Avoid Becoming a Victim of Fraud

Tips For Home

Protecting Yourself At Home

Use a cross cut shredder to destroy any financial documents or credit solicitations.
Never carry your social security number in your wallet or write it on a check.
Don’t give out personal information over the phone, Internet or through the mail unless you know who you are dealing with.
If you employ outside help, or are having work done in your house make sure you store your personal information in a secure location such as a safe or a safe deposit box at your bank.
Enroll in eStatements so bank and credit card statements are sent electronically rather than to your mailbox at home.

Tips for Your Computer

man reviewinghis online transactions for fraud

Protecting Your Computer

Install security software that includes antivirus, anti-spyware, malware and adware detection from a reputable vendor.
Ensure that all your software is up to date.
Do not allow your computer or web browser to save your login names or passwords.
Always lock your computer when you leave it unattended.
Do not open emails from untrusted sources or suspicious emails from trusted sources.
Setup and use a “non-privileged user” account on the computer to prevent unauthorized changes to the computer.

Tips for Traveling

woman using contactless digital wallet at a cafe

Protecting Yourself While Traveling

Before your trip, notify us of which countries you will be traveling to and the dates of your visit. This will enable us to take precautions in case you have fraudulent activity on your account and prevent your card from being blocked while away.
Understand the daily spending and withdrawal restrictions associated with your debit and credit cards.
If you lose your card, call us immediately to prevent any fraudulent charges.
When you’re abroad, take the same precautions at ATMs as at home. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted, cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN and never write your PIN down. If you suspect the machine’s card slot has been tampered with, don’t use it.
Review your statements when you return and contact us immediately if you see any suspicious or incorrect charges.

Tips For Home

Protecting Yourself At Home

Use a cross cut shredder to destroy any financial documents or credit solicitations.
Never carry your social security number in your wallet or write it on a check.
Don’t give out personal information over the phone, Internet or through the mail unless you know who you are dealing with.
If you employ outside help, or are having work done in your house make sure you store your personal information in a secure location such as a safe or a safe deposit box at your bank.
Enroll in eStatements so bank and credit card statements are sent electronically rather than to your mailbox at home.

Tips for Your Computer

Protecting Your Computer

Install security software that includes antivirus, anti-spyware, malware and adware detection from a reputable vendor.
Ensure that all your software is up to date.
Do not allow your computer or web browser to save your login names or passwords.
Always lock your computer when you leave it unattended.
Do not open emails from untrusted sources or suspicious emails from trusted sources.
Setup and use a “non-privileged user” account on the computer to prevent unauthorized changes to the computer.

Tips for Traveling

Protecting Yourself While Traveling

Before your trip, notify us of which countries you will be traveling to and the dates of your visit. This will enable us to take precautions in case you have fraudulent activity on your account and prevent your card from being blocked while away.
Understand the daily spending and withdrawal restrictions associated with your debit and credit cards.
If you lose your card, call us immediately to prevent any fraudulent charges.
When you’re abroad, take the same precautions at ATMs as at home. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted, cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN and never write your PIN down. If you suspect the machine’s card slot has been tampered with, don’t use it.
Review your statements when you return and contact us immediately if you see any suspicious or incorrect charges.

Protecting Yourself Online

Use a strong password; at least 10 characters combining upper case and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. Do not use the same login or password for your financial institution on any other website or software. Do not write it down. Change your password frequently.
Make sure the banking login sites you are using start with “https://” instead of “http://”. The “s” indicates a secure connection, using a different method of communication than standard Internet traffic.
Know what your bank’s website looks like and what questions are asked to verify your identity. Some attacks, known as man-in-the-middle attacks, will change the login page. These changes allow the attacker to see your answers and to add additional security questions.
Be suspicious of emails, phone calls, text messages or website pop-up messages claiming to be from your financial institution or a government agency. Financial institutions will not contact you via email or text message to request that you verify information. If you receive an email, call, text message or website pop-up message from someone claiming to be SouthState, please notify us immediately by calling (800) 277-2175.
Clear the Internet browser’s cache before visiting a financial institution’s website. Many browser related apps keep temporary files on your computer that can contain viruses and malware. Clearing your cache regularly helps to keep this risk low.
Never use a link to reach your financial institution; emails and search engine links should not be trusted. Type the bank’s website address into the Internet browser’s address bar every time.
Use logout buttons or links for all financial institution web sites to close your secure session. Then close your browser window.
Never access your financial institution from a public computer at a hotel, library or public wireless access point.
Do not post your personal information on the web. Your high school, maiden name, date of birth, first car, etc. are the answers to many security questions on financial web sites. When you post this information, you are making it easier for criminals to gain access to your financial information.
Do not allow your computer or web browser to save your login names or passwords.

If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from SouthState, DO NOT respond or click on any links within the email.

Contact us or call us at 800-277-2175 to report the incident.

Examples of Scams & Fraud

Email

Fraud attempts can occur via email. One of the most common types of online fraud is called Phishing. Phishing is when a criminal impersonates a legitimate organization (usually a financial institution) and attempts to obtain your personal information. You could receive an email from a “noreply” email address stating that your card has been used overseas. The email could show transaction dates and amounts and instruct you to click on a link that directs you to a website. Never click links in an email if you are unsure of the sender.

SouthState may send various communications through email. Our emails will never ask you to provide personal or confidential information.

If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from SouthState Bank, DO NOT respond or click on any links within the email.

Call us 1-800-277-2175 to report the incident.

Text Message

Another way in which scams occur is through text messages. You could receive a text saying you are over the limit on your debit or credit card. The message could instruct you to reply with your card number, click on a link or call a phone number. Use caution when you receive a text message from an unfamiliar phone number.

Please note that SouthState will never text you to ask for any personal information, and we will never ask you to call a dedicated number and/or click on a link to enter information about your accounts with us.

Phone Call

You can also receive phone calls from fraudsters attempting to steal your personal information or obtain money from you. You could receive a call from someone claiming to be a friend or family member and asking for a large amount of money. You could also receive a call from someone posing as a financial institution and asking for personal information.

If you are unfamiliar with a phone number, use caution when answering the call. If the call sounds suspicious, hang up and call the individual impersonated on the call.

Website Pop-Up

Phishing attempts can also occur via pop-up messages on popular websites. These pop-ups may appear legitimate – they can even claim they are associated with a trusted website such as a financial institution or government agency. These messages can be added by a fraudster, or they can be a result of a form of malware (malicious software), which presents unwanted advertisements to the computer user. Use caution when clicking any links within pop-ups.

If you are unsure about a pop-up on SouthState’s website, do not hesitate to call us at (800) 277-2175. We will be happy to verify whether or not the message is legitimate. If you suspect you have malware on your computer, we suggest that you have your computer scanned for malware and have antivirus software installed on your computer by a professional.

Protecting Yourself

Protecting Yourself At Home

Protecting Your Computer

Protecting Yourself While Traveling

Protecting Yourself At Home

Protecting Your Computer

Protecting Yourself While Traveling

Protecting Yourself Online