Commitment to Security of Online Services

Dow Credit Union is committed to protecting the data and finances you have entrusted to us in all formats, including our online services (website, Online and Mobile Banking). This commitment requires hardware and software maintenance, upgrades, and enhancements.

Your participation and cooperation is critical to our success, which may include future technology and/or system upgrades to the hardware and/or software that you utilize for the best user experience. Dow Credit Union's recommended standard is to update all operating systems, anti-virus software and browsers on devices (desktop, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, etc.) that are supported by the manufacturer to ensure that you are protected by the current levels of security offered.

Dow Credit Union is committed to providing access to our online services when using devices that meet these recommended standards. Devices that are no longer supported or updated do not receive critical security updates. This may limit access or functionality and could result in the compromise of your information or finances. We believe that this stance provides our members reasonable opportunity to make updates or upgrades to their devices to ensure security of their information. Both Dow Credit Union and our members will need to remain flexible to ensure we are all working together to protect the ongoing security and privacy of our shared information. We appreciate your cooperation and trust that you value our strong security posture.

How Dow Credit Union Protects You

• Privacy Statement
• ATM and VISA^® Debit/Credit Card Fraud Protection
• Secure email encryption
• Online Banking 2-Step Verification (Added security to verify you are the authorized account user)
• Online Banking Password Requirements (Reduces the likelihood of someone guessing your password)

When you contact the credit union, a combination of authentication methods may be used to ensure your interactions with us are secure and sensitive information remains protected.

Every time contact is made, we need to verify your identity or validate a contact method. Dow Credit Union members may receive a one-time verification code sent via SMS text or email and in some instances answer personally identifiable pieces of information.

Remember, never share a one-time verification code or personally identifiable information with anyone other than a credit union representative in regard to a transaction or inquiry initiated by you. Do not share this information over the phone, especially during an unexpected call as it could lead to fraud. If anyone asks, stop immediately and contact us.

How to Protect Yourself

While we have many security measures in place, the security of your account and your private information begins with you.

Password Security & Best Practices

Dow Credit Union recommends changing your password for Online Banking and the Mobile App if you believe that your password has been compromised in any way.

In addition to updating your password annually, Dow Credit Union recommends following these password best practices:

Do not share your password

Please ensure that you are not sharing your password with anyone else. If you suspect that someone has acquired your password or are not confident in the privacy of your password, please follow these easy steps to change your password.

Do not use the same password for multiple accounts or different sites

It is recommended that you never use the same password for multiple accounts or different sites. If one of the accounts or services becomes compromised, all others which use that password are at risk. If your current password has been used for any other site or service, please follow these easy steps to change your password.

Create a Strong Password

• Use both upper and lower-case letters, numbers and include special characters
• Create longer passwords
• Use a phrase with a combination of words, such as a favorite lyric to a song, to make a longer password easier to remember
• Use a Password Manager to help you generate and securely store passwords

Fraud Monitoring

We recommend that you remain vigilant for incidents of fraud and identity theft by reviewing account statements and monitoring your credit reports. You may obtain a free copy of your credit report from each company listed below once every 12 months by requesting your report online at annualcreditreport.com, calling toll-free 1-877-322-8228, or mailing an Annual Credit Report Request Form to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA, 30348-5281.

You may also purchase a copy of your credit report by contacting any of the credit reporting agencies below:

Physical Protection Against Fraud and Identity Theft

DO NOT give personal information on the phone, through mail, or over the Internet unless self-initiated. This includes credit card numbers, financial information, or social security number. 

• Safeguard all identification, credit cards or other documents (including account statements) containing personal or financial information.
• Regularly examine your financial statements and report discrepancies immediately to your financial institution and/or law enforcement if applicable.
• Do not carry more identification (driver’s license, social security card, passport, etc.,) credit or debit cards than you will use.
• Shred or otherwise properly dispose of documents that contain your personal information.

Secure Computing

Public Computers

Please be aware of the inherent security risks involved when using a public or shared computer, particularly in regard to your usage of Online Banking. Given that a public computer can be accessed by anyone, malicious or negligent activities performed on the computer before or after your use could compromise your privacy. Some risks include: Keyloggers that record usernames and passwords, or viruses that send private user data to a third party. Because of this, it is highly recommended to only use a private computer for account access through Online Banking.

Supported Browsers

Dow Credit Union supports the following browsers for our online services:

•  Chrome™ browser
•  Firefox^®
•  Safari^®
•  Microsoft Edge

Out-of-date browsers are unable to access Online Banking & dowcreditunion.org

In order to protect your financial data online, we have disabled TLS 1.1 within Online Banking and our main website. As a result, old browsers – or browsers that do not have TLS 1.2 or higher enabled – are unable to access our site.

Please make sure you are using a browser that supports TLS 1.2 or higher.

Best Practices for Online Banking

Below are a few best practices for secure computing in order to help safeguard your personal information, particularly if you find yourself in a situation where you must use a shared device.

Before Signing in to Online Banking

• Make sure your browser, operating system, and anti-virus software is kept up-to-date with the latest security patches.
• Do not use the computer if there are signs of a breach:
  • The browser warns that the dowcreditunion.org security certificate is not trusted.
  • The computer’s performance has decreased and it is running slower.
  • The computer starts up differently.
  • Programs install themselves without your prompting.
  • The computer stops responding or frequently stops and re-starts.
  • Anti-virus software has been deactivated without your knowledge.
• Avoid sending sensitive information, such as account numbers, through UNSECURED email.
• Read email only from senders that you know.
• Do not open suspicious email attachments.
• Make sure www.dowcreditunion.org is secure by looking for https:// or the closed padlock in the upper left-hand corner of your browser.
• Use the computer’s on-screen keyboard for typing in your sign in credentials to protect against keyloggers.
• Do not select “Save Username and Password” if prompted by the browser.

After using Online Banking:

• Remember to log out
• Clear browser cookies and cache
• Close the web browser

Best Practices for Mobile Banking

Using your mobile device to check the balances of your accounts or to process a simple transaction is convenient and can save you time, but how do you make sure it is also secure?

Ways to protect your information while using your mobile device:

• Password-protect your mobile device.
• Store your mobile device in a safe place.
• Treat your mobile device with the same level of care as you would a credit card. If it is lost or stolen and you have not protected it adequately, you may be at risk.
• Do not send confidential information in email or text messages (e.g., account numbers). It is important to understand that text messages are not encrypted the same way your mobile device information is. If someone gains access to your device, they may be able to view any text messages sent or received that have not yet been deleted.
• Delete messages that contain account information, including account balances, and any alerts you receive on a regular basis.
• Only download files (photos, ringtones, video clips, etc.) from trusted sources.
• Follow the same rules you use on your computer with respect to opening emails and attachments.

VISA^® Card Safety

While Dow Credit Union has a variety of mechanisms in place to protect members, there are some steps you can take to help protect yourself as well. Some may seem like common sense, but it’s important to keep them in mind.

General tips on card safety

• If your card is ever lost or stolen, report it immediately.
• Don’t leave your card anywhere it could be easily taken (this includes the glove compartment of your car).
• Make sure you memorize your PIN.
• Shred documents that contain any personal or financial information before you dispose of them.
• Before shopping online, ensure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus and spyware software installed.
• Check your statements for unauthorized transactions.

Identifying Fraudulent Communications

What is “Phishing”?

Phishing is the method of tricking people into providing their social security numbers, credit card numbers, mother’s maiden name and other personal information. It is becoming apparent that the volume of phishing attempts through email is on the rise. “Phishers” often pretend to be someone else, such as a financial institution, retailer, government agency or other organization. This may include altering the “from” address of a message to make it appear to originate from a legitimate source.

There are a variety of methods that hackers may use in order to gain one’s confidence. For example, a member may receive an email claiming that there is a problem with their account or that their account will be closed unless they provide specific information. The most recent fraudulent attempts include emails claiming that a recent bill payment or ACH transaction was rejected. The sender may ask to verify an address, account number or password. A phishing email could also include an attachment containing a virus to steal sensitive information. Additionally, an emailed website link could be embedded that will lead to a fake site designed to look like a legitimate site, in an attempt to obtain sensitive information.

Always know that Dow Credit Union will never ask you to provide your account information in this manner. Furthermore, Dow Credit Union emails will never:

• Include unsolicited attachments
• Request account-specific information (account numbers, usernames, passwords, card numbers, etc.)
• Include links directing you to an Online Banking sign in page

If an email includes any of the above, then it is most likely a phishing attempt. If you have any concerns that an email may be a phishing attempt, Online Banking (via www.dowcreditunion.org) can always be used to verify account balances, transaction history, and other related information. If you believe that you may have fallen victim to a phishing attack, or still have any questions, please contact the Credit Union.

Examples of Phishing

1) One common example of a phishing scam uses false alerts to trick the user with a fake sign in page:

2) A phishing example that targets common banking services:

These emails should raise many red flags that indicate a phishing attempt:

• (1&2) Multiple, similar email addresses: Why would a specific alert be sent to more than one person, let alone people with the similar email addresses?
• (1&2) “Dear Client/Customer”: We will always address you by name or as “member.”
• (1&2) Many grammar and spelling mistakes: English is rarely the phishers’ primary language.
• (1) Target URL: Consider that Dow Credit Union is just part of the site’s real domain name, which would be fx5q3zb44vpmc6cbt.com.
• (1) Is this email address even on file with Dow Credit Union? While phishers may spoof a "from" address in order to make the email appear legitimate, they often don’t even bother.
• (2) Zip attachment: Often used to (poorly) hide viruses. Only open attachments from trusted sources and always scan any attachments with anti-virus software before opening.

If you are ever concerned about the legitimacy of a Dow Credit Union communication, please contact us.

What is “Vishing”?

Vishing scams use phones instead of fake websites. In a new twist, identity thieves are sending spam that warns victims that their credit union/bank account or PayPal accounts were supposedly compromised. However, unlike typical phishing emails, there is no website address in these phishing messages. Instead, the victim is urged to call a phone number to verify account details.

The automated voice message says: “Welcome to account verification. Please type your 16-digit card number.” The goal is to get the victim to enter their credit card number. In these reported scams, no mention of the credit union, bank or PayPal is made.

Security experts tracking this scam and other instances of “vishing”, short for “voice phishing”, maintain that these frauds are particularly despicable because they imitate the legitimate ways people interact with financial institutions. In fact, some vishing attacks do not begin with an email. Some come as calls out of the blue, in which the caller already knows the recipient’s credit card number. This increases the perception of legitimacy and the caller only asks for the valuable three-digit security code on the back of the card. Vishing appears to be prospering with the help of Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, the technology that enables cheap and anonymous Internet calling, as well as the ease with which caller ID boxes can be tricked into displaying erroneous information.

How to prevent loss:

• Never call a number you receive from a spam email, and certainly do not enter in any private information if you make a mistake and do call. If you want to call your financial institution, use the normal phone number you regularly use, not the phone number you get in an email.
• Remember that your credit union will NEVER solicit personal/private information via email.
• Never click on the link provided in an email you believe is fraudulent.
• Do not open suspicious email attachments.
• Do not be intimidated by an email or caller who suggests dire consequences if you do not immediately provide or verify information.
• Secure your computer against viruses, spyware, and malware and update these regularly.

If you are a victim of a phishing or vishing attempt, feel free to contact us. You may also wish to take appropriate steps to protect yourself by canceling your compromised credit/debit cards, reporting the incident to the credit bureaus, or by ordering a copy of your credit report from any or all of the following: