Consumer InfoZone

Welcome to QNB's Consumer InfoZone . On this section of our Web site, you'll find information about security, fraud prevention, and bank regulations that could affect you.

• Security & Fraud Prevention
• Regulatory Information

Security & Fraud Prevention

FBI Fraud Alert - Don't Get Scammed!
Identity Theft -- What Is It and What to Do
Phishing
Protect Yourself and Your Computer
Security News and Updates
Avoid Charity Scams
Government Agency Links

FBI Fraud Alert - Don't Get Scammed!

Cash Advance Scams Are Increasing. You Could Be Involved In A Fraud Or About To Be Scammed!

• Lottery Winning Scams: Paying Fees or Taxes to receive winnings
• Agent Scams: Paying Commission for facilitating Items
• Inheritance Scams: "A Long Lost Family Member Has Died"
• Have you bee instructed to either "Wire", "Send by Western Union", or "Ship" money, as soon as possible, to a foreign country, such as Canada, England, Nigeria or to a different area of the United States?

There are different variations on the types of frauds listed above. Please take the time to ask bank employees for assistance before depositing or cashing any checks that may be suspicious!

You are responsible for any checks you cash or deposit! Amount of items returned will be charged against your account!

For more information visit www.fakechecks.org.

Identity Theft -- What Is It and What to Do

Identity theft, which the U.S. Department of Justice labels the "crime of the new millennium," cost nearly 10 million Americans almost $5 billion in the past year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. And it costs businesses too. The FTC says 27.3 million individuals have been victimized since 1998 -- racking up a $48 billion tab for U.S. businesses.

Identity theft and account fraud are making big headlines. How can someone steal your identity? Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security Number, credit card number, account number, or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years - and their hard-earned money - cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit.

Your bank works hard every day to ward off these threats. Security is paramount in gathering personal data, as well as tracking transactions. There is a great deal of emphasis and specialization on things like encryption of information and strict authentication practices, but maximum security is possible only with your help.

Educating yourself on how to protect against privacy invasions is critical. Once you understand what information should be protected and what to do in case that information is compromised, you'll feel much more secure.

Here are some things you can do to prevent these crimes from happening and protect your assets and your good name:

• Don't give out financial information such as checking and credit card numbers and especially your Social Security number over the phone unless you initiated the call and know the person or organization you're dealing with.
• Report lost or stolen checks immediately. Also, review new deliveries of checks to make sure none has been lost in transit.
• Do not carry all your credit cards, your Social Security card, passport, etc in your wallet or purse at all times. Carry these only when need them.
• Carefully monitor your monthly bank and credit card statements and order a credit report once a year to check for inaccuracies and fraudulent use of your accounts.
• Guard your ATM Personal Identification Number and the ATM receipts.
• Be very careful when using your credit card on the Internet, or providing other information such as your Social Security number or other personal information.
• Always shred preapproved credit applications, credit card receipts, bills and other financial information before discarding them in the trash.
• If you applied for a new credit card or your regular bills have not arrived in a timely manner, call the bank or company involved.
• Don't put outgoing mail in or on your mailbox. Drop it into a secure, official Postal Service collection box.

If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do now:

• Contact your bank(s) and credit card issuers immediately so that the following can be done: access to your accounts can be protected/restricted; stop payments on missing checks; personal identification numbers (PINS) and online banking passwords changed; and a new account opened if appropriate. Be sure to indicate to the bank or card issuer all of the accounts and/or cards potentially impacted including ATM cards, check (debit) cards and credit cards. Customer service or fraud prevention telephone numbers can generally be found on your monthly statements.
• Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus (see list below) to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.

Credit Bureau Web sites and Phone Numbers

Equifax: www.equifax.com 800-525-6285

Experian: www.experian.com 888-397-3742

TransUnion: www.transunion.com 800-680-7289

• Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
• File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.
• File your complaint with the FTC (www.ftc.gov ). The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that we can better assist you.

For more in-depth information on recovering from identity theft and help with protecting your personal records, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft .

Phishing

Internet “phishing” scams are one of the fastest-growing frauds today. Phishing typically involves a bogus e-mail message that uses legitimate materials, such as a company's Web site graphics and logos, in an attempt to entice email recipients to provide personal financial details, such as credit card and Social Security numbers.

Click on the following links for more detailed information on phishing scams and how to protect yourself.

• American Bankers Association – Don't Get Phished
• Office of the Comptroller of the Currency – Phishing & How To Protect Yourself

Protect Yourself and Your Computer

There are many nasty things that can happen to your computer resulting in loss of data and/or unintended divulgence of personal information. Following are things that could make you and your PC very unhappy and some recommended ways to protect yourself…

Viruses/Worms

Definition:

A program or piece of computer code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes. Viruses are capable of replication to other computers. Viruses can compromise computer and network resources and bypass security systems. Some people distinguish between general viruses and worms. A worm is a special type of virus that can replicate itself and use memory, but cannot attach itself to other programs.

Protection:

- Purchase Antivirus (AV) software – AV software detects and removes viruses/worms from your computer (McAfee, Symantec).

- Purchase Firewall software - firewall software protects your computer from anything (or anyone) on the Internet that tries to access or alter files on your PC without your permission (McAfee, Symantec).

• Regularly update the virus definition files associated with the AV software.
• Regularly scan your computer for viruses.
• Do not click on or follow hyperlinks you are not familiar with or do not trust.
• Do not open e-mail attachments sent from a source you are not familiar with or do not trust.

Spyware/Adware/Malware/Keyloggers

Definition:

Software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are inadvertently installed when visiting a website or clicking a hyperlink. Once installed, spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information covertly to someone else. Spyware can also gather and transmit personal information (e-mail addresses, passwords, credit card numbers, etc…). Spyware can also cause problems with computer resources causing PC's to run slowly or erratically.

Protection:

• Purchase software that protects your computer from anything (or anyone) on the Internet that tries to access or alter files on your PC without your permission (AdAware, Spybot).
• Minimize unnecessary “surfing” on the Internet
• Do not click on or follow hyperlinks you are not familiar with or do not trust.
• Do not open e-mail attachments sent from a source you are not familiar with or do not trust.

Phishing

Definition:

The act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. Identity Theft is the procurement of another person's personal information (e.g., name, social security number, credit card number, passport) without that person's knowledge and the fraudulent use of such knowledge.

Protection:

- Never give out personal information to anyone, unless you know and/or trust the person you are giving the information to. Always be suspicious of someone asking you for bank account numbers, social security numbers, birth dates and other personal information.

Definition:

Electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings. Some people define spam even more generally as any unsolicited e-mail. E-mail advertising for some product sent to a mailing list or newsgroup.

Protection:

- Purchase Anti-Spam Software - this software filters your e-mail for SPAM and either deletes it or directs it to a destination of your choosing. There are many companies who offer anti-spam software packaged with AV software (McAfee, Symantec).

Definition:

Power failures are accompanied by surges and dips in power. Outages, surges and dips can all be harmful to your computer hardware.

Protection:

Purchase an uninterruptible power source (UPS) to plug your computer into. UPS's have batteries that, in the event of power failure, continue to provide power for your computer providing you with enough time to properly shut down applications and save data. UPS's also provide surge and dip protection.

Security News and Updates

• Department of Justice – Special Report on Phishing

Avoid Charity Scams

Government Agency Links

• How to Guard Against Internet Thieves and Electronic Scams
• Federal Trade Commission – ID Theft Site

Regulatory Information

What Happened to the Paper Check?
Check 21 Act
FACT Act
Related Links

What Happened to the Paper Check?

This informative brochure explains the bill payment check conversion process and answers a number of common questions about check conversion. ( download PDF brochure )

Check 21 Act

Check 21 Act Brings Changes to Checks

In October 2003, the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act became law. Now known simply as Check 21, the legislation's goals include “to improve the overall efficiency of the nation's payments system.”

Today, most checks must be physically transported—whether across town or across the country—before they can be cleared. This is expensive and time-consuming.

Check 21 provides a new option: legal acceptance of paper reproductions of original checks.

This reproduction is called a “substitute check” and is produced from a digital image of the original check.

How Will Check 21 Affect You?

By Oct. 28, 2004, every bank will be required to accept substitute checks, just as they currently accept your original paper checks. If you receive your canceled checks or electronic images of your canceled checks with your account statement, you will begin seeing substitute checks after that date. A substitute check is the legal equivalent of the original check and will include all the information contained on the original.

Check 21 includes several safeguards for check writing consumers. Check 21 helps speed check clearing, so check fraud can be discovered faster. Faster fraud detection means faster resolution for customers. Another safeguard: A bank that creates a substitute check must warrant that it is accurate. The bank also has to make sure that the substitute check is produced in accordance with industry standards for quality.

A Word About Check Conversion

You may already have experienced two other emerging payment practices, and each is an example of “check conversion,” which uses the automated clearinghouse, or ACH, system.

In the first example, a retailer converts a paper check into an electronic ACH payment on the spot. In this situation, if you've written a check for a purchase, you are handed the check back immediately after it's converted into an electronic ACH payment at the store or shop.

In the second example, regular billers (telephone, utilities and credit card providers, for example) convert your check payments into ACH payments. The check has been “converted” to an electronic format, and you won't receive a copy of the original. The payment will be reflected in your bank statement, which becomes the legally accepted proof of your payment.

Keep in mind that both of these example transactions are different from substitute checks.

All of these changes allow for faster payment processing and even better service to the nation's banking customers.

Efficient Check Clearing Benefits You

The improvements brought about through Check 21 allow for faster payment processing and even better service to you, the bankingcustomer. A few of the benefits include:

• Faster check clearing
• Decreased fraud
• Less paper
• Increased security

FACT Act-Free Credit Reports

As permitted by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACT Act), consumers will be able to request a free annual credit report from the three consumer reporting companies- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

The FACT Act amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act and has three major objectives:

• Enhance the ability of consumers to combat identity theft
• Increase the accuracy of consumer reports
• Allow consumers to exercise greater control regarding the type and amount of marketing solicitations they receive

The free annual credit reports will be phased in across the country from west to east over a nine-month period. Consumers in eastern states, which include Pennsylvania , can order their reports beginning 9/01/2005.

FTC Facts for Consumers (more detailed FACT Act information)

Related Links

ABA - Checks are Changing - Consumers and Check21