Personal Finance Security Center

Protecting You and Your Valuables

• ATM Security and You - Automatic Teller Machines have become integral for many individuals. Learn a few tips to use them wisely and carefully.
• Safe Deposit Boxes - Safe deposit boxes are handle tools. They provide a safe place away from your home or office to store valuables. Learn some of the ways to most effectively use your safe deposit box.

Protecting Email & Internet

• Examples of Common Email Scams - Most email scams end up involving requests to send money, cash checks, establish business relationships or requests for information. Being aware of these scams and using common sense can help protect you and your finances.
• Protecting Against Investment Scams on the Internet - The Internet has become the communication channel of choice for many investors. The Internet has also become a popular place for thieves and scam artists to find victims. Learn about some of the types of scams and how to protect yourself.
• Protecting Your Internet Activities and Electronic Data - With more of our financial activities occurring over the Internet, it is important to be aware of risks these activities entail and steps you can take to reduce the risk that someone will illegally gain access to your private information or financial accounts.

Protecting Your Identity

• Prevent Identity Theft - When someone uses your credit identity the costs and aggravation can add up. Learn some tips to keep your credit identity secure.
• Monitor Your Financial Identity by Reviewing Your Credit Report - One step to ensure that no one has stolen your financial identity or established fraudulent credit in your name is to review your credit report. There is now a program that enables you to receive copies of your credit report from each of the three large credit reporting agencies each year at not cost.
• Protecting Your Mail - The mail you receive and send includes information that deserves special attention. Everything from account numbers and balances on financial accounts to the name and account number on checks you mail can be valuable to thieves and other scam artists.
• Shredding Personal Documents and When to Dispose of Them - When you put a piece of paper in the trash it can be difficult know what happens to it. Every step that occurs once the trash leaves your control has risk that someone will find personal information they can use to cause you harm. One way to safeguard personal information is to shred it before it goes into the trash.