Guard against account fraud! Alerts will let you know when important changes have been made to your information in Online Banking. These alerts add additional protection to allow you to identify and report potential fraudulent activity as soon as it happens.

You will be notified when:

• Your internet banking account is logged into.
• Your password is changed via Online Banking.
• New Biometric Access
• Password Attempt Lock
• New Secure Message
• Plus you can sign up for new transaction alerts, balance alerts, insufficient funds alerts & failed transaction alerts

Sign up for free Direct Alerts to receive email, text message or push alerts when activity occurs in your Online Banking.

The Autodeposit feature allows the money you have been sent (via Interac e-Transfer®) to be automatically deposited directly into your bank account, without having to login to Online Banking or answer security questions. This is a safer way to guarantee your Interac e-transfer credit doesn’t get bypassed and in the wrong hands during the transfer process.

To register for Autodeposit:

1. Log into online banking.
2. Select ‘Transfers’ > ‘Send Interac e-Transfer’ or ‘Request INTERAC e-Transfer’, then select the ‘Autodeposit’ link OR go to ‘Settings’, then ‘Autodeposit’ on your Dodsland CU Mobile App.
3. Enter your email address or mobile phone number and select which account to have the funds deposited into.
4. Read and accept the acknowledgements.
5. Tap ‘Register’ to complete the registration.

What you should know:

• You can register up to 5 email addresses.
• If you are no longer using an email address, remember to update your email addresses for Autodeposit in online banking.
• You will need to set up the security question & answer for your recipients even if they have registered for Autodeposit.

Our Online Banking system is safeguarded with the best security available in a commercial environment, ensuring that your information is protected while data is transmitted between your computer and our banking server.

Internet encryption protects your information while it is in transit between your computer and our systems. Encryption ensures that data cannot be read or altered because the information is scrambled. Our online banking website uses a 128-bit SSL, encrypting both request and response transactions, through a secure connection. To establish a secure connection, verify that the prefix of our website address in your browser reads ‘https’ (and not simply ‘http’). All the browsers we support meet this requirement. If yours doesn’t, please download the appropriate encryption support from your browser’s supplier.

Your accounts can only be accessed by providing the correct login credentials and password, which only you know. Our employees never know these details and will never ask you to provide them with this information.

The first time you log in to your online banking account, you will be asked to choose from a list of security questions and answers. Be sure to pick questions with answers that are not easy to guess. Use ones that only you know. If you have a joint account, the questions and answers for both users must coincide. You can register your home or personal computer so that you will not have to answer a security question every time you log in. However, when you log in to your account from another machine, or periodically, we will ask one of the security questions to confirm your identity.

For security reasons, we track the number of login attempts used to access your online banking. After a number of incorrect attempts to provide the correct PAC or answers to security questions, your online access will be immediately disabled. To regain access, please call our office.

When visiting a branch, you can feel confident that your money is safe and secure, with the premises adorned by vaults, locked doors, security and surveillance. We are keeping you just as safe when you bank with us online. However, once your information reaches your computer, you have a responsibility to protect it.

Online credentials can be numerous as they are needed for email accounts, social networking sites, online newspapers and shopping websites. That’s a lot of usernames and passwords – and it can be tempting to use the same combination for everything. But this makes it far too easy for hackers because once they have one password, they can access all your sites. Login credentials are the keys to your accounts so don’t leave those keys around for anyone to find. For online banking, the key is your password. We recommend you:

• Choose a password that is easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess. Avoid using keyboard strings (qwerty), repetitive letters or numbers, dates, common words (e.g., password, winter, etc.), personal information (e.g., name, date of birth, phone number, city names, etc).
• Your password must be at least 10 alphanumeric characters and must use at least 1 uppercase, 1 lowercase, and 1 numeric digit. You have the option to use these special characters in your PAC: ! @ # $ ( ) – \ / | ? , . : ‘Choose a PAC that is difficult for others to guess.
• Be smart and don’t save a list of your credentials on your PC. If you have to write them down, keep these details locked away somewhere only you can access or consider using password-management software, which secures and encrypts usernames and passwords and allows you to use a single master password.
• Do not share your password with anyone, especially online. Employees of our financial institution will never call, email, write or ask you to provide your online banking credentials. Ever.
• Don’t authorize browsers to memorize your credentials. Saving these on your computer allows anyone using your PC to gain access to your login-protected sites.
• Consider changing your password every 90 days for optimum security.
• Make sure your password is not the same as other online passwords you may have.
• Make sure no one observes you typing in your password.

When you move, it is important to notify us of your change of address. If your mailing information isn’t up-to-date, statements or letters that contain personal information will continue to be sent to your former address.

You may prefer to eliminate paper statements altogether, avoiding any possibility of mail theft. Eliminate paper documents, go electronic and be secure while doing it. Our e-Statements are a digital archive of your monthly banking activity than can be downloaded as a PDF from our secure online banking site.

When you are finished with your banking session, always sign out by clicking the “Sign Out” button, as opposed to simply closing the browser window. To help protect your information, your online banking session will end automatically if there has been no activity for 20 minutes or if your visit lasts longer than 60 minutes. If your session has timed out, no further transactions can be made until you sign in again. This time-out feature helps protect your accounts from unauthorized access if your PC is left unattended or if you have forgotten to sign out. ​

When you spend time on the Internet, your browser stores information, such as the websites you visit, the images and files you view, and your personal information, including passwords and login details. This data is held on your computer’s hard drive and is known as ‘cache.’ Even though you may have logged out and closed your browser, this information may remain accessible. You can protect your data by clearing your browsing history regularly. ​

Some web browsers have a feature that allows you to browse the Internet without the browser storing information, such as the sites you visit, the images you see and videos you watch. This feature is sometimes used by people who share the same computer. Private browsing is a temporary option and must be selected in order for it to be activated. Private browsing, however, does not give you immunity to spyware or make you anonymous. It is still possible for your Internet service provider, employer or the websites you visit to track your online activity. ​

Frequently reviewing your paper and/or electronic account statements and registering for our Direct Alerts system ensures that you spot any incorrect or fraudulent transactions as soon as they occur. If your card has been skimmed (when the card’s magnetic stripe and PIN are fraudulently copied by embedded devices at ATMs or point-of-sale devices) or unauthorized transactions have been made, you will want to catch this as soon as possible. Every time you receive an account statement verify you made all the transactions.

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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.

Smishing

Smishing is similar to phishing in that it is a fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information. Smishing is done using text messages purporting to be from reputable companies.

Phishing or smishing messages 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 and smishing 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 or text messages 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 or text message. Electronic messaging is not a secure form of communication. If you receive a message that you are unsure about, please contact us.

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.

**Be sure to install anti-virus software on your computer to protect your information, money and privacy. Such software detects viruses and cleans your computer so that harmful viruses do not spread. Set up your anti-virus to run frequent scans and update the software as soon as it is required. Ensure you have real-time scanning of every email and every file you download.**

Malware

Malicious software (malware), spyware, worms and Trojans are the same class of destructive viruses; just with different names. Nobody wants a computer virus. They can steal your personal information, take over your PC and use your computer to attack other people’s computers. Your PC can become infected through email attachments, downloading infected content or visiting harmful websites.

Spyware

Spyware is exactly what it sounds like – tracking software that is downloaded to your computer (without your knowledge) when you visit certain Internet sites. Secretly, it gathers information about you and your browsing habits. This information can be trivial or it can include passwords and personal data that you wouldn’t want criminals to get their hands on. It can also interfere with user controls and disable legitimate anti-virus programs.

The best way to protect your computer against spyware is smart browsing. Stay away from sites that look unsafe and avoid streaming or downloading content from untrustworthy sources. Many anti-virus products offer targeted spyware solutions that inspect your operating system, installed programs, downloads and files.

Scareware

One of the most common viruses to watch out for is known as scareware. These scams pop-up on your screen and display alarmist warnings, telling you a virus has invaded your computer. Scareware prompts you to download (and often pay for) fake anti-virus software to remove the non-existent viruses. Scareware is a scam that tries to trick you into paying money in exchange for nothing.

You can protect against scareware by keeping your anti-virus software up-to-date and by being judicious about what you choose to download to your computer. You should also familiarize yourself with the interface of your legitimate anti-virus program, so you won’t be fooled if one of these pop-ups appears.

It’s a good idea to protect and maintain the devices you use to do your banking. This can involve upgrading the software and other practices as outlined here.

Your computer’s operating system needs to be up-to-date in order to defend itself from viruses and malicious software (malware). If one part of your operating system develops a virus, it leaves holes in your computer’s security defenses and compromises the safety of the information contained in your computer.

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.

Your operating system lets you know when updates are available by notifying you there are new security features to download. You can also upgrade your operating system to the latest version available from the manufacturer; however, you should ensure your computer has sufficient hardware capacity to support an upgrade.

To fully eliminate a virus that has infected your machine, the re-installation of your operating system may be required. Protect yourself against the permanent loss of important data by frequently backing up your files on an external hard drive so you’ll have the data should you ever have a problem with your operating system.

Install anti-virus software on your computer to protect your information, money and privacy. Such software detects viruses and cleans your computer so that harmful viruses do not spread. Set up your anti-virus to run frequent scans and update the software as soon as it is required. Ensure you have real-time scanning of every email and every file you download.

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 computer, firewalls also stop your computer from being used by hackers to send malicious software to other computers.

Most computers 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.

Browsing the web has never been easier – it’s all at your fingertips. Smartphones let you surf, shop or bank wherever you are. Make sure your information stays secure while you’re on the move by following these smartphone-safe browsing tips:

1. Activate your phone’s password feature, which locks the screen and prevents anyone but you from accessing your phone. Set up the password feature on your phone with a code that only you know.
2. Don’t connect to unknown networks through Wi-Fi hotspots to make financial transactions.
3. Beware of smishing – that’s phishing on phones through text messages. Never download media or images, or click on text-message links that come from unrecognizable people or phone numbers. Never provide personal details or any account details using any form of electronic messaging because this is not a secure form of communication. If you are unsure, please contact us.
4. Download apps exclusively from the official source for your smartphone’s platform, such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
5. Install anti-virus software for your smartphone when available and update it frequently.
6. Install location finding applications, which work with your phone’s built-in GPS. These applications allow you to locate and/or remotely erase (or “wipe”) data in your phone if it is lost or stolen.
7. Update your smartphone’s operating system as soon as newer versions are available.

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

If you are the victim of a fraud or just want additional information, check out the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for more information.

The Little Black Book of Scams

And another awesome resource for consumers and businesses is available at the Competition Bureau