Important Changes to U.S. Savings Bonds

How To Open A Bond Account

How To Buy Gifts From Treasury Direct

We all realize that the use of the internet for banking, shopping, or socializing is no doubt convenient and easy. However, it is also becoming one of the fastest growing areas of theft and fraud. More than ever, we need to be diligent about where and how we input our personal and financial information online. At the Bank of Lincoln County, we are dedicated to safeguarding your information and one way to do that is to keep you informed of ways that YOU can take charge of protecting yourself from fraud, identity theft, and loss. Due to heightened fraud alerts we are publishing this notice as a way of educating you, our customer.

At Bank of Lincoln County, the security of customer information is a priority.  We are strongly committed to the safety and confidentiality of your records.  Every day, unscrupulous individuals are busy developing new scams targeting the unsuspecting public.  One of the best ways to avoid fraud is to become an educated consumer. Below we have listed some tips to help

• Protect yourself from fraudulent Web sites and e-mails.
  • Watch out for copycat Web sites that deliberately use a name or Web address very similar to, but not the same as the real one.  The intent is to lure you into clicking through to their Web site and giving out your personal information, such as a bank account number, credit card number or Online Banking login information.
  • Always use your pre-established links to access Web sites and avoid clicking on links in unsolicited e-mails.  If you ever receive a suspicious e-mail representing itself as Bank of Lincoln County, please forward the message to us in it’s entirety via your online banking message portal with a brief description in the subject line.
  • If you are ever shopping and a pop up asks you to input your banking information in order to update their records, don’t enter anything just close the window as it will most likely lead to fraud.
  • If you are visiting a site in which you will enter your information, one way to verify that the site is using security measures to protect you is to look at the URL in the address bar, if you see https and/or a padlock icon it is generally more secure.
  • Note nothing is full proof, if you notice something unusual report it as soon as you can.
  • Ensure that your own personal computer has updated anti-virus and firewall protections.  Apply security patches for all of your programs and operating systems regularly.
  • Passwords should be unique to you and changed regularly.  Do not use birthdays or other numbers or words that may be easy for others to guess.  Never write down your password or give it to another person.
  • Monitor your account activity frequently using our free Online or Phone Banking services.
  • Sign up for free Online eStatements to avoid having your paper statement sitting in an unsecure mailbox where it could be compromised.
  • Set up free Alerts through Online Banking to be notified via phone, e-mail and/or SMS text message when there is login activity or changes in your expected balance.
  • Set up a personalized Phishing Phrase for your Online Banking so that you always know when you are on our secure Web site.
  • Don’t answer security questions with answers that may be easily guess by fraudsters
  • Don’t reply to emails that ask you to input either your personal information, bank information, or security question answers.

We encourage you to review our Security & Privacy link, which can be found on our website at www.bolconline.com. If at any time you have questions regarding security or possible fraud, please contact our customer service representatives at 931-433-1708 or via your online banking message portal.

OCC Reports Malicious Bank Website

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released an alert noting that a website called “helpwithmybank.com” is masquerading as the legitimate website helpwithmybank.gov and contains potentially damaging malware. Attempts to connect to the illegitimate website could expose users to harmful malware. The OCC is encouraging anyone with information on the matter to contact the agency. Read the Alert.

Yet another report that email claiming to be from FDIC is in circulation, these aren’t to be taken lightly.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous reports of fraudulent emails that have the appearance of being from the FDIC.

The e-mails appear to be sent from a “no.reply@fdic.gov” e-mail address.

The e-mails have a subject line that read: “FDIC Notification.”

The fraudulent emails are addressed to “Dear customer” and state “Your account ACH and Wire transactions have been temporarily suspended for security reasons due to the expiration of your security version. To download and install the newest installations read the document(pdf) attached below. As soon as it is set up, your transaction abilities will be fully restored.”

The message concludes with, “Best regards, Online Security Department, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.”

The e-mails include an attachment named “FDIC_document.zip.” The e-mails and attachments are fraudulent and were not sent by the FDIC. Recipients should consider the intent as an attempt to collect personal or confidential information, or to load malicious software onto end users’ computers. Recipients should NOT open the attachment.

Financial institutions and consumers should be aware that other subject lines and modifications to the e-mails may occur over time.  The FDIC does not directly contact consumers in this manner nor does the FDIC request personal financial information from consumers.

IMPORTANT SECURITY NOTICES:We will NOT request confidential information via email or the internet, nor will we contact you to confirm any online banking identification information.

Please do not give out any information regarding your account:  i.e. PIN numbers, card numbers, or expiration dates.

To Report a LOST or STOLEN Debit card After Business Hours, Call 1-800-500-1044.

FDIC Consumer Education

The presentation: Don’t Be an On-Line Victim: How to Guard Against Internet Thieves and Electronic Scams is on the FDIC’s website.