With the holidays quickly approaching, the Independent Community Bankers of America^® (ICBA) and The First National Bank of Suffield offer consumers the following tips to consider when making holiday purchases online. “Even though the holiday season can be quite busy, it’s never too busy to ensure that your personal information is safe when shopping online,” said Bill Loving, ICBA chairman and president and CEO of Pendleton Community Bank in Franklin, West Virginia.  

The total financial loss attributed to identity theft in 2013 is estimated to be $21 billion, according to the Department of Justice and Javelin Strategy and Research. When making purchases online this holiday season, consumers need to be on high alert to protect their sensitive financial information and avoid falling victim to identity theft.

With that in mind, ICBA and The First National Bank of Suffield offer the following tips:

• Make sure your computer and browser are secure. Set your firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware software to automatically update and scan your computer.
• Don’t create passwords that include easily accessible personal information, such as mother’s maiden name or date of birth. Instead, use something unique that only you know.
• Don’t give personal information over the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless you know whom you’re dealing with and preferably only if you’ve initiated the contact. Never give out Social Security or driver’s license numbers. If you must share personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization.
• If you receive an email asking for personal information, do not hit the reply button or click on any link in the email. Instead, go directly to the sender’s site by typing in its website address. It is also a good idea to call the sender to report/discuss the email you received—use the telephone number on the website you typed in; do not use information provided in the email.
• Be cautious of emails that look like they are coming from a store or retailer asking to verify your credit card information. This is a common information-gathering tactic for fraudsters.
• Look for secure sites with an “s” in the URL (https://) and a closed-padlock icon on the Web page when making purchases. These websites are secure.
• Always double-check the URL to be sure you are shopping with the company you intended to shop with. A simple typo can help identity thieves.

“Customer safety and financial security are very important to us,” said Carrie LeBlanc, First Vice President of The First National Bank of Suffield. “If any customer has questions about the security of their financial information, our team at The First National Bank of Suffield is happy offer advice. We want information about you and your family to be safe and protected at all times.”