How To Keeping Your Bank Account Safe From Fraud

Economic exploitation of the elderly is a growing problem (National Center of Elder Abuse), including cases where the stolen money directly from a senior bank account. The market research firm Gartner Inc. estimates that two million people in the United States, money stolen from their bank accounts last year. The average loss was $ 1,200.
We often think that fraud by people who do not know who is required to gain access to our personal data. While that may be true for larger seniors, the likelihood that a family member or caregiver, is exploited economically. A survey of agencies Adult Protective Services found that the most common financial offender a child, which represents 33% of the reported cases of fiscal exploitation of people over age 60 years or more.
Warning signs of financial abuse of elders, such as the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care for the reports of managers are:

    1. Someone who is responsible for payment of invoices for the higher classes, but not paid bills and no resources to pay for it

    2. Money unexplained lack of senior accounting
    3. Family member / director in a large-scale withdrawal of money from the accounts
    4. Someone money under false pretenses
    5. Forgery
    6. Older people who are forced property transfers and transfers made to be completed by the lies and deceptions.
Fraudulent bank accounts will operate in both standard and online, so that a variety of security measures to protect against fraud. Start by covering with a confirmation that your bank is financially sound and their deposits are fully FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). The FDIC is an independent federal government agency, which until the 1930's was established to ensure the preservation and promotion of public confidence in the U.S. financial system through deposit banks. All reputable banks have FDIC coverage.
Once you have a bank you can find at home, a bank officer to help determine a good plan for your specific situation and help the safety precautions are taken. There are many different arrangements to support a high level of security is to ensure the bank account.
Standard Bank accounts rely heavily on a paper trail, such as checks, deposit slips and bank statements. With so much information submitted through the mail, and easily accessible at home, older people should provide a secure method for receiving and storing documents to create bank accounts.
To protect the standard accounts of the bank:

    1. Read the statements as soon as you receive them. Review each withdrawal and deposit of accuracy. Report any inaccuracies in your bank immediately.
    2. Never leave bank statements or check books in light around the house, especially if a caregiver outside enters the house.
    3. Be careful with your debit card. Never lend it to someone or give someone your password or personal identification number (PIN). If you protect your debit card, the transactions of others around you can try to see what you are doing.
    4. Shred old and unused checks and old statements from the bank. Check with your bank or your accountant, how long to keep bank records. Keep statements in a safe place away from visitors to the website.
    5. Never sign a blank check signed by someone.
    Always start with your bank if you own a phone call from someone claiming they are received by the bank, hang up and call the bank.
    6. If necessary, get a joint checking account, two signatures are required for withdrawal.
    Consider a deposit. The bank charges the highest income and pay the bills of senior management. If money needs high, the bank will send a check or debit card, the more you have access to cash.
Online banking has become a common and accepted way to manage bank accounts. It gives consumers instant access to bank information and the ability to verify that all transactions are correct. However, fraud can occur in line.
To take precautions for online banking are:

    1. Regularly log into your account to verify the accuracy of transactions. Report any inaccuracies in your bank immediately.
    2. Never online banking in a public place like a library or a coffee. Others may be able to access your information.
    3. Always initiate contact with the same bank, if you receive an e-mail from your bank asking you to register or not personal data, no.
    4. Check for secure connections. One way to do this is to see if the local bank begins with "https". The "s" means that the URL is on a secure server.
    5. Change your password periodically. A couple of times a year is recommended.
    6. Software barriers, such as firewalls, antivirus and spyware blockers.
If several people in the care of a loved one, a money management plan and implement protective measures are involved, it is even more important. If every person in the care of the elderly have access to the bank account of his share of attention, observation of fraud in the account would be a challenge. If possible, designate a person to control the account, pay bills and money involved or give refunds to people in care homes. As all the money in one place and easy to follow.
Constant monitoring of bank accounts and immediately report any suspicious activity to clean up your financial institution for their help in the situation. A good bank will respond quickly to questionable transactions and help you recover lost funds. Protecting your finances by creating a bank account and sound banking system for you or a loved one is a proven way to prevent fraud by family members, caregivers or strangers.