Online banking has enabled us to access our bank accounts from anywhere. You can see your account balances and make payments online. However, this convenience also comes with risks. You need to be careful when logging into your accounts, especially if you want to protect yourself against fraudsters who are out there looking for easy targets. Especially if you’re a digital nomad, it’s better to use the best banks for digital nomads for your convenience and security. So while no one is immune from being scammed, following these tips will help you with debit card security.
Pay attention to your bank balance
To avoid online banking fraud, the first step is to check your bank balance regularly. You should also monitor your transactions and keep an eye on any activity that seems out of place. Contact the bank immediately if a transaction looks unusual or out of character. If you notice anything suspicious, you must contact the police and your bank—the sooner these issues can be resolved, the better.
Get familiar with your bank’s security process
- Make sure that you are familiar with your bank’s security process. Many banks have a dedicated page on their website outlining the steps to keep your money safe and secure.
- Understand what measures are in place to protect you from fraud and scams, and phishing websites. Customers need to know how their bank deals with situations like this so that they can feel confident about their financial institution.
Be careful while logging into your online bank account
When logging into your online bank account, be sure to use a secure browser and turn on two-factor authentication. You can also use a password manager to create strong passwords for you and help keep track of them. Finally, it’s always important to pick unique passwords for each account—don’t reuse the same one across multiple sites. These basic steps can help protect against fraud in your online banking experience. “In addition to your passcode, you’ll need a security code or fingerprint recognition to sign into your account,” says SoFi professionals.
Check your account regularly
The best way to avoid fraud is by checking your bank account regularly. The Canadian Bankers Association recommends checking your bank statement at least once a week and flagging any suspicious transactions for further investigation.
Certain identifiers of fraud could help you catch it before it becomes out of hand:
- Unusual activity—If you see a lot more activity in your account than usual or if there’s unusual movement on an account that isn’t yours, this could be a red flag.
- Duplicate charges—It’s always important to know what charges are coming out of the account (what types of purchases or services), so if there are duplicate charges that you don’t authorize, they should be investigated immediately.
If you follow the tips we’ve provided above, you can significantly reduce the risk of fraud and phishing. You will also be able to spot a scam before it’s too late.
Hopefully, this article helped you understand how fraud works and gave some valuable tips on avoiding becoming a victim. Thanks for reading!