| Merchants & Southern Bank has compiled this list of precautions and suggestions, to help you protect yourself from identity theft and Internet scams. If you have any questions, please e-mail the online teller at teller@msbank.com; or call M &S Bank's main Gainesville, FL telephone number (352) 264-7100, and ask for the e-Banking Coordinator. Use unique passwords or personal identification numbers for your Internet account. - Choose passwords that are difficult for others to guess. Use both numbers and letters in your password. Do not choose the name of a family member, your pet, or favorite sports team as others can easily guess these passwords.
Change your passwords often. - Change your passwords at least every 30 days. Do not keep a list of passwords near your computer, or where others can easily find them.
Act quickly if you suspect fraud. - If you believe someone is trying to commit fraud by pretending to be M&S Bank, or an employee from M&S Bank, please contact us immediately by calling (352) 264-7100. Ask to speak to the e-Banking Coordinator or to the Security Officer.
Be aware of phony "look alike" web-sites. - These sites are used to trick consumers and to collect their personal information. Make sure that web-sites you use to conduct business requiring your personal information, post privacy and security statements.
How can I be sure I am communicating with M&S Bank? - Always log on to the M&S Bank web-site using www.ms-bank.com. Any variation of the Internet address will not take you to the authentic M&S Bank web-site, or to our Internet banking and bill payment service. To communicate with our Online Teller always use the link at the bottom of our Front (home) Page, or send directly to teller@msbank.com. Be sure that any communication from our Internet Teller comes only from this address.
Do not send sensitive personal or financial information unless it is encrypted on a secure web-site. - Regular e-mails are not encrypted and are more like sending a post card in the mail. Before providing any personal or financial information, look for the "padlock" symbol on the bottom browser bar to ensure it is a secure site. You will notice this symbol after you enter your password and access the M&S Bank Internet Banking or Bill Pay areas of our web-site.
Be alert for scam e-mails. - These may appear to come from a trusted business or friend, but actually are designed to trick you into downloading a virus, or jumping to a fraudulent web-site. Very often the subject line contains "friendly" language, or makes it appear as though you have won a prize, placed an order, or that you are receiving requested information. If you do not know the sender, and have not otherwise communicated with the sender, you should delete the e-mail.
Don't reply to any e-mail that requests your personal information. - Be very suspicious of any e-mail from a business or person that asks for your password, social security number, account number(s), or other highly sensitive information -- or one that sends you erroneous personal information and asks you to update or correct it. M&S Bank will never ask for your passwords. We will not ask you for account numbers, or other personal account information, unless you have first contacted us about a particular situation or problem.
Be careful about clicking on a link contained in an e-mail or other message. - If you have not requested information or conducted business that would make clicking on a link appropriate, do not do so- as the link may not be trustworthy, and may lead you to a site attempting to gain your personal information, or to commit fraud.
Leave suspicious sites. - If you suspect that a web-site is not what it purports to be, leave the site immediately. Do not follow any of the instructions it presents.
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