Thanks to technology advancements, consumer bank accounts are better
protected than ever before. While this is great news for consumers, it
is only part of the story when it comes to keeping your money safe. To
be truly effective, fraud protection and detection must be a partnership
between financial institutions and their customers, with both keeping a
close eye out for unauthorized activity.
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“Industry data shows us that for 10,000 debit card transactions, as many
as 25 are fraudulent,” said Jason Castillo, head of enterprise fraud
management at Citizens Bank. “Our customers are an essential part of the
equation in fighting fraud and we want to arm them with the knowledge to
help keep their money and the financial system safe.”
Monitor accounts at least monthly
There are deadlines for
reporting fraud, set by federal agencies, that all consumers should be
aware of and adhere to, and that starts with monitoring your accounts.
At minimum, review your monthly statements for all your accounts and
report any concerns about transactions immediately. With the ease of
mobile and online access, it’s a good practice to review transactions on
your accounts daily or weekly, especially for debit and credit accounts.
Consult your financial institution or the FDIC
for additional information on reporting requirements.
Secure your personal and account information
Increased
convenience does not mean less risk. Many consumers store their account
information digitally, whether on their computer or with a third-party
merchant or service, which can increase your exposure to data breaches
and unauthorized access to your device through malware or other means.
To best protect your information, verify the security of any sites where
you are inputting your account or card information, protect your devices
with security software and actively monitor your accounts to ensure all
transactions are legitimate.
Be vigilant about potential scams
Never give account or card
information or transfer money without verifying the legitimacy of any
requests for your account or card information. There are numerous phone,
email, online, gift card and employment scams that can result in
transfer of funds to a fraudulent source, or unauthorized access to your
device or accounts. The Federal
Trade Commission is a good resource for identifying current, known
scams, and you should always independently contact the institution an
individual claims to be from if you receive a call or email asking for
your personal, account or card information.
“Technology has made it easier than ever to check your accounts,” said
Castillo. “It’s a simple step, but taking a few minutes to log in and
review your transactions is a good financial habit that every consumer
benefits from, and is incredibly impactful when it comes to fighting
fraud.”
For more tips and information about how to protect your accounts, visit https://www.citizensbank.com/account-safeguards/overview.aspx.
To watch Jason talk more about these consumer tips, please click
here.
About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens
Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest
financial institutions, with $161.3 billion in assets as of March 31,
2019. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad
range of retail and commercial banking products and services to
individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large
corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their
potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order
to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking,
Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and
online banking, a 24/7 customer contact center and the convenience of
approximately 2,900 ATMs and approximately 1,100 branches in 11 states
in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Consumer Banking
products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings,
wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking,
Citizens offers corporate, institutional and not-for-profit clients a
full range of wholesale banking products and services, including lending
and deposits, capital markets, treasury services, foreign exchange and
interest rate products, and asset finance. More information is available
at www.citizensbank.com or
visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.
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