Smart habits can help limit your exposure to identity fraudsters. Consider these proactive steps.
Freeze misplaced or lost cards
If you have an Oregonians credit or debit card, you can freeze your card in digital banking. This temporarily blocks your card from being used, and it can easily be unblocked if you locate your missing card. If you don’t find it, you can rest easy that no one else can use it.
Set up fraud text alerts
If we have a mobile number on file for you, you'll automatically receive real-time fraud alerts via text. These alerts put you in the driver’s seat for reviewing suspicious account activity right when it happens.
Passwords, or rather “Passphrases”
Use passphrases instead of passwords, especially for logins that have your confidential or financial information. These are phrases you can easily remember, with some characters switched. For example, “I love Portland Blazers” can be “IluvP0rtl@ndBl@z3rs”.
Change passwords often
Change your passwords frequently and try to use different passphrases for different logins. We know it's a pain. But if someone gets a hold of your password on one website, you don't want this to give them free reign to all of your online accounts.
Choose public Wi-Fi connections carefully
If you must use public Wi-Fi, turn off your “auto-connect to wireless networks” option. Only use https sites and never log in to a network that isn’t password protected.
Enable “find my phone”
With everything saved on phones these days, misplacing one is not our idea of a fun thing to do. Enable lock screens and turn on software that will help you pinpoint your device’s location.
ATM best practices
Fraudsters are always looking for ways to hack card information at ATMs, even ones that are frequently used. When you approach an ATM, always check for exposed wires, bulkiness where you would insert your card, or anything that looks out of place. If it's not easy to insert your card, this is also a red flag. These are possible signs of skimming devices that can lift data from your card.
Keep your PIN safe
Don't write your PIN number down, especially on or near where you keep your card.
Be vigilant on vacation
There's a few easy things you can do before you travel to decrease your chances of fraud happening.
- Let us know when you're traveling.
- Stop your mail at the post office while you're traveling.
- Only travel with the cards and documents you really need, and make copies of the documents you’re bringing, and leave them in a safe place at home.
