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Travel Safety Tips

  • Security
  • March 2019
  • Premier America
Keep your personal and financial information safe while traveling! Keep your personal and financial information safe while traveling!
 
  1. Let us know when you’re traveling. Maintain uninterrupted use of your Premier America debit and credit cards by submitting a travel notice before you leave. To submit a notice online, log into Online Banking and click on the “Services and Forms” tab. Or, call us at 800-772-4000, option 0 to submit a Travel Notice.
  2. Make copies of important documents. Copy the front and back of your passport, driver license and credit cards to leave copies at home and carry with you while traveling. That way if your passport or cards are lost or stolen, you’ll have copies of the information to replace them.
  3. Beware of free public WIFI. Avoid logging into financial accounts or entering passwords while using free public WIFI. Only enter passwords when using secure, password-protected WIFI.
  4. Separate your sources of money. Don’t keep all of your cash and cards in one spot.
  5. Beware of a helper at an ATM. Never let anyone near you while you’re making an ATM transaction, and ALWAYS cover the number pad with your hand while entering your pin code. If someone approaches too closely, take your card and find another ATM.
  6. Password protect your phone and add a tracking tool. Set up a password to unlock your device using a strong, unique password and change it regularly. Also, enable location tracking and install a wiping software so you can track down your phone or destroy data if it’s stolen.
  7. Avoid over-sharing online. Sharing travel plans on social media makes it easier for thieves to time a crime. Instead, wait to post about your trip after you get home.

How Not to Fall for Phishing Scams

A social media giant made headlines again this spring when more than 540 million user records were exposed to the public. As online data continues to be compromised, it becomes easier for hackers to trick people into handing over sensitive personal and financial information as well as their hard-earned money.
 
One of the challenges social media poses is that hackers aren’t just using information they find on a single site. They’re gathering information from multiple social media platforms and using it against you to create targeted messages that look legitimate.

 
Here are just a few of the ways hackers try to use your information to their advantage:
 
  • They hack social media accounts of people and organizations you trust, including customer support accounts from businesses you have a relationship with.
  • They send direct messages that look like they’re coming from someone you know, hoping you’ll click on the embedded links.
  • They try to get you to click on links they include in comments they post.
 If you have a social media presence, here are some tips to help keep you safe:
 
  • Limit what you share on social media and only post things you don’t mind everyone in the world seeing.
  • Be suspicious. If you’re not expecting a communication from an individual or organization you know, assume it’s a scam. If you’re not sure whether it’s legitimate, contact the sender at a phone number you trust.
  • Don’t click on links or attachments unless you’re certain they’re legitimate.
  • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Be wary of requests for confidential information. Legitimate businesses and non-profit organizations won’t request confidential information through social media channels or email.