STAYING SAFE ONLINE

With Creation, you can relax - when you apply for a credit card from us, you’re protected. All of our online applications use encryption technology to transmit your personal information to us securely. Our virus protection detects and prevents viruses from entering our computer network. And our firewalls block unauthorised access by individuals and networks. However, there’s plenty you can do at home to protect yourself and your family online...

If you receive an email that looks like it’s from your bank, a company you regularly do business with or a social networking site don’t respond. The link to the website featured in the email might be a variation of the usual address or could be masked.

Online fraud on your card account can include ‘phishing’ or ‘spoofing’ - using fake websites trying to steal your identity. You may be asked to disclose personal information such as passwords. Once criminals have these details they can impersonate you online and buy products in your name.

• Register to use your Creation card account online to regularly review your account for unusual transactions
• Don’t reply to emails that ask you to provide personal information or verify your account
• When logging on to banking and membership websites, always ensure that you type in the web address rather than by clicking on a link, especially in emails
• Always log off any secure site such as our My Account service before leaving your computer or accessing other websites
• When you’re shopping online, always check for a ‘padlock’ icon in the bottom corner of your browser and the prefix ‘https://’ in the address bar.
• Use the latest version of a browser like Internet Explorer or Firefox
• Create passwords that are a mix of several letters and numbers. It’s a good idea to use different passwords for different websites.

• Check your card statements to make sure you recognise all the transactions. You can do this whenever you want by registering for and logging on to My Account
• Keep your personal details up to date, especially your contact details. This will help us get in touch if we suspect your account is being used fraudulently. It’s easy to update your contact details by registering and logging on to My Account
• Protect yourself with our Identity Protection and get the reassurance of knowing you're one step ahead of the identity thieves.
• Always shred confidential letters and statements to stop anyone piecing together information about you.
• Call us in advance to let us know if you’re travelling abroad to help us manage your account if there are any problems when you’re away
• If you’re moving house, tell us, your bank and utility providers. To ensure you get your mail you can also use the Royal Mail redirection service.

Viruses spread easily from computer to computer and can cause damage to your hard drive. Hackers or software such as spyware can also access your computer steal your personal information – so you should always take steps to protect yourself and your privacy.

• Only open email attachments from a known source
• Use anti-virus protection on your computer – and keep the program updated with automatic upgrades
• Use anti-spyware protection on your computer to continually scan for spyware
• Make sure that you have a personal firewall installed
• Only download reputable software - if you download free software, make sure the site is trusted and uses a no-spyware policy.
• Make sure any wireless connection you use is secure and protected by encryption and a security code.
• Keep your laptop out of sight. If your computer is stolen or sold with data still on the hard drive, it could be useful to an identity thief.