Taking a spring break trip? Prepare your home for your absence.

Adventure is on the horizon for you and your family with bags packed and tickets purchased. Ensure you prepare your home for while you are away before you leave for another exciting vacation. These tips can help keep your home and assets safe, so you can relax and enjoy your getaway.

Have someone check on things while you are away

Whether it’s a family member, neighbor or friend, arrange for someone to keep an eye on your house while you are traveling. Ask this trusted individual to drive by daily to check on the place, and consider giving them a key to feed your pets, bring in the mail or water your plants. In case of an emergency, make sure they have a copy of your itinerary and your contact information.

Get a home monitoring system

Consider investing in or upgrading your security system, as the presence of an alarm can influence a burglar’s decision to target your empty home. Plus, OKFB policyholders with an active burglar alarm may be eligible for a discount based on the type of system they have installed.

Turn off or unplug appliances and electronics

TVs, toasters and phone chargers can use electricity even when they are not in use. Before you leave for vacation, be sure to prepare your home from power surges and save on the electric bill by turning off or unplugging these items. Make sure all lights are off when you leave your home, adjust the thermostat for your absence and unplug small appliances.

Stay off social media

Refrain from posting about your trip on social media until after your vacation is over, as this may advertise to potential burglars that your home is empty. Instead, wait until you are safely home to share photos and travel memories with your Facebook friends.

Looking for peace of mind your home is protected 365 days a year? Contact your local OKFB agent today.

Protect Your Identity with These Tips

Last year, more than 1,200 security breaches exposed almost one-half million sensitive records, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. This shows us all of the importance of keeping our personal and financial information safe. Here are a few tips to help you stay on alert when it comes to data breaches, scammers and others who may put your personal information at risk:

Be smart about passwords

When establishing accounts online, create complex passwords that would be hard to guess. If possible, include capital and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Be weary of using the same password for multiple online accounts; if a breach exposes your password on one site, hackers may be able to access other accounts using that same password. When possible, sign up for two-factor authentication, which requires a second verification from you (usually via phone, email or another method) that a scammer couldn’t replicate, even if they have your login and password information.

Verify requests

It’s unlikely a major company will randomly call or email to directly request personal information or verify your identity. Any requests for this information that seem outside of routine communication you expect from that company should be verified. If you receive a phone call or email request for this information, turn the tables and directly call or email an official representative to verify the request, and never share social security numbers or other sensitive information via unsecure email.

Beware of unknown links

If you encounter a suspicious looking email or text, don’t open it or click on any unknown links.  Especially don’t send funds through it. If you do open and follow through with a phishing email, your computer or smartphone may be infected with malware and your personal information and funds could be stolen. A phishing email may appear to come from an official organization, but it will often include a spoof email address, urgent language or spelling errors.

Stay vigilant

Just like for your personal safety, simply staying aware of your surroundings is helpful in protecting your financial safety. Set up fraud alerts and check statements at least monthly to monitor for any unrecognized charges. If possible, enable mobile notifications for credit card charges. This way you’ll know right away if one of your accounts or identity has become compromised online.

To learn more about how to keep your information safe, check out how to secure your business online and off. Additionally, see how OKFB Insurance protects our customers, talk with an agent today.