Fraud Prevention
Stay informed.
Scammers and cybercriminals look for opportunities to take advantage of the vulnerable, especially during times of emergencies or natural disasters. We are seeing a large increase in the number of scams happening due to the Coronavirus Pandemic with scammers attempting to gain access to personal information like account and routing numbers, user names, passwords and social security numbers using phone calls, phishing emails and fraudulent websites. In some cases cybercriminals are asking that you click on links or download documents which could potentially install malicious software on your computer to steal sensitive information.
Protect yourself with these tips:
- Protect your user names and passwords or PIN’s. Don’t give them to anyone.
- Consider changing your usernames and passwords frequently
- Passwords tips – The more complex the password, the less likely it is to be deciphered by a perpetrator using even the most sophisticated techniques.
- To create safer passwords:
- Use a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters
- Create a completely unique password for each application or account
- Don’t create passwords that are specific to you such as your spouse’s name or your birthday
- Change your passwords often
- Keep your social security number in a safe place - never carry it with you
- Report lost or stolen credit cards, debit cards, drivers license or ID cards immediately
- Shred any documents you no longer need that have personally identifiable information
- Sign into online banking daily to review the activity in your accounts
- Contact your bank regarding any suspicious activity
- Report any missed account statements to your bank in case they have been stolen from your mailbox
- Software Updates – many viruses take advantage of bugs in software. Updating frequently will protect your computer
- Log-Off – always log off and close your browser especially when using a public computer. The next person to use it might be able to access your account if you haven’t logged off properly.
Helpful resources:
We want you to know about ways you can protect your information. The following web sites offer helpful information and consumer guidance, and we encourage you to visit them. If you are ever in doubt about a request for information, don’t hesitate to contact us. Your bank is aware of most scams and has access to key resources when new ones appear.
Federal Trade Commission(Opens in a new Window)(Opens in a new Window)
- Tips on privacy, identity theft and online security.
- Scam alerts
- Protecting yourself online
- Information about types of Internet Fraud
We're here to help.
If you feel you’ve been the victim of fraudulent activity, reach out to us at 406-495-2400, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We’ll work with you to report the incident and make sure your financial life is healthy and safe. because this situation is evolving moment-by-moment we encourage you to regularly check our website for updates. We’re here to protect your financial life, so you can protect what you value most.
Be assured.
Please be assured that your money is safe with us. It’s important to remember that your money is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)(Opens in a new Window) up to $250,000 for each depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.