Fraud schemes are on the rise and becoming increasingly more sophisticated. We work hard to protect our clients against fraud every day with active monitoring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and real-time fraud alerts.
Create difficult and unique passwords for each of your accounts including email, banking, and social media
Set up “SecurLock alerts” to inform you of any unauthorized transactions
Install up-to-date antivirus software on your PC to detect and remove malware
Contact your mobile service provider to learn more about port protection to avoid having your mobile device and SIM compromised
Give out your personal passwords or one-time verification codes to anyone. We will never ask you for any personal information
Respond to unsolicited emails or text messages, and ignore requests to click on embedded links. We will never email or text to tell you that you need to reset your online banking login credentials
Use your personal or banking information when creating unique passwords
Respond to any online pop-up windows requesting personal or banking information
Save login credentials on any of your electronic devices
Respond to urgent requests for money
Identity theft occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money as well as destroy your credit and ruin your good name.
Signs your identity has been stolen:
Bills do not arrive as expected
You receive unexpected credit cards or account statements
You are denied credit for no apparent reason
You get calls or letters about purchases you did not make
Tips for protecting your identity:
Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information
Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security Number on a check
Don’t disclose personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet
Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails
Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
Keep your personal information in a secure place at home
“Phishing” is a term used to describe attempts to lure individuals into providing sensitive information such as account numbers or passwords. These schemes often use an authentic-looking e-mail with links to replicate web sites that ask you to submit your personal or financial information.
Never provide personal information requested or asked for in an e-mail.
Do not open links in suspicious e-mails.
Please be aware that Pogon Trust Bank and its affiliates:
will never require you to enter a user ID, passwords, account numbers or any other personal information directly into the e-mail or other non-secure page,
will not issue “threatening e-mails” such as stating to close or suspend your account if you do not take immediate action by providing personal br information,
will not ask you to confirm, verify, or refresh your account, credit card or billing information via e-mail.
In an ongoing effort to protect our cardholder’s accounts from fraud, Pogon Trust Bank is now offering real-time text fraud alerts.
How It Works:
A text message will be sent to the cardholder’s mobile phone when a potentially fraudulent transaction is identified on their ATM or debit card.
The cardholder replies to the text message to confirm or deny if the transaction is valid:
If the cardholder verifies the transaction, the card will available for use after the card is unblocked, which could take up to 10 minutes in some circumstances.
If the cardholder responds that they do not recognize the transaction, this will generate an outbound call to the cardholder during available calling hours and the card will be deactivated from further use.
If we do not receive a response from the cardholder, we’ll attempt to verify the transaction by phone and email.
Your card will be blocked and unavailable for use until the transaction is verified.
Text messages will be sent from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the cardholder’s time zone. Calls will be sent from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the cardholder’s time zone. Texts and voice calls pending from the night before will be triggered the following morning at the applicable time noted above. Emails will be sent 24/7.
How do I enroll in SecurLock?
All Pogon Trust Bank debit card accounts are automatically enrolled and may receive fraud alerts via text to any mobile phone number listed for your account.
Opt out of receiving text message alerts by responding back to the text message with the word STOP.
This service is only available for Pogon Trust Bank customers with domestic service through AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile and will not be charged any message or data rates for the fraud alerts. Text messages and phone calls are unavailable internationally.
Hacking or guessing a password is a basic tactic that can be used to access your accounts by cybercriminals. Passwords used for bank accounts should be different from passwords used for different websites and not include your name or other easily identifiable information.
Change your password every few months. Use passwords that only you would know and would be difficult to guess. For example, using “Password” or “123456” is not as secure as using a password that includes upper and lower case letter, numbers, and special characters.
Never send personal or sensitive business or bank account information via email. Any information sent through email messages may be intercepted and stolen.
Do not respond to an e-mail, phone call, or text message expressing an urgent need for you to update your information, initiate a payment, or verify your login credentials by calling a phone number or submitting information on an Internet site.
Avoid downloading programs from unknown sources, or clicking on links embedded in suspicious emails, especially from social media sites.
Networks in Internet cafés, hotels, and libraries are usually not protected and are easy to tamper with. Online banking activities and viewing or downloading documents (statements, check copies, etc.) should always be conducted on a computer and through a network you know to be safe and secure.
Install, run, and keep anti-virus and other software updated. Anti-virus and firewalls can’t always detect the latest attacks, leaving you and your online banking account vulnerable. Pogon Trust Bank offers Rapport, a free online banking protection software for your computer from Trusteer, as another layer of protection from these threats. It can help:
Shield your online bank account information from third parties
Safeguard your online banking identity
Protect your internet banking login details
Help our fraud team stop malicious attempts against you
Business NetBanking Clients
Pogon Trust Bank NetBanking Clients
Ensure your computer operating system, software, browser version, and plug-ins are current. Before downloading an update to your computer program, confirm the update is legitimate.
Engage a professional service to “scrub” your computer of viruses or malware if you think your workstation has been compromised.
Configure your devices to prevent unauthorized users from remotely accessing your devices or home network. For example, if you use a wireless router for your home internet connection, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to configure the router with appropriate security settings.
Also be aware of security protection for your mobile device:
Device Security – Install anti-virus software on your mobile device and ensure your software and other applications are updated as soon as they are made available. All of your mobile devices should have the latest security protection.
Mobile Malware –Avoid downloading programs from unknown sources or clicking on links embedded in suspicious emails or SMS texts, especially from social media sites.
Third Party Applications – Avoid downloading apps from unknown third parties or those that appear suspicious. Frequently, these apps come from sources with questionable security practices, or have been created by fraudsters for the purpose of penetrating your mobile device.
Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks – Never access your account information on an unsecured network.
Pick PIN numbers that are easy for you to remember but difficult for someone to guess. Never write your PIN number down on a slip of paper that you keep in your purse or wallet, or on your card.
Be sure to get your card back when you use it for purchases. Also, ensure you can see your card at all times when it’s being used for a transaction.
If you’re shopping online, be sure the website you’re visiting is secure (indicated by https://) before you enter your card number.
Write down all your card numbers or keep copies of your cards in a secure place. This information will be critical in the event you need to cancel your cards because your wallet or purse is stolen.
Don’t allow anyone else to use your card.
If you notice your ATM or debit card from Pogon Trust Bank is missing, call the phone number on the back (800-236-2442) immediately to report it lost or stolen. If you act quickly, you can help to prevent fraudulent transactions.
Never give your account number or PINs to anyone you don’t know – especially for requests made over the computer or phone.
Know where your cards are at all times and never leave your wallet or purse unattended.
You are responsible for maintaining the security of your ATM or debit card.
Individuals perpetrating fake check scams typically look for victims by scanning newspaper and online advertisements for people listing items for sale, and checking postings on online job sites from people seeking employment. The fraudster will place their own ads with phone numbers or email addresses for people to contact them. They call or send thousands of emails or faxes to people randomly, hoping someone will respond. They win people’s confidence by presenting checks that appear to have been issued by legitimate individual or business accounts.
Below are red flags of a check fraud scheme:
A potential buyer mails you a check for more than the agreed-upon price of the item, and asks you to refund the difference by wire transfer or Western Union payment.
You receive an unsolicited check payment with a message indicating you have won a lottery or sweepstakes.
You receive a check payment for a work at home program, even though you never applied for or were hired for such a position.
The account holder name at the top of the check is different from the person or company that you were in contact with.
If you need any assistance with your application, please contact us support@pogontrust.com