consumer info

Consumer Information

With so much entertainment to be found on the internet, we often think of our time online as pure recreation. But it’s important to keep your wits about you when in cyberspace. Crooks are using e-mail and text messages to attempt to steal your personal data. Keep your guard up when you’re online and when in doubt, don’t respond. Capital City Bank, as well as all other legitimate business and service providers, will never call, text or e-mail you and request personal information. Requests like this are almost always a scam.

Capital City Bank takes great measures to ensure a secure online banking environment, but as savvy consumers, half the responsibility for keeping our personal information safe in cyberspace is our own. Risky activity while online can leave your computer or mobile device – and ultimately your personal data – vulnerable. Your Capital City Bankers offer the following guidelines* for staying safe online:

  • Protect all devices that connect to the Internet. Computers, smart phones, gaming systems and other web-enabled devices all need protection from viruses and malware.
  • Hold the businesses you patronize online to a high security standard. Always look for "http://" or "shttp://," which means the site takes extra measures to help secure your information. "Http://" is not secure.
  • Wi-Fi hotspots are convenient, but you should limit the type of business you conduct and adjust the security settings on your device to limit who can access your phone.
  • Be discerning about mobile apps. Review the privacy policy and understand what data the app accesses before you download.
  • If you are using a public computer, three quick steps help ensure the next guy can’t gain access to your personal info: Delete your browsing history (in browser options), log out and close out of the browser window, and always deselect the "Remember me" option.
  • A few tips on passwords: Make sure it’s unique and not easily guessed; have a different one for each online account and change your passwords several times a year.
  • Make use of multifactor authentication – like personal identification image or security token for Treasury Management clients – offers an extra level of security and ID verification.
  • Keep personal info personal. Be conservative when it comes to sharing personal information on social networking sites. The more information you post, the easier it may be for a hacker or someone else to use that information to steal your identity, access your data or commit other crimes such as stalking.
*Adapted from www.staysafeonline.org.
Keeping your financial information secure is more important than ever. Identity theft has become a prevalent crime with devastating effects. The following steps can help you protect yourself from becoming the next victim:

  • Keep all identifying information in a secure place in your home. Never carry Social Security cards or other important documents such as passports or birth certificates in your purse or wallet.
  • Double-check monthly statements to ensure they match your records.
  • Shred all personal and financial information before discarding it.
  • Do not share account numbers or other personal financial information over the telephone or Internet unless you initiated the interaction.
  • Review your credit report annually. You are entitled to a free credit report each year from one of the three main credit reporting bureaus.
Protect your social security number. If you are a victim of identify theft or suspect that it has occurred, complete an ID Theft Affidavit at the Federal Trade Commission Web site.

Credit Bureaus

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
800.685.1111

TransUnion
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
800.888.4213

Experian
P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
888.397.3742
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country that can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures and credit issues. Visit their website or call 800.569.4287.
To protect yourself from the increase in the number of counterfeit postal money orders and other financial instruments used to facilitate various fraud schemes, visit FTC.org.
The My Money Program, created by the Florida Department of Financial Services is a comprehensive and inclusive financial literacy program and resource clearinghouse for individuals with developmental disabilities, their family members and caregivers. The program’s website is located at the following address http://www.myfloridacfo.com/mymoney. The Division of Consumer Services may be contacted at Consumer.Services@MyFloridaCFO.com or 877.693.5236 if you have additional questions about the My Money Program.
Learn how to disaster-proof your finances on the FEMA website.
The National Do Not Call Registry allows consumers to eliminate telemarketing calls to their homes.