Identity Theft

Identity Theft

This year, more than 750,000 Americans will be victims of identity theft, according to government and private sector estimates. 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. Millions could eventually be affected by this "crime of the 21st Century."

How to Protect Yourself

Do not release your financial information such as checking account and credit card numbers, or Social Security number, to anyone over the phone or email; unless you know the person or organization you are dealing with. Don't even release that information to someone claiming to be from your bank.
Report lost or stolen checks immediately. Review new deliveries of checks to make sure none have been stolen in transit.
Notify your bank of suspicious phone inquires such as those asking for account information to "verify a statement" or "award a prize".
Shred financial solicitations or financial statements before disposing of them.
Deposit your mail into a secure, official Postal Service collection box. Thieves may use your outgoing mail to steal your identity.
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.
If your bills include questionable items, investigate immediately. This is often the first sign of identity theft fraud.
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 anytime. The three major credit bureaus are:
     Equifax (800) 685-1111
     Experian (888) 397-3742
     TransUnion (800) 888-4213

What is your bank 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 nonpublic information about you is limited to employees who need to know that information to provide products and services to you.

Internet Protection

Before using any of our online services, you will select, or be assigned, your own personal password. It is important that you protect this information and do not leave it in a place where it may be easily found, such as a wallet or under a keyboard.

Encrypted Security

Steps to Take if You are Victimized

If you find you have become 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 one of the three bureaus can result in a "security alert" being placed at all of the bureaus and a free credit report from each organized.
Establish a password for telephone inquiries on credit card accounts.
Require a copy of your credit report (free to fraud victims), and consider reviewing bimonthly 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 with the Postal 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

TransUnion

www.transunion.com