The digital world has made it possible to purchase just about anything from anywhere online in a few clicks. You can buy groceries for the week, shop for a new outfit, or order your favorite take-out right to your door in a matter of minutes. While having these items almost immediately is convenient – it can come at a cost. The digital world opens many doors for hackers to access and potentially steal personal information. When your information falls into the hands of a hacker, there’s no telling what can happen until it’s too late. So, it’s important to slow down and make sure the website is legit before hitting the complete a purchase, send, or order now button.

At Jovia, we take your security seriously, and we’re always here to help.

Spot and stop scammers online:

  • Protect your passwords. When creating a password, make sure it’s unique. Passwords should be a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters and be at least 8 characters in length. For an added layer of protection, consider using two-factor authentications when available.
  • Look at the domain of the site. When visiting a site, it’s important to look at the domain. Look for sites that start with HTTPS://, that S means the site is encrypted making it more secure. Sites that start HTTP:// are not encrypted, making it easy for data and information to be passed from system to system.
  • When visiting websites, make sure to read the privacy policy. It may be long, but it will tell you how a site plans to protect or use your personal information. If there isn’t one, you may want to consider shopping somewhere else.

Spot and stop scammers offline:

  • Everything is not what it seems. Scammers may not appear suspicious; they may pose as individuals from an organization or business, a person you may know, or even a "lover" you trust to obtain information. They will go to great lengths like creating fake IDs, calling from spoofed numbers, to even wearing a uniform representing a company or organization. Look out for red flags such as requests for large sums of money, showing up at your home unannounced, and sudden promises for things in return.
  • If someone comes to your house unannounced, do not let them in. Close the door and call the business they claim to be from to confirm whether they are legitimate.
  • Do not give personal information over the phone to a number you do not recognize. When personal information is needed, go onto the business/organization’s site to find the correct number.

Remember that Jovia will never reach out to you and ask you to provide your personal information, such as account numbers, passwords, social security numbers, debit, credit card numbers, or validation codes via email, phone call, or text message.

  • Scammers will ask you to pay for something in a specific way. They will often insist you must purchase gift cards, send money through a transfer, or will send you a (fake) check and ask you to deposit it. Never make a purchase or send money via Zelle, Cash App, or Apple Pay to someone you do not know.
  • Secure your mail by checking your mailbox, emptying it often, and looking out for open or ripped mail.
  • Frequently check your credit report and other statements for any suspicious activity.
  • Most importantly don’t share personal information with a stranger or someone you don’t really know. Keep passwords, account information, and social security numbers to yourself.

Jovia account features that help fight fraud:

  • Stay alert and take action when needed with Jovia Account Alerts. Easily set up alerts and be notified through email, text, or push notifications. So, you’ll be in the know to access your accounts and can take action quickly to respond to low balances, unusual activity, or fraud. Learn how to set up account alerts here.
  • Sign up for paperless statements. This can reduce the risk of your statements being stolen or lost in the mail. To enroll in paperless statements, sign in to Online and Mobile Banking here > Statements & Tax Documents > Enroll in paperless statements.
  • Manage your cards with confidence. Card Management allows you to turn your cards on and off, block certain types of merchants, locations, and transactions, and set spending limits. Learn more about Card Management here.
  • When you’re on the go – let us know. Planning a trip somewhere far? Add filling out the Travel Notification Form found in Online Banking to your itinerary before leaving. This will allow us to monitor your transactions and avoid unnecessary blocks on your account while you’re away.