Phishing
Phishing is the use of fraudulent emails or pop-up Web pages that appear legitimate, but are designed to deceive you into sharing personal or account information.

Pharming
Pharming occurs when you type in a Web address and are redirected to a fraudulent Web site, which looks similar to a legitimate site, in hopes of capturing your confidential information.  By using actual logos and images from legitimate companies, scammers can make fraudulent e-mails or Web sites appear real. They often state that if you fail to provide personal or account information, your accounts will be suspended.

Counterfeit Cashier's Check Scam
In response to a listing on an Internet auction or other site, a buyer (often from a foreign country) purchases the item and sends you a cashier’s check for a lot more than the agreed-upon selling price. The buyer then asks you to wire the excess funds back. Within a week, the bank is notified that the check is a worthless counterfeit and you are out thousands of dollars. In these scams, the cashier’s checks are excellent counterfeits and very difficult to spot.  In another twist to this scam, the buyer requests your bank account and routing numbers so that he or she may wire funds to your account. Do NOT give your account numbers to anyone.  Remember - If it sounds too good to be true, IT IS!

Fraudulent E-Mails Claiming to Be From the FDIC
E-mails fraudulently claiming to be from the FDIC attempt to trick recipients into installing unknown software on personal computers. These e-mails falsely indicate that recipients should download and open a "personal FDIC insurance file" to check their deposit insurance coverage. The "insurance file" may actually be a form of spyware or malicious code and may collect personal or confidential information.

Visa®/MasterCard® Security Code Scam
In this scam, the caller claims to work for the fraud department at Visa or MasterCard and tells you his badge number. He then asks if you recently purchased an anti-telemarketing device for $500. When you say "no," he tells you that his fraud department has been watching that company. He offers to block the charge. Because he has secured your name, credit card number and expiration date from a charge receipt, he is convincing when he provides you with this information to verify. What he does not know–and wants you to divulge–is the three-digit security code on the back of your card. Without it, he cannot use your credit card number to shop on many sites on the Internet. Don't give out your code. Hang up.

Here are some helpful tips to prevent your card and card number from being stolen:

1. Keep credit/debit cards close. Never leave a wallet or purse unattended, it only takes seconds for a thief to steal a wallet and all the personal information it contains.
2. Carry only the cards you need. Leaving unnecessary cards at home will help limit exposure to fraud.
3. Don’t lend out your cards. It may be more convenient, but once the card is out of your hands it’s out of your control.
4. Never let a salesperson take your card out of sight. Skimming devices, which record card information, can be hidden in a hand or under a counter.
5. Always check receipts against your statements to make sure there are no unauthorized charges. If anything looks odd, report it to us immediately.
6. Make a list of card numbers, expirations dates, and the toll-free numbers of your financial institution. Keep this record in a safe place, separate from where you keep your cards. Use this information if you ever need to report your cards lost or stolen.
7. When shopping online, use reputable sites. Check to be sure the sites are secure by looking for web addresses with “https” in the address.
8. Avoid shopping online using public Wi-Fi.  Hackers can easily gain access to public networks and steal your information.
9. Don’t respond to emails asking for personal financial information, they are likely phishing emails attempting to capture passwords, logins, credit card details etc.
10. Always report lost cards and suspected fraud right away.

Call our office at 708-656-5000 or 800-554-8969 to report a lost or stolen Debit Card.

Tips for secure on-line banking:

Always type in your internet banking URL into your browser.
Central Federal can be accessed via https://centralfederalsavings.com .

Password Security
You should always be wary if you receive unsolicited emails or calls asking you to disclose any personal details or card numbers. This information should be kept confidential at all times. Be cautious about disclosing personal information to individuals you do not know.   Please remember that we will never contact you directly to ask you to disclose your password information.  Do not write down your Username and Password and leave it next to your computer.  Do not Cache your online banking passwords.  Do not use the same password for online banking that you use for any other Web site that may be compromised and thieves now have your internet banking password.

PC Security
It is important to use up-to-date anti-virus software and a personal firewall. If your computer uses Microsoft Windows, it is important to keep it updated via the Windows Update feature, likewise if you use another operating system you should check regularly for updates.  Ensure you also regularly patch Java and Adobe products. These items are frequently updated because of vulnerabilities and hacker use of those vulnerabilities to install malware on your computer.  Consider using a single computer for your online banking and restrict others use on it.

Avoid Public Wireless Internet Access
You should be vigilant if you use internet cafes or a computer that is not your own and over which you have no control. Hackers and identity thieves often monitor these networks or install malware to capture your login credentials.

Keep Your Identity Private
Your identity can be as easily stolen offline as it can online. It is important that you comply with instructions about destroying expired bank cards.  You should also consider using a crosscut shredder to destroy bank and other statements that may contain sensitive personal information.  It is advisable to store retained documents in a suitable locked and fireproof container.  Use a complex password that is not easily guessed. It should not contain full names or words, and should include special characters and be at least eight characters long.

Check Your Statements
It is important to check your statements regularly; a quick check will help identify any erroneous or criminal transactions that might have been performed on your account without your knowledge.

Check to see that your banking session is secure
When undertaking any banking on the internet, check that the session is secure. There are two simple indicators that will tell you if your session is secure. The first is the use of https:// in the URL. Some browsers such as Mozilla Firefox change the color of the URL window when you are in a secure session. The other indicator is the presence of a digital certificate represented by a padlock or key in the bottom right hand corner. If you double click on this icon it should provide you with information about the organization with which you have entered in to a secure session.

Check for Spywares/Malware
In addition to being protected by using up-to-date antivirus software you should also regularly use software to remove spyware from your computer, as these programs record information about your internet use and transmit it without your permission. In some circumstances this can compromise your PC security. Remember current anti-virus software does not catch 100% of every virus. Consider utilizing multiple programs to regularly scan your computer.

Ensure you log off properly
It is important to completely log off from your internet banking session; simply closing the window after you performed the transaction may not close the banking session. If your computer is infected with a Trojan, your session may become hijacked by a criminal and financial transactions may be performed without your knowledge. It is also advisable to disconnect from the internet if you are not planning to use it.

If you suspect any suspicious activity, please contact us immediately at 708-656-5000.

Telephone or write to Central Federal at the number or address shown on the front of your statement if you think your statement or receipt is wrong or if you need more information about a transfer on the statement or receipt. We must hear from you no later than 60 days after we sent you the FIRST statement on which the error or problem appeared.

1. Tell us your name and account number.
2. Describe the error or the transfer you are unsure about, and explain as clearly as you can and why you believe there is an error or why you need more information.
3. Tell us the date and the dollar amount of the suspected error.

If you tell us orally, we may require that you send us your complaint or question in writing within 10 business days.  We will determine whether an error occurred within 10 business days, (five business days if involving a VISA transaction or 20 business days if the transfer involved a new account) after we hear from you and will correct any error promptly. If we need more time, however, we may take up to 45 days (90 days if the transfer involved a new account, a point-of-sale transaction, or a foreign-initiated transfer) to investigate your complaint or question. If we decide to do this, we will credit your account within 10 business days (five business days if involving a VISA transaction or 20 business days if the transfer involved a new account) for the amount you think is in error, so that you will have the use of the money during the time it takes us to complete our investigation. If we ask you to put your complaint or question in writing and we do not receive it within 10 business days, we may not credit your account. An account is considered a new account for 30 days after the first deposit is made, if you are a new customer.

We will tell you the results within three business days after completing our investigation. If we decide that there was no error, we will send you a written explanation. You may ask for copies of the documents that we used in our investigation.