11/21/2022: FRAUD ALERT: Think before you click this holiday shopping season

How to Keep Your Debit Card Safe Online

Holiday shopping is in full swing, and unfortunately so is debit card fraud.

Our Electronic Banking team has seen an uptick in cases of debit card fraud, especially in conjunction with online shopping, so we’re here to share some helpful tips to keep you and your bank account secure as you shop.

• Too good to be true?  If you see an amazing deal pop up in your newsfeed that seems too good to be true, it probably is!  Fraudsters often push ads on social platforms to get you to click. Think twice before going after an unrealistic deal.
• Do I know you?  Are you shopping on a new website? If so, be very cautious when entering payment information. If you’re straying from familiar shopping sites like Etsy or Amazon, there are a few things to look for before heading to the checkout.
  • Look for the padlock in the address bar and be sure you’re on a secured (non-public and password protected) network.
  • Look for a trust seal like the “TrustedSite” certification which confirm the legitimacy of a site
  • Check the company’s social media presence to see if they have a genuine following and legitimate posts.
  • Review the company’s contact information. Is there a physical address, phone number and email contact? Does the email address have the company name in the domain or is it generic (like a Gmail address)?
  • Does the site look professionally designed or does it look thrown together?  Are there typos or grammatical errors?
  • Read online reviews on Google, Facebook, Amazon or Yelp.
• Beware of links!  Have you received an email or a text message that looks like it’s from Amazon or another site that claims to be sharing information about a recent purchase? It’s a best practice to avoid clicking the link in the message. Instead, head out to the app or site on your own to seek information about your purchase.  Fraudsters can use these links to collect personal and/or payment information from you.
• Stay alert.  Real time account alerts can be lifesavers when it comes to spotting fraud. Set alerts in online banking to be notified of things like: when an online purchase is made, when your account reaches a specified minimum balance or when a purchase exceeds a certain dollar amount. Keep an eye on your accounts even when you’re on the go using online or mobile banking.
• Install the Brella app. For an added layer of protection, download the Brella Card Manager app from the App Store or Google Play and set up your card(s). This app allows you to quickly freeze your card if you suspect fraud so your funds stay secure.

What to Do if You Suspect Fraud

• During bank hours, call Wolf River Community Bank at (920) 779-7000.
• On Saturdays or after business hours, contact our debit card provider (Shazam) or credit card provider (Elan).
  • Debit: call Shazam at 1-800-383-8000.
  • Credit: call Elan card member service at 1-800-558-3424.
• If you have the Brella app, freeze your card and then contact the bank as soon as possible.

These contact numbers are always available on the contact us page of our website and on the back of your card.

If you have questions about how to protect your debit card or how to steer clear of fraud, contact us at (920) 779-7000 or email us at ibank@wolfriverbank.com. We wish you happy and safe holiday shopping!

–Wolf River Community Bank