Your Security

Your personal information is valuable, so you should treat it just as you would any valuable item. Crimes like identity theft are increasing and it is ever more important for you to safeguard your information. You can help keep your information more secure by following these guidelines:

• Be extremely wary of unsolicited phone calls, letters or emails pretending to be from your bank, building society or other financial institution asking you to confirm personal details, online passwords or security details.
• Check your passbook, statement or online account records carefully. If you find an unfamiliar transaction, contact your bank, building society or card company immediately.
• Only divulge your card details in a telephone transaction when you have instigated the call and are familiar with the company.
• Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall installed.
• Store your statements, receipts, passbooks, cheque book and documents that contain information relating to your financial affairs safely and destroy or preferably shred them when you dispose of them.
• Access Internet banking or shopping sites by typing the address into your web browser. Never go to a website from a link in an email and then enter personal details.
• When entering personal details online make sure that the security icon (locked padlock or unbroken key symbol) is showing in your browser window.
• When entering your PIN in a shop or at a cash machine try to use your spare hand to shield the number from prying eyes or hidden cameras.

The Financial Ombudsman Service is urging people to talk to vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours about the risk of being scammed following the publishing of a report that suggests people over the age of 55 could be four times more likely to be caught out by "vishing" or a "no-hang up" scam. In the report, the ombudsman reviewed 200 cases involving a ‘vishing’ or no hang-up scam - where fraudsters pose as the police or banks to deceive consumers.

Vishing, like many scams, can leave people feeling powerless, as often there’s little people can do to get their money back.

Fraud is something that can happen to any of us. In fact, people who are financially proficient and avid users of the internet are just as likely to be at risk. 

The hints and tips below will help people to protect themselves from financial fraud:

• Never give out personal or banking information when answering an incoming call, and don’t always rely on the Caller ID for identification.
• If you’re in any doubt about the identity of a caller claiming to be from your bank, building society or the police, hang up and call the phone number on your account statements, back of your debit or credit card, in the phone book, or on the company's website. Use a different phone or wait at least five minutes before making the call to make sure you’re not speaking to the same fraudsters.

• Call you and ask you to authorise the transfer of money to a new account or hand over cash
• Ask for your PIN or passwords in full on the phone or via email, including keying your PIN into the phone keypad
• Send someone to your home to collect cash, bank cards or anything else
• Ask you to send personal or banking information via email or text
• Send an email with a link to a page which asks you to enter your online banking log-in details
• Ask you to carry out a test transaction online

If at anytime you believe someone has obtained, or tried to obtain, details of your Society accounts or your personal information please let us know by telephoning 01633 844 340.

If you want to know more about keeping yourself safe from fraud, we suggest the following websites which contain lots of information on ways to help you keep your financial information secure:

www.financialfraudaction.org.uk

www.actionfraud.police.uk

www.fca.org.uk/consumers/scams

To protect the confidential information, we share with you via email, the Society has improved its security features to enable us to send emails more safely and securely. We have done this because email remains one of the most common ways cybercriminals can access your computer to steal identities and for future attacks. This new method helps minimise the risk of this happening.

What Has Changed?

You will now receive a notification email from the Society (noreply@monbs.com) telling you that you have an important and protected message to read. THIS IS NOT SPAM OR ANYTHING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT. To view the message, you will be invited to click the link provided and enter your email address and set up a password that will be used to open all future secure messages received from the Society. If you forget your password, you can reset it yourself using the ‘forgot password’ link that is provided.

Please note that noreply@monbs.com mailbox is not monitored and any emails sent to this address will be automatically deleted without being read.

For general conversations where no confidential information is being shared, you will continue to receive a standard email.

If you are worried or concerned, please get in touch on 01633 844340 for Savings support or 01633 844370 for Mortgage support.

What is Authorised Push Payment (APP) Fraud?

APP fraud is when someone tricks you, a charity or a business into sending money to their accounts. It’s a serious issue, but we’re here to help protect you.

How can you protect your yourself:

• Stay vigilant and be cautious of unexpected payment requests.
• Protect your information, keeping security credentials private and not sharing them.
• Report Suspicious activity and notify us immediately if you suspect fraud.

Reimbursement Eligibility

If an individual, business or charity falls victim to APP fraud, they are eligible for reimbursement. As long as the payment was made through the UK’s Faster Payment System or CHAPS system, to another UK accounts. Every claim will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, considering the evidence provided and where relevant information from third parties, such as the police.

Reimbursements will be handled promptly, following Payment Systems Regulator Guidelines. A claim for reimbursement must be made within 13 months of the final payment from the same scam. The maximum limit for an APP scam claim is £85,000, with a maximum excess of £100.

You won't be able to claim if:

• Payments were made internationally, not to a UK bank account
• The scam involved cash or cheque payments
• The payment relates to a civil dispute
• The payment was made by other systems like BACS Direct Debit

How to make a claim:

Should you wish to make a claim, please contact our Savings Support Team on 01633 844340.