Online Security and Fraud Resource Hub

Step 1: Login to online banking 

Step 2: Click on ‘Messages and Alerts’ in the left-hand navigation menu 

Step 3: Select ‘Manage Alerts’  

Step 4: Choose the alerts you’d like to receive and confirm each selection by clicking ‘Add’ 

Step 5: Choose to receive alerts by text message or email, add contact information, and accept user agreement 

Step 6: Click Submit 

ONLINE SECURITY AND SECURITY ALERTS 

• Take time to verify the story. Scammers are hoping you will want to quickly help your loved one in an emergency.
• Call your loved one’s parents or friends to find out about their whereabouts
• Ask the person on the phone questions that only your loved one would be able to answer and verify their identity before taking steps to help.
• Never send money to anyone you don’t know and trust.
• Never give out personal information to the caller.

Go slowly and ask a lot of questions.

• A scammer’s intention is to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endear themselves to the victim, and gain trust. Be suspicious if an individual seems too perfect or quickly asks you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.

Don't be afraid to "play detective".

• Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere. Look for inconsistencies between what they post, and what they tell you.

Do not send money.

• Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone. Scammers will ask for money to help a sick family member, deal with a personal emergency, or to pay for travel expenses to visit you - and then they disappear.

Do not send money.

• Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.

Talk to a trusted loved one.

• If the individual promises to meet in person but then always comes up with an excuse why he or she can’t. If you haven’t met the person after a few months, for whatever reason, you have good reason to be suspicious.

How can I avoid being scammed?

• The best way to avoid a CRA scam is to be proactive in filing your taxes. File your taxes through a tax preparer that you know and trust. If you file through an online service, double-check it is a CRA-certified tax-preparation service.
• Never respond to threatening, unexpected, or unsolicited contact regarding your taxes or CRA payments. If you are concerned that one of these contacts may be legitimate, then you can reach out to the CRA or directly to your tax preparer.
• Keep yourself informed. Make sure you know the amount of your refund and how it will be paid.
• CRA will never ask for payments in Gift Cards or Cryptocurrency.
• CRA will never threaten to send the RCMP to your residence.

Remember: When in doubt, contact CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 or visit your My Account service to view your personal tax information.

Watch out for promises that you can quickly earn lots of money. If they guarantee you'll make a profit, that’s likely a scam.

Be careful when sending cryptocurrency. Once the transaction is completed, it is unlikely to be reversed.

If you receive a suspicious message from a trusted friend, reach out to them through a different means of communication to confirm that it is them.

Be wary of individuals met on dating or social media who attempt to educate and convince you to invest into cryptocurrency.

Beware of fraudsters asking you to open and fund new crypto accounts. They will direct you to send it to wallets they control. Don’t!

Phishing

A common way for Internet scammers to obtain your personal information is through a method called phishing. Usernames, passwords, banking information and credit card details are phished through email or instant messaging. Phishing works by sending communications, which appear to be from your financial institution, but they are not. You are asked, supposedly by your financial institution, to log in to your online banking to verify account information. Often some type of security concern is cited as the issue. The fake email instructs you to click on a link that takes you to a non-legitimate version of your online banking site – one that is largely indistinguishable from the legitimate site – and you'll be asked to enter your credentials.

Phishing emails may include:

• Warnings about account closures
• Requests to update your information
• Offers to register for a new service
• Offers for pre-approved credit cards
• Free virus-protection programs

Once you click on the link, which directs you to a phishing website, you'll be prompted to enter personal or banking information. Phishing scams seek personal details, such as your address, social security number or mother's maiden name. The details obtained will then be used for identity theft.

Scam emails purporting to be from your credit card company or financial institution often have some telling signs, including:

• Poor spelling or grammar
• Alarmist content, warning that your account will be closed if you don't provide your banking or personal details immediately
• Notices that you've won a prize and are required to pay a fee in order to claim it

Never provide personal details or any account details in an email. Electronic messaging is not a secure form of communication. If you receive a message that you are unsure about, please contact us.

Pharming

Another way for hackers to get their hands on your personals details is by pharming them. Pharming occurs when hackers use a malicious code on your PC, which compromises your computer's host file and redirects you to fake websites. The malware hides the fraudulent URL, cloaking it in the legitimate one that appears in your browser. With pharming, the dishonest redirection of URLs happens even when you type correct URLs directly into your browser, making you think that you're on the correct website when you are not. Once there, you are asked to enter your online banking credentials or account information, which hackers take and use for criminal activity.

How to Avoid Phishing and Pharming Scams

We will never send you emails or communications asking you to verify or provide your online banking details. The best way to protect yourself is to never use a link provided in an email to access your online banking (because we don't send those; scammers do). Do not open emails or email attachments from unknown sources. Scan email through your anti-virus software.

Always type your financial institution's website address directly into your browser and remember to look for confirmation that you are browsing securely. The letter "s" in 'https' indicates you are navigating in a secure site, in comparison to the open and unprotected 'http' URLs. Look for the 'https' when online shopping, too.

Don't feel panicked when phishing emails caution of immediate account closures if your banking details cannot be verified. Don't believe emails warning that your account has been compromised or that you'll miss out on a great deal if you fail to act immediately. If you are concerned, call Lake View Credit Union; 250-782-4871, 250-788-9227 or 250-242-4871 or visit one of our member service representatives.

• Phone, text, or email requests for banking details, including your PAC or PIN, are fraudulent. Don’t respond!
• Links or attachments in an email or message should always be treated as suspicious and never clicked on.
• Phishing scams will often order you to “unlock” or “verify” your account. Lake View credit Union will never ask you to do this.
• Reputable businesses or government agencies will never threaten, coerce, or ask to be paid by wire transfer, e-transfer or gift cards.
• Always verify the legitimacy of websites and services before entering sensitive information. For online banking, type our website address directly into the browser – lakeviewcreditunion.com and remember to look for the letter “s” in “https” this indicates you are navigating in a secure site. Use strong and unique passwords and enable two-step verification when possible.
• Always keep your online banking and Two-Step Verification (2SV) login credentials confidential, as this is the best way to safeguard your identity and prevent access to your accounts. Lake View Credit Union will never ask you for this information.
• Don't feel panicked when phishing emails caution of immediate account closures if your banking details cannot be verified. Don't believe emails warning that your account has been compromised or that you'll miss out on a great deal if you fail to act immediately. If you are concerned, call or visit one of our branches.
• Any losses experienced due to login details or access codes being shared or entered into a fraudulent website may not be covered by insurance. Stay vigilant, and always ensure you are on tandia.com before attempting to access online banking.

Things to do:

• Most passwords must be between 8 to 32 characters
• Create long passwords that include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters
• Choose a password that's hard to guess
• Update passwords regularly
• Keep you passwords confidential (never share them)

Things to avoid:

• Changing your password on a public computer such as in a library or internet cafe
• Creating passwords that include your name or a close relative's name
• Creating passwords that include numbers containing personal information such as your birth date, telephone number, or address
• Saving passwords on browsers
• Using the same password for multiple websites

Antivirus Software:

• Numerous antivirus software packages are available to protect your home computer from viruses and unauthorized access. This software detects computer viruses and alerts you so that you can take preventative measures.

Operating Systems:

• Keeping your software up-to-date is one of the most important ways of staying safe online because it is much harder for viruses to infect an updated operating system and software. Hackers are targeting operating systems with new viruses all the time and software companies combat these efforts with security patches. You should always download the latest security patch as soon as it becomes available.

Firewalls:

• Do not disable your Firewall. A firewall protects your computer and home network from harmful websites and hackers. It sits between your computer and the internet, scanning information that is being transmitted. It allows for safe browsing, while blocking unauthorized intrusions. Even though you may think you have no information of value on your PC, firewalls also stop your computer from being used by hackers to send malicious software to other computers.
• Most computers now come with a firewall as part of the standard operating system. However, you can get the maximum protection for your computer by installing additional firewalls and ensuring they are kept up-to-date

Browsers:

• Web browsers are the gateways to the Internet. Similar to having an up-to-date operating system, upgraded browsers provide more features, stability and security. Whether you use Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome or something else, stay safe online by using the latest version available.
• The latest versions of web browsers have security features that can identify and block harmful and fake websites and pop-ups and warn you if a site is flagged as unsafe. Some browsers also have a 'Private Browsing' feature, which conceals your browsing history from others.

• We highly recommend that you clear your cache after logging out of online banking. You may have noticed a setting in your browser called “cache”. The cache stores web pages that you have viewed so they are quickly available if you want to visit the web page again.
• Clearing the cache will erase the pages you have viewed and prevent unauthorized viewing of your financial information. Please click on your browser Help menu for information on clearing your cache if you are unsure of how to clear it.

• Be cautious about how much personal information you share online, including names of children, birthdays, locations/geotags, phone numbers, etc…
• Periodically check the privacy settings and policies for the sites you're using throughout the year.
• In you’re unsure if a business website is legitimate, do not disclose personal information about your finances, credit cards, SIN, or driver’s license.

• Shred personal information as soon as its no longer needed. This includes things such as statements, credit card bills, receipts, unused and cancelled cheques, pre-approved credit applications, and old income tax returns.
• Never sign blank cheques – only sign them once all the details are complete.
• Consider locked or fireproof storage for sensitive documents such as passports, birth certificates, etc… If an at-home option isn’t available for you, ask us about renting a safe deposit box to protect these valuables.