Privacy and security

Fraud Prevention Tips

Online Banking Tips:

If you think you've received a phishing email or text message, do not respond to it. Delete it and report it immediately to the company being faked or “spoofed.” Do not reply to any email or text that requests your personal banking information from Vancity – we would never ask you to submit your banking or personal information by email or text.
Never enter personal or financial information into pop-up windows. Simply close the pop-up windows by clicking the X in the top right corner of the window (a "cancel" button may not work as you'd expect).
Do not google Vancity’s website or login using a link sent through email, text, or social media. Instead, you should type vancity.com. This will ensure you have been directed to a legitimate Vancity owned website.
Do not respond to messages displayed on your computer advising your computer has been “hacked”. Instead, contact Vancity directly so we can provide you with steps on how to protect your accounts and device if you feel there has been a compromise.
Keep your password secure – do not make is easy to guess, do not write it down, do note share with anyone and never save your PAC on any device.

Scam Prevention Tips:

No Financial Institution or Government of Canada will ever ask for immediate payment by INTERAC E-Transfer, Bitcoin or Prepaid credit/gift cards.
Do your research: Always verify that the organization someone is calling/emailing or mailing you regarding, is legitimate before taking any action.
Most reputable organizations will never ask for your personal information through email or text.
Be cautious of the sense of urgency or threatening behavior.
Look for typos
Don't click on links or attachments from senders you do not know
Use anti-malware software on all your devices to keep them safe
When your device prompts you to update, don’t ignore, and update it right away. These updates sometimes include updated security.
Navigate to pages using a trusted search engine, rather than clicking links on emails/texts.
If you're not expecting an INTERAC e-Transfer, don't accept it.
Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS when you are not using it.
Check Website URL’s, to ensure you are on the correct website. Scammers often attempt to mimic similar websites in order to trick you.
If you feel as though you are pressured to commit to any large payment or contracts, it is most likely a scam.

Other Prevention Tips:

Read the message carefully or, if it was phone call, listen to the recorded telephone message carefully. Ask yourself why the information requested would really be needed. Vancity never sends unsolicited requests for confidential information.
Avoid using public computers or unsecure Wifi and never save your passwords to these devices.
Check the security certificate before you enter personal or financial information into a website. You can do this in most web browsers by checking the yellow lock icon on the status bar. If the lock is closed, then the site uses encryption to help protect any sensitive, personal information. If you have an up-to-date browser (which we recommend you always do), look for the green bar.
Make sure you use the password protection offered on your mobile device. Many newer mobile devices come with built-in password protection to lock your device if it is ever lost or stolen. You must enable this, and set the device to lock within the shortest time-out period, to help protect you if the unfortunate occurs
Never store confidential personal information on your mobile device
Disable Bluetooth when not in use. Although Bluetooth may make it easier (and safer) to talk at times, hackers can take advantage of an always-on setting.
Check out what software your phone provider offers to protect against viruses and online hazards, and use antivirus, encryption and firewalls whenever possible.
Think before you download an application. Before you download apps on your devices, read the privacy policy so you know what data an app can access.
Never give remote access to your device via pop-ups or phone calls from someone purporting to be from a computer company.