How is your Fraud I.Q.? Find out with this Online Fraud Quiz

Has social media and email made you an “over-sharer?” Take this short quiz and find out.

Questions:

1. True or False: If your bank needs to contact you, they email you and ask you for your account information.

2. True or False: The anti-virus and anti-spyware software on your computer is sufficient to protect your personal information.

3. True or False: There are simple clues to figure out whether or not a website is safe.

4. True or False: Sending an e-mail money transfer gives you the same security as online banking.

5. True or False: It’s not as important to be vigilant about transactions in brick and mortar stores because most fraudsters have moved online and found new ways to get personal information.

Answers:

1. False—Your bank will never contact you by email asking for account information. If you have been emailed for this information then you have likely been “phished.” Phishing refers to an online scam that seeks out personal financial information from people who believe they are sharing their information with a legitimate website or organization.

2. False—Anti-virus and internet security software only helps protect your personal information if the software is up-to-date, and if it has the latest firewall installed. Fraudsters are always developing new ways to obtain your personal information online. For example, if malicious software gets uploaded onto your device it can track what you do online, tap into your personal information and even create spam that comes under the identity of a friend. Always be cautious when downloading apps.

3. True—To see if a site is secure, check the lower corner of your browser window or to the right of the address bar, for a padlock. Any time you’re on a screen to send personal information, make sure the padlock is closed or the key is intact. This indicates that security technology will scramble your personal information as it’s being transmitted. As well, the secure website address will begin with “https://”.

4. True—One of the biggest misconceptions about e-Transfers is that they are not secure. In reality, e-Transfers offer the same level of security and confidentiality as any online banking transaction. The e-mail notification of the transfer doesn’t include the money or any banking information, only a notification of the pending transfer. In order for the recipient to collect the money, they must log into their own online banking service and correctly answer a security question.

5. False—It’s ALWAYS important to protect your personal information, on or offline. Financial institutions continually upgrade the sophisticated security measures they have in place to protect customers from fraud (e.g. CHIP technology on cards), but you should also do what you can to protect yourself by knowing where your cards are at all times and shielding the keypad when you enter your PIN.

For more information on fraud prevention, you can visit TD Canada Trust’s fraud prevention page.