Protect Yourself Against Fraud

Citi Alert: Protect Yourself against Fraud

Incidents of fraud are on the rise, especially "phishing" emails that try to trick recipients into providing personal information such as credit card, bank account and social security numbers. While these fraudulent solicitations may appear genuine, Citi wants to assure you they are not. We will never ask for your password, or request that you to update personal and/or business information via an unsolicited email or telephone call.

Citi is committed to protecting our customers from fraudulent credit card schemes. We pursue all reports of suspicious activity, and we provide timely information, such as the following tips, to help keep you and your organization on the alert against fraud.

Make sure your computer has the most current anti-virus software and has a personal firewall.
Anti-virus software needs to be updated frequently to guard against new viruses. Make sure you download updates as soon as you are notified that they are available. A personal firewall can help prevent unauthorized access to your home computer.

DO NOT click on links in unsolicited emails, especially those asking for personal information.
Even if you do not supply information, just clicking on a link can enable fraudsters to access your computer, record your keystrokes, and capture passwords you use to log on a various websites. Citi will never under any circumstances email you to ask for your password or to update your personal information.

Go directly there.
The best way to get to any site is to type its address (URL) into your browser and then bookmark it.

Set up a login cookie.
Many websites including Citibank.com offer to remember your User ID. This way, when you return to the site to sign on, your User ID will be visible in the Sign on box. A spoof website will not be able to display your User ID. Note: Never set up a login cookie on a public or shared computer.

Create hard-to-guess passwords.
Use at least six characters and a mix of letters and numbers. Do not use all or part of your Online User ID or email address, or the names of your children, spouse or pet. Use a different password for each of your online accounts.

DO NOT give personal or account information as a result of an unsolicited email/Internet request.
Citi will never under any circumstances email you to ask for your password or to update your personal information.

DO NOT give personal or account information to someone calling on the phone.
Citi will never under any circumstances call you to ask for your password or to update your personal information.

Never call the 800 numbers listed in suspicious emails.
Cardholders should always call the number listed on the back of their cards, billing statement or listed on Citi's web site.