How to Protect Yourself from Fraud | CT & Westerly RI

Fraud prevention starts with good information

Spot the ways scammers try to trick you

Use helpful tips to avoid fraud

Take steps to reduce your risk of identity theft

Stay cautious and informed

10 quick tips to protect yourself from fraud and scams.

Do not open emails from people you do not know.

These emails can contain harmful links, scammers phone numbers, or viruses.

Pay close attention to website addresses.

A fake website address can be very similar to the actual thing. It can be a minor change such as www.dime-bank.com altered to www.dime_bank.com, or it can be made to show the correct address while bringing you to another site altogether. A good practice to adopt is to hover the mouse over a hyperlink which will show the actual destination of what website it will bring you to.

Do not share personal details over the phone, email, or social media.

Dime Bank will never ask for your account or personal information over the phone if calling you. If you are unsure or feel uneasy with a call, do not be afraid to hang up and call back with a trusted and known number.

Use strong passwords and do not use the same password for every login.

It is important to use different passwords to make it harder for a scammer to access your information if a compromise does occur. Consider using a random password generator to choose complex passwords for you. If you have your passwords saved on your computer, lock that document with a completely unique password.

Make sure your device’s antivirus protection is up to date.

Scammers can exploit outdated software. While it is important to have antivirus software on your devices, remember that you are the ultimate line of defense against scammers.

Take a moment to stop and think. Scammers will often pressure you into making immediate decisions.

Fraudsters will create a false sense of urgency which can lead to you making a costly decision. They will make it seem like you need to take immediate action by threatening legal consequences or the possibility of financial loss.

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

There is no such thing as free money. Fraudsters will tempt you with a lucrative work from home job opportunity or an inheritance from a long lost relative.

Always know where your checkbook and debit or credit card are. Monitor your account activity regularly.

There are timeframes to report a missing card or fraud that occurs on your account.

Keep your personal information safe.

Do not keep your PIN with your debit card, or your Social Security card and birth certificate in the same place. If your wallet or purse is stolen or lost, it makes it that much easier for a fraudster to access your funds. Keep your personal documents, such as your Social Security card and birth certificate, in a locked box or safe spot.

Try to avoid using the blue postal boxes and opt to hand deliver your mail inside the post office when possible.

Fraudsters will “fish” for mail in postal boxes with a sticky substance attached to a hook and string and even have their own sets of keys to the boxes now.

If your Dime Bank account or identity has been compromised, contact us immediately so we can help reduce your risk of fraud and identity theft.

We use multiple layers of protection to safeguard your information, including secure online and mobile banking, multi-factor authentication, real time transaction monitoring, and advanced fraud detection tools. Our team actively reviews unusual activity and will contact you if we detect anything out of the ordinary.

Your security is part of our commitment to being a dependable financial partner in our communities.

If something doesn’t look right, contact us right away.

If it’s after business hours and you believe your online banking credentials were compromised, use the Forgot Password feature to reset your password immediately.

We’ll guide you through the next steps and work with you to secure your accounts.

A scam pretending to be your bank usually shows itself through urgency or unusual requests. If someone pressures you to act immediately, asks for your password or security codes, tells you to transfer money, or sends a link asking you to log in, it’s almost certainly fraudulent. Real banks don’t rush you, don’t ask for sensitive information, and expect you to use their official website or app directly.

If you believe you have been contacted by someone pretending to be from Dime Bank, please call us immediately.