IDENTITY
THEFT
- What
You Can Do
- What
Your Bank is Doing
- What
To Do if You Become a Victim
Millions of persons each year become victims of identity theft according to government and private sector sources. Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information to establish credit... purchase items... or borrow money in your name.
The incidence of this fraud is growing. Many of us could eventually
be affected by this "crime of the 21st century." What
should you watch for? How can you protect yourself? And what
is your bank doing to safeguard your good name?
Protecting Yourself
| 1. |
Don't release your financial information such as checking
account and credit card numbers, or your social security number,
to anyone over the phone or email unless you know the person
or organization you're dealing with. Don't even release that
information to someone claiming to be from your bank. |
| 2. |
Report lost or stolen checks immediately. Review new deliveries
of checks to make sure none have been stolen in transit. |
| 3. |
Notify your bank of suspicious phone inquiries such as those
asking for account information to "verify a statement"
or "award a prize." |
| 4. |
Shred financial solicitations or financial statements before
disposing of them |
| 5. |
Deposit your mail into a secure, official Postal Service
collection box. Thieves may use your outgoing mail to steal your
identity. |
| 6. |
If regular bills fail to reach you, call the company to find
out why. Someone may have filed a false change-of-address notice
to divert your mail to his or her address. |
| 7. |
If your bills include questionable items, investigate immediately.
This is often the first sign of identity fraud. |
| 8. |
Contact the major credit reporting companies to review your
file and make certain the information is correct. For a small
fee, you can obtain a copy of your credit report at any time.
The three major credit bureaus are:
Equifax 1-800-685-1111
Experian 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion 1-800-888-4213
|
What Your Bank is Doing
Substantial measures are in place at your bank to protect your
identity against theft and fraud:
Privacy Policies - We maintain
rigorous information security programs and privacy policies to
protect your personal and financial information. These policies
are stringent and enforced, with employee training provided regularly.
We treat your confidential information with the utmost care --
whether online or in person.
Internal Confidentiality -
Access to non-public information about you is limited to employees
who need to know that information to provide products and services
to you.
PIN Protection - Before using
some of our products and services, you will select, or be assigned
, your own Personal Identification Number (PIN). It is important
that you protect your PIN. Do not write it on your debit card
or leave it in a place where it may easily be found, such as
in a wallet or under a keyboard.
If You Are Victimized...
If you are a victim of identity theft, do the following:
- File a police report and call the Federal Trade Commission.
- Contact your banker.
- Tag accounts closed due to fraud: "closed at consumer's
request."
- Notify any one of the three credit bureau's fraud units.
A single call to any of the three bureaus can result in a "security
alert" being placed at all of the bureaus and a free credit
report from each organization.
- Establish a password for telephone inquiries on credit card
accounts.
- Request a copy of your credit report (free to fraud victims),
and consider reviewing bi-monthly copies of your credit report
until your case is resolved (available at a minimal cost to fraud
victims).
- Report check theft to check verification companies.
- Check post office for unauthorized change of address requests.
- Follow-up contacts with a letter and keep copies of all correspondence.
Where to Get Help...
Credit Reporting Bureaus:
- Equifax (www.equifax.com):
Report Fraud: 800-525-6285
Order Credit Report: 800-685-1111
- Experian (www.experian.com):
Report Fraud: 888-397-3742
Order Credit Report: 888-397-3742
- Trans Union (www.transunion.com):
Report Fraud: 800-680-7289
Order Credit Report: 800-888-4213
Identity Theft Resource Center:
www.idtheftcenter.org
Social Security Administration:
Report Fraud: 800-269-0271
Order Benefits and Earnings Statement: 800-772-1213
Reporting Fraudulent Check Use:
Chexsystems: 800-428-9623
Equifax: 800-437-5120
Global Payment Systems: 800-638-4600 ext. 555
International Check Services: 800-526-5380
Telecheck: 800-710-9898
Federal Trade Commission:
- ID Theft Prevention: www.FTC.gov and click on Consumer Protection
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)
- File ID theft reports: 1-877-ID-THEFT
(1-877-438-4338)
Presented by America's Community Bankers
www.AmericasCommunityBankers.com
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