Protect Yourself

Here are four common types of scams LifeStore sees on a regular basis.

• Business and Government Imposters
  Imposter scams often begin with a call, text message, or email, or even an alarming pop-up warning on your computer. Scammers may claim that they’re calling from a tech company, saying your computer has been hacked. Maybe they say they’re from your bank (“unauthorized transfer”), an online company (“unauthorized purchase”), a shipping service (“confirm you shipping information”) or even the government (“you owe back taxes”). In all cases, they want you to pay.
• Romance Scams
  Someone contacts you on social media — and they’re interested in getting to know you. Or maybe you meet someone special on a dating website or mobile app. Soon the person wants to write to you directly or start talking on the phone. They say it’s true love, but they live far away — maybe because of work, or because they’re in the military. Then they start asking for money. Maybe it’s for a plane ticket to visit you. Or emergency surgery. Or something else urgent.
• Prizes, Sweepstakes & Lotteries
  You get a call, email, or letter saying you won a sweepstakes, lottery, or prize — like an iPad, a new car, or something else. But you can tell it’s a scam because of what they do next: they ask you to pay money or give them your account information to get the prize. If you pay, you’ll lose your money and find out there is no prize.
• Tech Support Scams
  You get a call or message from someone who says they’re a computer technician. Or a number appears in a pop-up message on your screen. Or maybe you’re looking for tech support and call a number you find on a search engine. The person on the phone says they’re from a well-known company and they tell you about viruses or other malware on your computer. Maybe they’ll ask you for remote access to your computer or say you must buy new software to fix it.

Tech support scammers will try to sell you useless services, steal your credit card number, or get access to your computer to install malware, which could then let them see everything on your computer (including your account passwords).

The goal of a scammer is to either steal your personal information or your money. Here are four red flags that signal a scam.

1. Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know.
   Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like the FTC, Social Security Administration, IRS, or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility company, a tech company, or even a charity asking for donations.
   They use technology to change the phone number that appears on your caller ID. So, the name and number you see might not be real.
2. Scammers say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE.
   They might say you’re in trouble with the government. Or you owe money. Or someone in your family had an emergency. Or that there’s a virus on your computer.
   Some scammers say there’s a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify some information.
   Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes but have to pay a fee to get it.
3. Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately.
   Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. If you’re on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story.
   They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted.
4. Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way.
   They often insist that you can only pay by using cryptocurrency, wiring money through a company like MoneyGram or Western Union, using a payment app, or putting money on a gift card and then giving them the numbers on the back of the card.
   Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), then tell you to deposit it and send them money.

In addition to understanding the different types of scams and red flags, here are four helpful tips on how to avoid a scam.

• Block unwanted calls and text messages. Take steps to block unwanted calls and to filter unwanted text messages.
  Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect. Honest organizations won’t call, email, or text to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers.
  If you get an email or text message from a company you do business with and you think it’s real, it’s still best not to click on any links. Instead, contact them using a website you know is trustworthy. Or look up their phone number. Don’t call a number they gave you or the number from your caller ID.
• Resist the pressure to act immediately. Honest businesses will give you time to make a decision. Anyone who pressures you to pay or give them your personal information is a scammer.
• Know how scammers tell you to pay. Never pay someone who insists that you can only pay with cryptocurrency, a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram, a payment app, or a gift card. And never deposit a check and send money back to someone.
• Stop and talk to someone you trust. Before you do anything else, tell someone — a friend, a family member, a neighbor — what happened. You are always welcome to talk to us at LifeStore as we understand how scams work and take these matters seriously. Talking about it could help you realize it’s a scam.

Here are 7 easy cybersecurity tips for keeping your personal information secure.

• Do Not Share Passwords or Passcodes
  Scammers will attempt to trick you into providing your password for online and mobile banking. They may even ask for a passcode that has been sent to your mobile device. Do not share these items!
• Use Different Passwords for Every Account
  If one account is breached, other accounts with the same credentials can easily by compromised.
• Create A Strong, Long Password
  Strong passwords make it significantly more difficult for hackers to crack and break into systems. Strong passwords are considered over eight characters in length and comprised of both upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Implement Two-Factor Authentication
  If available, enable two-factor authentication. In addition to traditional credentials, like username and password, users have to confirm their identity with a one-time code sent to their mobile device. The idea is that with two-factor (or multi-factor) authentication, guessing or cracking the password alone is not enough for an attacker to gain access.
• Install Antivirus Software
  Antivirus software can safeguard your device against viruses, rootkits, spyware, trojans, ransomware, and other types of malware.
• Be Cautious of Links
  Links in emails are a common tool used by hackers to trick individuals into giving up their secure information. This is often in the form of banking statements, flight reservations, password recovery emails, and more.
  If a user clicks on one of these links, they are taken to a fake site that looks eerily similar to its real counterpart. The site will ask them to login or input private information. Once a hacker has their hands on this information they have access to the user’s account.
  So, be aware of the links in your emails. If something looks suspicious, don’t click on it. In fact, the safest bet is to visit a provider’s site directly as opposed to using an email link.
• Be Careful on Social Media
  Social media is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family. But, be aware of what you are sharing online. Criminals and hackers can learn a lot of information about you by observing your public profile. And just like you wouldn’t share all your personal information with a stranger, you shouldn’t share it all online either.

Being able to respond and act quickly to prevent fraudulent activity from occurring on your account is critical. Utilize these features available through Online and Mobile Banking to stop fraud quickly.

• Check your Balances and Review Transactions Daily through Online or Mobile Banking to make sure there are no fraudulent or unauthorized transactions. If you notice suspicious activity on your account, report it immediately!
• Use Card Controls in the Mobile Banking App to set up alerts, and spending limits, limit the location a card can be used and even turn off your debit card in real-time.

Avoid skimming devices commonly installed on gas pumps or card readers at stores by using your LifeStore Debit Card’s “tap” feature in transactions that allow this form of payment. Your LifeStore Debit Card can also be added to your Mobile Wallet on your mobile device as another simple and safe way of payment.

Get added security with IDProtect® identity theft monitoring and resolution service1 for you and your family, a feature of our Assurance or Premier Checking Accounts.

• Up to $10,000 Identity Theft Expense Reimbursement Coverage²– to cover expenses associated with restoring your identity.
• Fully Managed Identity Theft Resolution Services – access to a dedicated fraud specialist assigned to manage your case until your identity is restored
• Debit and Credit Card Registration – register your credit, debit and ATM cards and have peace of mind knowing you can call one toll-free number to cancel and request replacement cards should your cards become lost or stolen. (registration/activation required)
• Credit File Monitoring³ – daily credit file monitoring and automated alerts of key changes to your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion credit reports. (registration/activation required)
• Credit Report – ability to request a triple bureau report every 90 days or upon opening a resolution case. (registration/activation required)
• Credit Score⁴ – ability to request a single bureau score every 90 days. (registration/activation required)
• Identity Monitoring – Monitoring of more than 1,000 databases and public records to identify suspicious activity, including credit header information, phone records, United States Postal Service records, and more. A risk rating is generated with each monthly scan and if your scan reflects a high-risk score, you will be notified. (registration/activation required)

Disclosures:

¹ Benefits are available to personal checking account owner(s) and their eligible family members subject to the terms and conditions for the applicable Benefits. Some Benefits require authentication, registration and/or activation. Benefits are not available to a “signer” on the account who is not an account owner or to businesses, clubs, trusts, organizations and/or churches and their members, or schools and their employees/students. Family includes: Spouse, persons qualifying as domestic partner, and children under 25 years of age and parent(s) of the account holder who are residents of the same household.

² Special Program Notes: The descriptions herein are summaries only and do not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the Benefits described. Please refer to the actual Guide to Benefit and/or insurance documents for complete details of coverage and exclusions. Coverage is provided through the company named in the Guide to Benefit or on the certificate of insurance.Insurance Products are not insured by the FDIC or any Federal Government Agency; not a deposit of or guaranteed by the bank or any bank affiliate.

³ Credit file monitoring may take several days to begin following activation.

⁴ Credit Score is a VantageScore 3.0 based on single bureau credit data. Third parties may use a different VantageScore or a different type of credit score to assess your creditworthiness.

If you notice unusual activity on your LifeStore Account, contact us immediately at 1-800-723-4718 Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 6 PM.

If appropriate, you can reset your online banking password and use Card Controls in the LifeStore Bank Mobile App to turn off your debit card.

With Card Controls on the LifeStore Bank Mobile App, you can ensure no one can use it by turning your card "off". You can also call 1-800-500-1044 to report your lost or stolen card or call 1-800-723-4718 Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 6 PM.

After you’ve downloaded the LifeStore Bank App, you can use the Card Controls feature to set up alerts, set spending limits, limit the location a card can be used, and even turn off your debit cards.

• You have the control to turn your card on or off in real-time.
• It allows you to protect against theft or a lost or stolen card.
• It's simple to turn it on and off.
• Restrict the amount you spend and where and when you spend.
• You will also receive mobile alerts when monitoring of any of this activity occurs.

Has your online or mobile banking account been taken over? Follow these steps for recovery:

• Contact us immediately at 1-800-723-4718 Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 6 PM. Inform us that your account has been taken over.
• Update software. Perform all software updates as soon as they’re available, as they might contain patches for security vulnerabilities.
• Install antivirus software. Antivirus software might be able to quarantine any viruses or malware and detect suspicious behaviors, which could help you deal with a device that’s been taken over along with your account.
• Contact a local tech support shop. If you are not sure how to install antivirus software, contact a local tech support shop. They will be able to scan your device and assist you in removing any viruses or malware.
• Review accounts. Especially if you use the same password for multiple accounts, check your other accounts, particularly social media accounts, for signs of compromise. Report any unusual transactions or activity on the accounts.
• Review Staying Safe Online – Cybersecurity Best Practices for additional tips.

If your identity has been compromised, follow these steps to report and recover from identity theft.

1. Assurance and Premier Checking Accountholders.
   Call 1-866-210-0361 for access to a dedicated fraud specialist assigned to manage your case until your identity is restored.
2. Call the companies where you know fraud occurred.
   Call the fraud department of each company. Explain that someone stole your identity. Ask them to close or freeze the accounts. Then no one can add new charges unless you agree. Change logins, passwords and PINS for your accounts.
3. Place a fraud alert and get your credit reports.
   Place a free, one-year fraud alert by contacting one of the three credit bureaus. That company must tell the other two.
   • Experian.com/help
     888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
   • TransUnion.com/credit-help
     888-909-8872
   • Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
     800-685-1111
   • Get your free credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Go to annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
4. Report identity theft to the FTC
   Complete the FTC’s online form https://www.identitytheft.gov/assistant or call 1-877-438-4338. Include as many details as possible. Based on the information you enter, IdentityTheft.gov will create your Identity Theft Report and recovery plan.
5. File a report with your local police department.
   Go to your local police office with a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report, a government-issued ID with a photo, proof of your address (mortgage statement, rental agreement, or utilities bill), and any other proof you have of the theft (bills, IRS notices, etc.). Tell the police someone stole your identity, and you need to file a report. Ask for a copy of the police report.

For more information and additional steps to take, visit the FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov.