Protect Yourself

• Most importantly
• Beware of Identity Theft
• Check your Email
• Tips for protecting your computer
• Things to do (or not to do) online
• Be careful when buying and selling online
• Contact by Phone

• Never reveal passwords to anyone. This includes online banking login information in particular, but also power-on/log-on/screensaver/internet account details.
• Monitor your accounts and credit card account and your list of online beneficiaries on a regular basis to ensure everything is in order. One of the best ways to detect fraudulent activity quickly is by examining your account activity regularly. Check for suspicious money transfers, payments or unauthorised access. If you do find anything suspicious, Report it.
• Where a site shows last log in time, always check that this reflects the last time you accessed the site

Things you can do to safeguard your personal information and avoid Identity Theft

• Never throw confidential information away - shred it first. Always shred bank statements, cheque books, cancelled cheques, old Utility bills account offers, pin codes, passwords and documents that store personal confidential information once you are finished with them (see Bin Diving)
• Lock all valuable documents in a secure place
• Never give your PIN number to anyone
• Do not write down PIN numbers, or hold with cards/login details
• Check bank statements as soon as they arrive. If any unfamiliar transactions are listed, contact your bank immediately
• Cancel lost or stolen Credit or Debit Cards immediately
• Inform all service providers promptly when moving address and set up a mail forwarding arrangement with An Post.
• You may also wish to request a copy of your Credit Reference file from your national Credit Reference Agency (in Ireland this is the Irish Credit Bureau) to ensure all entries are in order. A fee may be payable.

• Beware of unsolicited e-mail (in particular, do not open any attachments that come with an unsolicited email). Be sure of the integrity of the sender.
• Never respond to unsolicited e-mails even if it appears to come from a trusted source that asks you to validate your login/payment credentials. Check with the institution first using their pre-registered/published contact details (Do not use the details supplied in the e-mail because they may be false).
• Never send confidential information via e-mail unless appropriately secured (i.e. encrypted).

• Ensure you have up-to-date, anti-malware and anti-virus software in place. This will help to protect your PC from Malware attacks such as Viruses, Worms, Trojans, Spyware etc. Keep it updated and use it to perform regular checks on your computer system. Check whether or not your Internet Service Provider (ISP) offers anti-malware and anti-virus software.
• Ensure that your operating system and all other software is up to date with relevant security patches and bug-fixes available frequently from the vendor sites. Subscribe to your vendor's security mailing lists and apply updates as appropriate to your operating system.
• Make use of current Web browser security application add-ons such as anti-phishing, pop-up blocking, and script blocking software.
• Turn on your PC's firewall or install and enable one if none exists. Check your PC settings and 'help' section.
• Add 365 online to your 'trusted sites'
• Backup your important data. Ensure you continuously backup any important information held on your PC. This includes documents, pictures and emails. Store these backups carefully in a safe place.

• Do not click on unsolicited Adware or pop-ups. These can carry Malware programmes that could potentially damage your system and/or disclose your confidential information. Scan your PC regularly using widely available anti-malware security applications. Run anti-virus and anti-spyware scans (with latest definitions) - these will hopefully clean any infection(s). Reboot and re-run the scans to verify the clean-up.
• Never click 'Agree' or 'ok' to an unexpected pop-up window. Always close these windows by clicking on the 'x' button on the top right hand corner
• Use strong passwords for all websites you are registered with and change them regularly. Strong passwords include combinations of uppercase and lowercase letters as well as numbers and special characters such as hash, dollar sign, percentage sign.
• Type the address of the payment service directly into your browser or use your personal bookmarks, rather than clicking on hyperlinks in emails.
• Always log-out after you use 365 online. Don't just close the window.
• Read security information before you download software

• Only download from sites you trust
• Use secure Websites for transactions and shopping. Be sure the Web page you are viewing offers encryption of your data. Often you will see a lock symbol in the lower right-hand corner of your browser window and the Web address of the page you are viewing will begin with "https://...". The "s" indicates "secured" and means the Web page uses encryption
• Where available, use a reputable third-party payment service to make paying for things online a little easier and safer. When you use a third-party payment service, you transfer money into an online account and make payments from that account. That way, you don't expose your real credit card or bank account information.
• Never reuse the same passwords for multiple e-commerce accounts. If your Web browser asks you if you want it to "remember" your password so that you don't have to enter it on future visits to an online store, decline the offer.
• Before you buy online check the description, type of model and retail price of the goods.
• Always type the address of the payment service directly into your browser or use your personal bookmarks

Other advice in relation to online transactions

• Buying Airline tickets: Only purchase airline tickets from travel agents or tour operators who are licensed by the Commission for Aviation Regulation (Republic of Ireland), or direct from the airline. In the UK, purchase from an agent or tour operator who has an IATA (International Air Transport Association) or an ATOL (Air Travel Organisers) licence, or direct from the airline.
• Buying an expensive item like a car: Check all your facts - make sure the product actually exists and that the seller is genuine. Make sure the seller is the registered owner and, do not part with your money until you have the product checked out and have taken possession.
• Selling online: Make sure the purchaser is genuine. Be very careful if you are asked to return money to a purchaser. Before considering a refund, make sure the cheque/draft has been cleared by the bank on which it is drawn (it can take up to 20 working days for some international cheques/drafts to clear). Do not release goods to a stranger in a face to face transaction which is being paid for with uncleared cheques/bank drafts. Many fraudsters attempt these transactions outside of normal banking hours, in which case you could lose your goods in return for a worthless draft.
• Renting property offered online: Pay the deposit at the apartment (do not pay in cash). Check that the key you are given fits the lock. Don't make any payment unless there is an exchange of key and rental contracts, and use a traceable method of payment such as a cheque or bank draft when passing over the deposit and rent.

• Always be suspicious of anyone who has called you and asks you to reveal personal or confidential information over the phone. If you are uncertain of the identity of any caller, hang up and make the call yourself using a listed contact number for the organisation in question. This can protect you from a possible Vishing attack.
• If you receive an email asking you to call a number, look up the number separately to check if it's correct.