Privacy & Security

Kingston Community Credit Union is committed to protecting the personal information of credit union members, employees and other individuals. In order to protect all personal information collected, used or disclosed by Kingston Community Credit Union, we have adopted the Credit Union Code for the Protection of Personal Information.

On our website, we only collect personal information required to improve the services we offer, to improve our site content and, with your permission, to contact you with information about our services. We will not share any personal information obtained on this website with any other organization without your express knowledge and consent.

Information we collect on our site

You can visit all public areas of our site without providing any personal information about yourself. Our website collects only non-personal information based on a visitor’s Internet Protocol (IP) address (this is not personally identifiable). Information collected includes the date and time of visit, the type of Internet browser used to access the site, the referring address (the link a visitor uses to access the site). This data is used to create statistics on site usage and improve online services.

Kingston Community Credit Union’s internal website is solely for the use of authorized members of boards, committees, management and staff of the Credit Union. Access requires a special “User Name” and “Password.” Personal information that is collected on this internal website is used solely for security and site management purposes and to facilitate business functions of Kingston Credit Union.

Will a cookie be set on my computer when I visit this site?

To help us manage our website, we set a cookie on your computer that expires when you close your web browser.

If you send us an e-mail, any information provided by you will only be used for the purposes of responding to your inquiry or acting on your request. We will not use your name or e-mail address for any other purposes without additional consent.

Links to other Websites

Our website contains links to other web sites that are part of, affiliated with, or have a business relationship with Kingston Community Credit Union. When you leave our site to visit one of these other sites, the only information transferred to the new site is the fact that you came from the Kingston Community Credit Union website. Transmission of this referring address allows other sites to monitor their own web traffic, but does not disclose any personal information about you.

Internet Security

When dealing with your money, you can’t be too safe. This is why Kingston Community Credit Union uses the most up-to-date security measures when handling your banking information. Our online banking solution offers industry standard encryption for all transactions, whether banking online, using the ATM or point-of-sale with your debit card. This state of the art encryption ensures that your banking information and transaction details cannot be accessed or read while in transit and your banking information remains secure.

Protecting Your PAC (Personal Access Code)

When banking online, your Personal Access Code, along with the answers to your security questions, protects your privacy and the security of your banking information. This code is unique to you and your account and should never be shared with anyone in order to protect your privacy and maintain the security of your banking information. Kingston Community Credit Union will never request your PAC whether you’re banking in person or over the internet.

Key points to remember
  • Choose a PAC that is easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess.
  • Never include any part of your account details or PIN as part of your PAC
  • Never share your PAC with anyone, whether in person, in email or over the phone
  • Never write your PAC down or record it.
  • Change your PAC on a regular basis.
  • Always make a point of logging off when you’ve completed your online banking.

Don’t Use:
  • A password you use for any other service
  • Your name or a close relative’s name
  • Your birth date, telephone number or address, or those of a close relative
  • Your KCCU account number
  • Your card number

How do I contact Kingston Community Credit Union with questions or concerns?

We welcome any questions or concerns about our Internet Privacy Statement, or the practices of this site. Please contact our Privacy Officer by e-mail or in writing at the following address:

Privacy Officer
Kingston Community Credit Union Ltd.
795 Gardiners Road
Kingston Ontario, Canada K7M 7E6

or e-mail to privacyofficer@kccu.ca

Notice

Kingston Community Credit Union reserves the right to amend its Internet Privacy Statement and its Privacy Code at any time with or without notice. Please check this page periodically for changes.

Kingston Community Credit Union is committed to protecting your privacy by keeping your personal information accurate, confidential, and secure during collection, use, and disclosure.

Privacy legislation sets the rules for how we can collect, use, and disclose your personal information.

Personal information means information about an identifiable individual. This can include information such as your name, home address, telephone number, birth date, email address, and social insurance number. It can also include financial information such as your bank account number, credit rating, or income. Personal information can be collected in several ways, including through our forms, documents that you provide, or our online banking system. We keep all the personal information that we collect securely protected in physical and electronic files.

The 10 Privacy Principles
The following privacy principles guide our handling of your personal information:

  1. Accountability
  2. Identifying Purposes
  3. Consent
  4. Limiting Collection
  5. Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention
  6. Accuracy
  7. Safeguards
  8. Openness
  9. Individual Access
  10. Challenging Compliance

We have comprehensive privacy policies and processes based on these principles that govern how and why we collect, use, and disclose your personal information. Our Privacy Officer can give you more information about our policies and processes.

Why We Collect Your Personal Information
At the time that we collect your personal information, we will tell you why we are collecting it and how it will be used and disclosed. This information will be included in the form we use to request and record your consent. We will only collect as much personal information as we need to meet the stated purposes, and we will only use and disclose your personal information for the same purposes.

If we wish to use and/or disclose your personal information for a purpose that is not required for a product or service you request, such as marketing, we will ask for your express consent* before proceeding to use your information in this way.

*Express consent is when you clearly accept the terms of a consent request.

Using Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
We are required by law to obtain your SIN to report interest on your deposits, dividends on your shares, and other investment income to the Canada Revenue Agency. Use of your SIN for any other purpose is optional, and you have the right to refuse your consent. However, allowing us to use your SIN for administrative purposes can help us keep your records separate from other individuals with the same name. And if you apply for credit products or credit-related services, allowing us to use your SIN to verify your identity will ensure that we obtain your full personal credit report and not one belonging to someone else.

How We Use Your Personal Information
We need to be able to use and disclose your personal information to be able to provide you with the products and services you request and to run the Credit Union effectively.

We use your personal information to:

  • verify your identity and ensure your records are kept separate from those belonging to other people;
  • process your application for an account, and to provide and administer your accounts and related products and services;
  • allow us to assess and manage risk from the products and services you request;
  • obtain a full credit report on you, where appropriate and with your express consent;
  • protect you and us from fraud and error, including identity theft;
  • collect debts you owe to us;
  • provide you with access to online banking and to administer and manage your access rights;
  • market to you, but only with your express consent.

We may send you communications by commercial electronic message where you have provided your express consent to this. These are messages sent by electronic means, including email, voice, sound, text, or image, and must meet certain legal requirements.

Detailed information about how we use your personal information will be provided at the time that we ask for your consent to such uses.

How We Disclose Your Personal Information
We will disclose your personal information to various parties, such as participants in the payment and clearing systems, and third-party product and service providers.

Third-party product and service providers can include the following:

  • data service providers (e.g., banking system providers)
  • cheque printers
  • card manufacturers
  • provincial or national central credit unions and trade associations
  • credit reporting and fraud checking agencies
  • marketing partners
  • individuals and agencies involved in debt collection
  • participants in the payment and clearing systems.

Except as permitted or required by law, we will only disclose your personal information to be able to provide you with the products and services you request and to allow us to effectively run the Credit Union.

We are responsible for all personal information we collect from you, even if it is disclosed to another party. We will ensure that any other parties that hold your personal information have safeguards in place to protect your personal information. In addition, we will only deal with reputable organizations.

If you have accounts that are joint with other persons, any or all of your personal information may be disclosed to all joint account holders.

Detailed information about how we disclose your personal information will be provided at the time that we ask for your consent to such disclosures.

How Long We Keep Your Personal Information
We keep your information only for as long as we need it to:

  • administer products and services; and/or
  • meet any legal, regulatory, or tax requirements.

We will securely destroy, dispose of, or anonymize your personal information when it is no longer needed or serving any of the purposes outlined above.

How You Can View, Verify, and Correct Your Personal Information
The personal information we hold about you will be accurate and complete as of the date you provide it. You can request access to see your personal information. If you think any of your personal information is wrong, you can ask that we correct it.

If you want to see and/or correct your personal information, please contact an employee or our Privacy Officer. You will need to provide as much information as you can to help us process your request, such as dates, account numbers, and any other details that can help us track down the information you require. More information about the request process, including time limits for providing our response, will be provided at the time you make the request.

If you want to see a copy of your personal credit report, please contact a credit reporting agency. We can provide assistance if you need help contacting a credit reporting agency.

How to Withdraw Consent for the Collection, Use, and/or Disclosure of Your Personal Information
You can withdraw your consent for the collection, use, and/or disclosure of your personal information at any time, subject to legal and contractual restrictions, by providing written notice to us. We will comply with your request within a reasonable time.

If you withdraw your consent, we may not be able to provide you with products and services that you currently have or request in the future. We will tell you of the consequences of withdrawing your consent before we process your request.

Please note that even if you withdraw your consent, we may have to retain your personal information for a period of time for legal or business purposes.

How We Protect Your Personal Information
We will protect your personal information through a combination of physical, technological, and organizational measures, which can include secure storage, passwords, and encryption. Access to your personal information will be restricted to employees with the appropriate clearance level who need the information to do their jobs.

How You Can Protect Your Personal Information
You may access your accounts with a Member Card® debit card, online banking, and/or telephone banking. To do so, you must use personal security codes that you choose. These security codes protect your accounts and your personal information from unauthorized access. It is your responsibility to protect your security codes.

The following tips can help you protect your accounts and personal information from unauthorized access:

  • Do not choose obvious numbers (e.g., birth date, 12345) or words (e.g., child’s name) for your personal security codes
  • Do not write down or record your personal codes
  • Do not send confidential information to us or anyone else through email, text messages, or social media
  • Keep your account and credit card statements, blank cheques, and your personal financial information in a safe place at all times, such as a locked cabinet or a safe
  • Tell us immediately if you suspect that your personal security codes are known by anyone else
  • Review your account statements carefully, within 30 days of receipt. If you do not receive account statements, regularly review your account online
  • Tell us immediately if your address changes or if you find any errors in your information.

Our Website and Use of Cookies
When you visit our website and/or use online banking, our computer systems may record certain information in the form of cookies, such as which pages you visit, the time and date of your visit, and the IP address of your computer. We use this anonymous information to analyze and improve the performance of our website.

In most cases cookies collect generic information. However in some cases, the cookies we use may collect some personal information about you. We will protect this information in the same way as we protect other personal information we collect about you. You may be able to disable use of cookies through your internet browser, but this may affect your browsing experience, and you may not be able to access certain areas of our website, such as online banking.

Questions?
Our Privacy Officer can answer your questions about personal information and privacy and provide you with information about our policies and practices. Our Privacy Officer can also help you complete an access to information request, help you correct your personal information, and try to resolve any concerns or complaints you have regarding our policies or practices.

If you have any questions, please contact our Privacy Officer.

Privacy Officer
Kingston Community Credit Union Ltd.
795 Gardiners Road
Kingston Ontario, Canada K7M 7E6

or e-mail to privacyofficer@kccu.ca

At Kingston Community Credit Union, we are committed to protecting your privacy and safeguarding your personal and financial information. While the Internet is revolutionizing the way that we do business — providing convenient access to financial services from your home or office — we also recognize that it may bring legitimate concerns about privacy and security.

This Privacy Statement describes how your personal information is collected, used, and disclosed within the KCCU Online Banking site. The KCCU Online Banking site is the area of our website that requires you to use your Member ID and Personal Access Code (PAC) to enter.

Please note that this statement does not refer to the policies and practices of our public website. Please click here for more information on the policies and practices of our public website, that does not require the use of your Member ID and Personal Access Code (PAC).

Controlled Access to Your Information

To ensure that you are the only person accessing your personal information, we restrict access to the KCCU Online Banking site by requiring that you enter your Member ID and PAC to login.

Only you know your PAC, KCCU employees do not have access to your PAC, and they will not ask you to reveal it. If someone asks you to provide your PAC to them, we ask that you refuse to do so and contact us immediately.

Transactional Services

By nature, our online banking site has many transactional functions such as transfers between accounts and bill payment functions. These transactions are all logged to ensure that your accounts are debited or credited appropriately, and the history of each transaction is available to verify your account. We store and use your transactional information in the same fashion as if you performed the transaction at a branch or any other service channel.

We may also use transactional information for servicing your account, for example, billing you for the transactions that you perform, or for the services that you use.

Creating a Secure Channel

To create a secure channel between your browser and our server, we use 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption, the highest level available.

Application Forms

To provide you with a convenient method for applying for loans and mortgages, or for purchasing other financial services products, we may provide secure online application forms. By nature, these forms capture personally identifiable information that we use to provide you with the products and services that you have requested. This information is processed in a fashion like that of application forms received through our other channels. The information contained in the application may be archived or stored, as governed by existing law or policy.

Website Usage Statistics

To continually improve our site, we often collect information about how our members are using it. These usage statistics are only viewed in total—and are never tied to an individual.

We use this information for purposes such as improving the pages where our members are having difficulties and ensuring that we have the appropriate infrastructure in place to service future needs.

The information collected may include your IP address, your browser type and your operating system, as well as data that is passively generated as you browse the site, such as the number and types of pages visited, and the length of time spent per page and on the site overall.

Our use of Cookies

We also use a key web technology called cookies. A cookie is a small information token that sits on your computer. As you use the KCCU Online Banking site, cookies are passed back and forth between our server and your browser. While cookies can be used for a variety of reasons, we only use cookies where they are of benefit to our members.

Specifically, we use two kinds of cookies—session cookies and persistent cookies. A session cookie exists only for the length of your browsing session and is deleted when you close your browser. A persistent cookie is a cookie that stays on your computer after you close your browser. A persistent cookie may or may not expire on a given date.

We use a session cookie to maintain the integrity of your Internet banking session. With each page that you visit, the cookie is passed back and forth between our server and your browser. We use cookies to distinguish your session from the many others that may be happening at the same time. Our session cookies never store any personal information, such as your name, or date of birth, or financial information, such as your accounts and balances.

Most recent browser versions allow you to set some level of control over which cookies are accepted and how your browser uses them. For example, it may be set to notify you when it is receiving a cookie so that you accept cookies from only known, reliable sites such as this one. If you are concerned about cookies, we encourage you to upgrade your browser to a recent version and review the Help section of your browser to learn more about its specific control features.

Most recent browser versions allow the user to set some level of control over which cookies are accepted and how your browser uses them. Many browsers will allow you to accept cookies from only known, reliable sites that you select such as the KCCU Online Banking site. If you are concerned about cookies, we encourage you to upgrade your browser to a recent version and review the Help section of your browser to learn more about its specific control features.

Memorized Accounts Feature

We use a persistent cookie to store information to help you personalize the KCCU Online Banking site and to make it easier to use. For example, we allow you to make the KCCU Online Banking login easier by remembering your Member ID and Branch within our Memorized Accounts feature. Since the Memorized Accounts feature is optional, this cookie only contains information that you have entered into it.

Logout Button

To ensure that someone cannot access your personal information, always exit the KCCU Online Banking site using the logout button located at the top of every page. When you exit using the logout button, we delete your session cookie so that your session cannot be resumed unless your Member ID and PAC are re-entered.

Automatic Session Time-outs

If you leave your computer without logging out, the KCCU Online Banking site has been designed to end your session automatically if our system detects that you haven’t provided any instructions or used the browser buttons to navigate for several minutes. To restart the session, you will need to provide your PAC again.

Email

General email is not secure since it passes through many points on its route from you to us. If you are using general email to communicate with us, we strongly recommend that you do not include personal financial information (such as account numbers) within the email as we cannot guarantee its confidentiality enroute to us.

When you email us your comments, questions, or instructions, you provide us with your email address and we use it to correspond with you. We then store your email and our replies to you so that we can refer to them in future.

We will not provide your email address to anyone outside of the credit union. We may use your email address to send you information about financial products or services that we think may be of interest to you. If you do not want us to contact you with product information by email, you may tell us so at any time and we will discontinue the practice.

If you have asked us to provide you with information on a regular basis, or if we email you with information about our products or services, you may ask us to remove you from the list at any time. We intend to include instructions to unsubscribe from the list in every mailing, and on the site where you originally subscribed to the list.

Service Partners

In providing our complete online banking service, we often use external service partners and suppliers to assist us. In performing their duties, these service partners may handle components of your personal information on our behalf. We ensure through our contracts with these partners that they handle your information with the same standard of care that you have come to expect from us. Our suppliers, like our employees, are bound to maintain your confidentiality and may not use the information for unauthorized purposes.

Some of our partners require that you first register with their service to permit us to tie their functionality into the KCCU Online Banking site. Registration for these external services will always be at your discretion. We may append personally identifiable data to this registration for the partner to use to compare and validate the registration. You will always be notified of such an action during the registration process.

Links to Other Sites

The KCCU Online Banking site may also contain links to other websites or Internet resources. However, Kingston Community Credit Union has no responsibility or liability for or control over these other websites or Internet resources or their collection, use and disclosure of your personal information. Always review the privacy statements of the sites that you are viewing.

Contact Us

We welcome any questions or concerns about our KCCU Online Banking Privacy Statement, or the practices of this site. Please contact us by email, or in writing at the following address:

Privacy Officer
Kingston Community Credit Union Ltd.
795 Gardiners Road, Kingston ON,
K7M 7E6
Phone: (613) 384-5555
Email: privacyofficer@kccu.ca
Protecting Your Privacy—We’re in it together

As we continue to expand our online banking service to serve you better, and as new internet technologies become available, we may need to amend this Privacy Statement at any time, with or without notice, to reflect changes in functionality and practice. Please check this Privacy Statement regularly for changes.

We’re dedicated to protecting your privacy and ensuring your personal and financial information remains secure. Online banking offers a convenient and efficient way to manage your finances, but the information reaches your device, it becomes your responsibility to safeguard it.

We’ve put together helpful tips and resources to help keep your information safe and secure.

Anti-Virus Software

Install anti-virus software on your computer to protect your information, money, and privacy. Such software detects viruses and cleans your computer so that harmful viruses do not spread. Set up your anti-virus to run frequent scans and update the software as soon as it is required. Ensure you have real-time scanning of every email and every file you download.

Browsers

Web browsers are the gateways to the Internet. Like having an up-to-date operating system, upgraded browsers provide more features and security. The latest versions of web browsers have security features that can identify and block harmful and fake websites and pop-ups and warn you if a site is flagged as unsafe.

Some browsers also have a ‘Private Browsing’ feature, which conceals your browsing history from others.

Clearing Cookies and Cache

When you spend time on the Internet, your browser stores information, such as the websites you visit, the images and files you view, and your personal information, including passwords and login details.

This data is held on your computer’s hard drive and is known as ‘cache.’ Even though you may have logged out and closed your browser, this information may remain accessible. You can protect your data by clearing your browsing history regularly.

Encryption

Internet encryption protects your information while it is in transit between your computer and our systems. Encryption ensures that data cannot be read or altered because the information is scrambled.

Our online banking website uses a 128-bit SSL, encrypting both request and response transactions, through a secure connection.

To ensure a secure connection, check that our website address begins with ‘https’—not just ‘http’. All supported browsers should meet this security requirement. If yours does not, please download the necessary encryption support from your browser provider.

Firewalls

A firewall protects your computer and home network from harmful websites and hackers. It sits between your computer and the Internet, scanning information that is being transmitted. It allows for safe browsing, while blocking unauthorized intrusions. Firewalls also stop your computer from being used by hackers to send malicious software to other computers.

Most computers now come with a firewall as part of the standard operating system. However, you can get the maximum protection for your computer by installing additional firewalls and ensuring they are kept up to date.

Logging In and Out

When you are finished with your banking session, always log out by clicking the “Log Out” button, as opposed to simply closing the browser window. To help protect your information, your online banking session will end automatically if there has been no activity for a period of time.

If your session has timed out, no further transactions can be made until you log in again. This time-out feature helps protect your accounts from unauthorized access.

Monitoring Your Accounts

Make sure you review your account statements on a regular basis. Frequently reviewing your paper and/or electronic account statements ensures that you spot any incorrect or fraudulent transactions as soon as they occur.

If your card has been skimmed (when the card’s magnetic stripe and PIN are fraudulently copied by embedded devices at ATMs or point-of-sale devices) or unauthorized transactions have been made, you will want to catch this as soon as possible.

Operating Systems

Your computer’s operating system needs to be up to date to defend itself against viruses and malicious software (malware). If one part of your operating system develops a virus, it leaves holes in your computer’s security defenses and compromises the safety of the information contained in your computer.

Keeping your software up to date is one of the most important ways of staying safe online because it is much harder for viruses to infect an updated operating system and software. Hackers are targeting operating systems with new viruses all the time and software companies combat these efforts with security patches. You should always download the latest security patch as soon as it becomes available.

Your operating system lets you know when updates are available by notifying you there are new security features to download. You can also upgrade your operating system to the latest version available from the manufacturer; however, you should ensure your computer has sufficient hardware capacity to support an upgrade.

Remember to back up your data. To fully eliminate a virus that has infected your machine, the re-installation of your operating system may be required. Protect yourself against the permanent loss of important data by frequently backing up your files on an external hard drive so you’ll have the data should you ever have a problem with your operating system.

Personal Access Codes (PAC)

Online credentials often accumulate quickly, as they’re required for accessing email accounts, social media platforms, news sites, and online shopping portals.

That’s a lot of usernames and passwords and it can be tempting to use the same combination for everything. But this makes it far too easy for hackers because once they have one password, they can access all your sites.

Login credentials are the keys to your accounts so don’t leave those keys around for anyone to find. For online banking, the key is your Personal Access Code (PAC). We recommend you:

  • Choose a PAC that is easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess. Avoid using current phone numbers, dates of birth, or social insurance numbers.
  • Be smart and don’t save a list of your credentials on your PC. If you have to write them down, keep these details locked away somewhere only you can access or consider using password-management software, which secures and encrypts usernames and passwords and allows you to use a single master password.
  • Do not share your PAC with anyone, especially online. Employees of our financial institution will never call, email, write or ask you to provide your online banking credentials. Ever.
  • Don’t authorize browsers to save your credentials. Saving these on your computer allows anyone using your PC to gain access to your login-protected sites.
  • Consider changing your PAC every 90 days for optimum security.

Personal Details

When you move, it is important to notify us of your change of address. If your mailing information isn’t up-to-date, statements or letters that contain personal information will continue to be sent to your former address.

Private Browsing

Some web browsers have a feature that allows you to browse the Internet without the browser storing information, such as the sites you visit, the images you see and videos you watch. This feature is sometimes used by people who share the same computer.

Private browsing is a temporary option and must be selected in order for it to be activated. Private browsing, however, does not give you immunity to spyware or make you anonymous. It is still possible for your Internet service provider, employer, or the websites you visit to track your online activity.

Protecting Your Smartphone

Browsing the web has never been easier – with a smartphone it’s all at your fingertips. Smartphones let you browse, shop, or bank wherever you are. Make sure your information stays secure while you’re on the move by following these smartphone-safe browsing tips:

  • Activate your phone’s password feature, which locks the screen and prevents anyone but you from accessing your phone. Set up the password feature on your phone with a code that only you know.
  • Don’t connect to unknown networks through Wi-Fi hotspots to make financial transactions.
  • Beware of smishing – that’s phishing on phones through text messages. Never download media or images or click on text-message links that come from unrecognizable people or phone numbers. Never provide personal details or any account details using any form of electronic messaging because this is not a secure form of communication. If you are unsure, please contact us.
  • Download apps exclusively from the official source for your smartphone’s platform, such as the Android and Apple stores.
  • Install anti-virus software for your smartphone when available and update it frequently.
  • Install location finding applications, which work with your phone’s built-in GPS. These applications allow you to locate and/or remotely erase (or “wipe”) data in your phone if it is lost or stolen.
  • Update your smartphone’s operating system as soon as newer versions are available.

Public Wi-Fi Networks

These days, everyone is on the go and it’s not uncommon to access Wi-Fi at coffee shops, hotels, restaurants, or airports. Using wireless networks to access information is convenient, but not risk-free. Protect yourself from threats by:

  • Using only a trusted computer to access your online banking. Don’t use shared library or cafe computers.
  • Managing your online banking only from secure networks. We recommend that you don’t use unsecured public networks for anything sensitive.
  • Connecting only to password-protected networks. If there are several networks available, ask employees of the organization which network they operate.
  • Never leave your computer unattended, especially if you are logged into your online banking.
  • Using different PACs and security questions as login credentials. If someone obtains your credentials for one site, such as a social networking site, you don’t want them to be able to access your other ones.
  • Ensuring you log out before you close your browsers.

Shopping Online

Online shopping is the epitome of convenience. There are no lines and no crowds, but it can also be a haven for fraudsters. Consider the following tips when using your credit cards online to ensure your information stays secure:

  • Make sure that you are shopping at a trusted retailer when you enter your credit card details online.
  • Provide retailers with only the necessary details to complete the transaction. These include your credit card number, expiry date, the security code on the back of the credit card and the card’s billing address. Never provide your social insurance number, account details or your mother’s maiden name. For shopping sites that require you to register with a username and password, don’t use your online banking PAC.
  • Use your credit cards only on e-commerce websites that use secure browsing technology on the screens where you enter your card information. Ensure the web address begins with ‘https’ (as opposed to ‘http’) and has a closed padlock icon on the screen.
  • Ensure that smaller retailers requesting credit card details have reputable contact details, a physical address and you feel comfortable providing them with your card information.
  • Never give your account or credit card details to anyone on online marketplace websites.

SCAMS & FRAUD

While pickpockets can only target a few people each day, Internet fraudsters cast their nets much wider, using the anonymity and reach of mass emails and fake websites. You can protect yourself from these situations by knowing how to identify and avoid these scams.

Phishing

 

A common way for Internet scammers to obtain your personal information is through a method called phishing. Usernames, passwords, banking information and credit card details are phished through email or instant messaging. Phishing works by sending communications, which appear to be from your financial institution, but they are not.

You are asked, supposedly by your financial institution, to log in to your online banking to verify account information. Often some type of security concern is cited as the issue. The fake email instructs you to click on a link that takes you to a non-legitimate version of your online banking site – one that is indistinguishable from the legitimate site – and you’ll be asked to enter your credentials.

Phishing emails may include:

  • Warnings about account closures
  • Requests to update your information
  • Offers to register for a new service
  • Offers for pre-approved credit cards
  • Free virus-protection programs

Once you click on the link, which directs you to a phishing website, you’ll be prompted to enter personal or banking information. Phishing scams seek personal details, such as your address, social security number or mother’s maiden name. The details obtained will then be used for identity theft.

Never provide personal details or any account details in an email. Electronic messaging is not a secure form of communication. If you receive a message that you are unsure about, please contact us.

Pharming

Another way for hackers to get their hands on your personals details is by pharming them. Pharming occurs when hackers use malicious code on your PC, which compromises your computer’s host file and redirects you to fake websites. The malware hides the fraudulent URL, cloaking it in the legitimate one that appears in your browser.

With pharming, the dishonest redirection of URLs happens even when you type correct URLs directly into your browser, making you think that you’re on the correct website when you are not. Once there, you are asked to enter your online banking credentials or account information, which hackers take and use for criminal activity.

How to Avoid Phishing and Pharming Scams

We will never send you emails or communications asking you to verify or provide your online banking details. The best way to protect yourself is to never use a link provided in an email to access your online banking (because we don’t send those; scammers do). Do not open emails or email attachments from unknown sources. Scan email through your anti-virus software.

Always type your financial institution’s website address directly into your browser and remember to look for confirmation that you are browsing securely. The letter “s” in ‘https’ indicates you are navigating in a secure site, in comparison to the open and unprotected ‘http’ URLs. Look for the ‘https’ when shopping online, too.

Don’t believe emails warning that your account has been compromised or that you’ll miss out on a great deal if you fail to act immediately. If you are concerned, call or visit one of our customer service representatives.

Malware

Malicious software—such as malware, spyware, worms, and Trojans—belongs to the same class of harmful programs, each with its own name but a similar purpose. These digital threats can steal personal information, hijack your computer, and even use it to launch attacks on others. Infections often occur through email attachments, downloading compromised files, or visiting unsafe websites.

Spyware

Spyware is exactly what it sounds like – tracking software that is downloaded to your computer (without your knowledge) when you visit certain Internet sites. Secretly, it gathers information about you and your browsing habits. This information can be trivial or it can include passwords and personal data that you wouldn’t want criminals to get their hands on. It can also interfere with user controls and disable legitimate anti-virus programs.

The best way to protect your computer against spyware is smart browsing. Stay away from sites that look unsafe and avoid streaming or downloading content from untrustworthy sources. Many anti-virus products offer targeted spyware solutions that inspect your operating system, installed programs, downloads, and files.

Scareware

One of the most common viruses to watch out for is known as scareware. These scams pop up on your screen and display alarmist warnings, telling you a virus has invaded your computer. Scareware prompts you to download (and often pay for) fake anti-virus software to remove the non-existent viruses. Scareware is a scam that tries to trick you into paying money in exchange for nothing.

You can protect against scareware by keeping your anti-virus software up-to-date and by being judicious about what you choose to download to your computer. You should also familiarize yourself with the interface of your legitimate anti-virus program, so you won’t be fooled if one of these pop-ups appears.

Our Privacy and Security Policy

For more information on the specific policies and practices that we use to safeguard your personal and financial information, please click here to view our Privacy Statement.

Legal & Online Polices

The information contained in this website and pages within is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific financial, tax, accounting, legal or other advice and should not be relied upon.  In any matter, you should seek professional advice relevant to your own circumstance.

Information and data provided in this website is not guaranteed to be current, accurate, or complete, and is subject to change without notice.  Kingston Community Credit Union does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any such information and expressly disclaims any liability for errors or omissions in this information.  Your use of the site and reliance on any information on the site is solely at your own risk.

Any links to other web sites are provided for convenience only and no endorsement of any third-party products or services is expressed or implied by any information referred to or linked from or to our website.  Kingston Community Credit Union is not responsible for the contents of any third-party websites. We do not warrant, endorse, guarantee, or assume responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of any information offered by third- party websites linked through the site, or any website or feature linked in any banner or other advertising.  We will not be a party to or in any way be responsible for monitoring any transaction between you and third-party providers or products or services.

Accessibility

This website has been designed and developed with the intention to provide accessibility to the widest possible audience. We are committed to removing barriers to accessibility and ensuring that our information is available to all users.

As part of this commitment to enable all users to navigate and interact with our website content, we follow best practices for user accessibility, including:

  • providing an Accessibility Adjustment tool on our website that allows for multiple adjustments. Simple click on this icon at the bottom of our website for adjustment options.
  • the use of alt text for images
  • content that can be enlarged
  • webpages that are fully navigable by keyboard or other assistive technologies

 

Web Browser Accessibility

For the best experience with our website, we recommend you keep your browser up to date, as new browsers have enhanced accessibility options and integration with assistive technologies.

Adjust your computer’s settings for a better experience

You can improve your online experience by customizing your computer’s settings to meet your individual needs. For example, you can increase the size of all fonts or change the colour scheme.  You may also use our Accessibility Adjustment tool to meet your needs on our website.

Have Questions or Concerns?

We welcome your comments on the accessibility of our site and any suggestions for improvement.

Additionally, please contact us if we can assist with providing documentation in alternate formats or if you are experiencing difficulties with the accessibility of our website.

This website has been designed and developed with the intention to provide accessibility to the widest possible audience. We are committed to removing barriers to accessibility and ensuring that our information is available to all users.

As part of this commitment to enable all users to navigate and interact with our website content, we follow best practices for user accessibility, including:

  • providing an Accessibility Adjustment tool on our website that allows for multiple adjustments. Simple click on this icon at the bottom of our website for adjustment options.
  • the use of alt text for images
  • content that can be enlarged
  • webpages that are fully navigable by keyboard or other assistive technologies

 

Web Browser Accessibility

For the best experience with our website, we recommend you keep your browser up to date, as new browsers have enhanced accessibility options and integration with assistive technologies.

Adjust your computer’s settings for a better experience

You can improve your online experience by customizing your computer’s settings to meet your individual needs. For example, you can increase the size of all fonts or change the colour scheme.  You may also use our Accessibility Adjustment tool to meet your needs on our website.

Have Questions or Concerns?

We welcome your comments on the accessibility of our site and any suggestions for improvement.

Additionally, please contact us if we can assist with providing documentation in alternate formats or if you are experiencing difficulties with the accessibility of our website.

We are committed to ensuring our online services are accessible to all users. The information below suggests how to obtain the best user experience on our website and explains what we have done to make the website accessible.


Please use our Accessibility Adjuster found on website

Adjust your computer’s settings for a better experience

You can improve your online experience by customizing your computer’s settings to meet your individual needs. For example, you can increase the size of all fonts or change the colour scheme.

Keep your browser updated

We recommend you keep your browsers up-to-date. Newer browsers tend to provide more display options to make content accessible, and may work better with assistive technologies.

How we have made our website accessible

We have created our website in accordance with the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. These guidelines assist website developers by describing best practices for creating websites that are accessible to all users.

Some of the ways we achieve online accessibility include:

  • Building webpages in a way that allows you to disable the CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) on your browsers or modify the text size using browser controls if the colours or fonts make content difficult to read.
  • Providing a ‘skip to content’ link at the top of all pages, allowing you to quickly access the body content on each page while avoiding headers and navigation.
  • Creating webpages that allow visually impaired users to navigate the site effectively with a screen reading aid. For example, images have text-based descriptions, title attributes tell users where a link will take them if they click on it, and structured headings provide an overview of the site that lets users jump quickly to desired sections.

Contact us if you have trouble using our website

If you experience difficulties in accessing any content or functionality on our website, please contact us. We are always open to making improvements to provide the best possible online experience for our users.

A third party is an individual or entity, other than the account holder or those authorized to give instructions about the account, who directs what happens with the account. For example, if an account were opened in one individual’s name for deposits that are directed by someone else, the other person or entity would be a third party.

  • A secondary piece of identification from the primary list above
  • Canadian Birth Certificate
  • Credit Card bearing the name and signature of the individual which has issued by a well-known and reputable Canadian financial institution
  • A CNIB (Canadian Institute for the Blind) client card bearing the individual’s photo and signature
  • Provincial Outdoors Card
  • Canadian University or College Student Card with photo (for student identification only)
  • An employee identification card (with photo) issued by an employer that is well known in the community (i.e. KGH, DND, Queens University, Corrections Canada, etc.)
  • Foreign passport
  • Canadian Passport
  • Permanent resident card
  • Citizenship card (issued prior to 2012)
  • Secure Certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada
  • Driver’s licenses issued by province or territory
  • The DND (Department of National Defense) 404 driver’s license
  • Nexus Card issued by Canada Border Services Agency
  • Provincial Service Cards
  • Provincial or territorial identity cards (i.e. Ontario Photo Identification Card)
  • Foreign Passport (only if it is equivalent to a Canadian issued photo identification document)