It’s National Fraud Awareness Week which is a perfect time to learn a few guidelines that can minimize the chances of becoming of victim of fraud. Zion’s Bank took time to have one of their Personal Banker’s to come in to share some of those tips.

“We probably have three or four cases a week of fraud, so it’s really nice to bring this to the forefront and get this information out there,” said Val Cisneros. “It is simple stuff and I just want people to pay attention to their accounts and that’s the biggest thing.” It’s important for consumers to check their accounts daily so that they see what is coming in and what is going out. This effortless habit can catch a discrepancy immediately and allow time for a banking institution to take action.

Consumers who use a debit card for majority of purchases may want to consider using a credit card as Cisneros explains, “You are at a higher risk for someone to get into your account and take your money. If you use a credit card to do those types of transactions and that number gets hacked the bank is out the money, you as the consumer are not out the money.” It’s relatively easy for criminals to steal debit card data through skimming technology these days.

The bank will never contact consumers telephone or email asking them to provide their account information. “I think this is the biggest one, never, ever share your banking information with anyone. Don’t give anyone your debit card, don’t give anyone your checking account information,” stated Cisneros. Never check online banking from a public computer such as at a library or hotel.

Most banking/financial institutions have fraud alerts for their consumers. This is a great way to keep on top on your accounts so if at all possible, this is a good program to opt in for this type of service.

To learn more about how to protect yourself and your money visit https://www.zionsbank.com/personal-banking/security/security-center/