and paste, the URL into a new web browser window and if it does not take you to a legitimate web site or you get an error message, it was probably just a cover for a fraudulent web site.
2. Activate a pop-up window blocker.
There are free programs available online that will block pop-up windows. Be sure to perform an Internet search for “pop-up blocker” or look at the options provided by major search engines. You will need to confirm that these programs are from legitimate companies before downloading. Once you have installed a pop-up blocker, you should determine if it blocks information that you need to view or access. If this is the case, you should consider turning off the blocker when you are on Web sites you know use pop-up windows to provide information you need or want to view.
3. Scan your computer for spyware regularly.
You can eliminate potentially risky pop-up windows by removing any spyware or adware installed on your computer. Spyware and adware are programs that look in on your Web viewing activity and potentially relay information to a disreputable source. Perform an Internet search for “spyware” or “adware” to find free spyware removal programs. As with a pop-up blocker, you will want to be sure that your removal program is not blocking, or removing, wanted items, and if it is, consider turning it off for some websites.
4. Avoid downloading programs from unknown sources.
Downloads may contain hidden programs that can compromise your computer’s security. Likewise, email attachments from unknown senders may contain harmful viruses.
5. Keep your computer operating system and Internet browser current.
6. Keep anti-virus software up-to-date.
Anti-virus software needs frequent updates to guard against new viruses. Select a reputable provider. Download the anti-virus updates as soon as you are notified that a new download is available. Some programs will offer an automatic update.
7. Keep your passwords secret.
Change them regularly, using a mixture of numbers and characters.
True electronic safeguards include our customers understanding the frauds, how they happen, how it affects you, and what tools and solutions Geneva State Bank has to assist you.
$1 Presidential coins
The United States is honoring our Nation’s presidents by issuing $1 circulating coins featuring their images in the order that they served, beginning with Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison in 2007. The United States Mint will mint and issue four Presidential $1 Coins per year, and each will have a reverse design featuring a striking rendition of the Statue of Liberty. For more information about this program, follow this link.
"The New Color of Money"
The U.S. Bureau of Engraving & Printing is continuously making improvement in currency design and aggressive law enforcement helps to protect the integrity of U.S. currency. The new currency designs will help stay ahead of counterfeiters, who are turning increasingly to digital methods, as advances in technology make digital counterfeiting easier and cheaper.
To check out "The New Color of Money" click here.
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