Today’s fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated all the time. That is why it is more important than ever to protect your personal information when corresponding online and via email.
Beware of “phishing” emails asking for personal information, such as credit card, account or social security numbers. Typical phishing emails use an urgent reason for providing information, such as a security breach or contest, to trick you into responding. And they often include links to websites that may appear to be legitimate. These websites may even contain familiar banners and logos in an attempt to fool you. Do not take the bait —do not click links or reply to the message. Because your financial professional will never, under any circumstances, send you an unsolicited email asking you to update or verify your account details or other personal information by clicking a link or calling a phone number provided. If you receive such an email, do not respond.
| 10 | Tips to safeguard your assets | Knowledge is often your best defense against online fraud. Following these 10 steps is a simple and effective way to reduce the risk of theft or misuse of your personal and financial information. |
An identity thief may go to any lengths to obtain your personal information (even picking through your garbage or recycling bins). So be sure to shred receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, credit offers received in the mail, etc. Get into the habit of clearing your mailbox after every delivery. Make sure that your mail is forwarded or re-routed if you move or change your mailing address. Do not give out personal information on the phone, through email or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact independently and know the person you are dealing with.
If your bills or statements do not arrive on time, follow up immediately to ensure they have not fraudulently been redirected. Review your statements regularly to ensure all transactions are authorized, and review your credit report annually.
Do not reveal your PIN to anyone, including your financial professional, family members and friends. When conducting a transaction at an ATM or retail (point-of-sale) location, keep your client card within your sight and shield the keypad while you enter your PIN.
Review your daily withdrawal limits on your debit card. If you do not need a high daily limit, reduce it. This will help contain fraud by reducing the amount someone can access. Only carry the ID and credit cards that you need; leave the rest (especially your birth certificate, social security card and passport) at home in a secure location.
Always keep your personal computer, tablet and smartphone up to date with the latest software version. Be cautious in your online activity, especially when using unsecured/free wireless internet in public locations and when accessing sites with sensitive information, such as online banking. Make sure your home Wi-Fi connection is secured with a password.
Never share your passwords and use ones that are difficult to guess. (Strong passwords use a mix of letters, numbers and characters.) Change passwords frequently. Do not recycle passwords and do not use the same passwords for online banking as you would for other services, such as social networking sites.
Verify a message before you take any other action, such as clicking on a link or initiating a transaction. Do not click on any links or open files in emails from people you do not recognize or are not expecting (this could expose your computer to a password keylogger or spyware).
Always use encryption when sending confidential information by email, and never store sensitive data about yourself or others in your email folders. Even encrypted emails can be hacked.
Install a well-recognized security program on all of your devices (PC/ tablet/phone), and keep it up-to-date. A reputable personal firewall, as well as anti-virus, anti-spam and anti-spyware software, is necessary to provide online protection for your computer and your information. Beware of pop-up warnings that your computer is infected and instructing you to buy or download software to fix the problem.
Remember to log off and close your browser to prevent others from being able to view your information later.
| Attention |
If you suspect you are a victim of fraud or theft, contact the authorities immediately. To learn more, please visit www.rbc.com/privacysecurity. |
The content of this page is for informational, internal use only by broker-dealer and/or registered investment advisor firms and their financial professionals, and must not be construed as investment advice, or an offer to buy or sell securities or any products or services mentioned. RBC Clearing & Custody reserves the right to change the contents of this page, its policies and procedures, and individual program services and requirements without notice. Employees of broker-dealer and/or registered investment advisor firms are responsible for following their firm’s policies and procedures, including, but not limited to those pertaining to suitability, best interest and communications with the public.
Notice: By clicking on external site links you are leaving the RBC Clearing & Custody website. Neither these sites nor the material on these sites have been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by RBC Clearing & Custody or RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and neither RBC Clearing & Custody nor RBC Capital Markets, LLC, makes any representation or warranty regarding the accuracy or reliability of the information on such sites. Contact: Heiser, Michael, (612) 371-2363 Publisher: Pyne, Emily Last Modified: 5/27/2020 11:27 AM
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