Security Center

• Protect any user names, passwords or PIN’s you may have, do not give them out to anyone.
• Tandem Bank will NEVER contact you unsolicited by email, phone, direct mail, or other means and request personal or confidential information such as account number, SSN, PIN or online banking login information. If you receive any such requests, please ignore and contact us immediately.
• Contact Tandem Bank regarding any suspicious activity you notice on your account.
• Keep your social security number in a safe place – never carry it with you
• Report lost or stolen credit cards, debit cards, drivers’ license, or ID cards immediately to the appropriate provider.
• Shred any documents you no longer need that have any personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, or account numbers.
• If you receive account statements in the mail, report any missed account statements to Tandem bank in case they have been stolen from your mailbox.  If you will be away from home for 3-30 days, sign up for Hold Mail Service with US Post Office.
• Sign up for eStatements. This keeps your information out of the hands of thieves who might steal them from the mail or trash.

• Protect your computer with up-to-date anti-virus software.
• If you are using Windows, make sure your firewall is turned on, this is used to block outside attacks from hackers, filter infected files or emails, and alert you if an unauthorized user tries to access your system.
• Do not send any personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, or account numbers to anyone you do not know, or aren’t expecting to request this information.
• Do not send any personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, or account numbers via standard email, ask the recipient to provide a secure way to send this information.
• Make sure to use strong passwords – The more complex the password, the less likely it is to be deciphered by a perpetrator using even the most sophisticated techniques
  • To create safer passwords:
    • Use a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters
    • Create a completely unique password for each application or account
    • Avoid using everyday words that can be found in the dictionary
    • Don’t use memorable keyboard paths that are sequential (ex. qwery, 12345)
    • Don’t create passwords that are specific to you such as your spouse’s name or your birthdate
    • Change your passwords often
• Consider the use a “Password Safe” program such as KeyPass or LastPass to keep your passwords safe and available.
• Make sure your software is up to date – many viruses take advantage of bugs in software. Updating frequently will protect your computer
• Make sure to log off of any programs – always log off and close your browser when you are finished.
• Do NOT use a public computer to access your Bank Account, or any other accounts you may have. The next person to use it might be able to access your account if you haven’t logged off properly, or there may be malware on the computer that can steal your information.
• Be weary of phishing emails, which appear to originate from an official source, but, in reality, may include malicious attachments or links.  The phishing hackers are often attempting to collect your personal information.

• Learn about and use the privacy and security settings on social networks. They are there to help you control who sees what you post and manage your online experience in a positive way.

• Protect your reputation on social networks. What you post online stays online. Think twice before posting pictures you wouldn’t want your parents or future employers to see.  Many job recruiters reject candidates based on information they found online.
• Be cautious about how much personal information you provide on social networking sites. The more information you post, the easier it may be for a hacker or someone else to use that information to steal your identity, access your data or commit other crimes such as stalking.
• Social networks can be used for a variety of purposes. Some of the fun is creating a large pool of friends from many aspects of your life. That doesn’t mean all friends are created equal. Use tools to manage the information you share with friends in different groups or even have multiple online pages. If you’re trying to create a public persona as a blogger or expert, create an open profile or a “fan” page that encourages broad participation and limits personal information. Use your personal profile to keep your real friends (the ones you know and trust) up to date with your daily life.
• If someone is harassing or threatening you, remove them from your friends list, block them and report them to the site administrator.

Tandem Bank wants you to know about ways you can protect your information. The following web sites offer helpful information and consumer guidance, and we encourage you to visit them. If you are ever in doubt about a request for information, don’t hesitate to contact us. Tandem Bank is aware of most scams and can help with key resources when new ones appear.

Federal Trade Commission

• Tips on privacy, identity theft and online security.
• Scam alerts

FBI eScams and Warnings

•  Protecting yourself online
• Information about types of Internet Fraud

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a scam or financial fraud, the following are links to different organizations to file reports with:

Internet Crime Complaint Center

• FBI portal to file an Internet crime complaint.

FTC Identity Theft Center

•  Report Identity theft

U.S. Postal Inspection Service

• Report Mail Fraud (Mailed Scams, example: Sweepstakes, lotteries, work-at home scams)
• Report Identity Theft

For more information about current fraud scams go to:

• Online Onguard – Hosted by the Federal Government and the technology industry
• Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Protection
• FDIC – Consumer Protection Tips
• The ID Theft Center is an organization focused on the understanding and prevention of identity theft
• Free annual credit reports to help consumers monitor their credit to prevent or minimize the affects of identity theft