Important
Reminder: We will never initiate a phone call or an email asking you
to update, validate, or provide us with your personal information. Don’t give out personal information over the phone or
website, unless you know it is secure and you initiated the contact.
Identity theft is a serious crime which becomes more
widespread everyday. Individuals who have their identity stolen may spend
years, not to mention thousands of dollars, trying to clean-up the mess. To help
protect you from identity theft, we have compiled the following
information:
How identity thieves get your information:
Stealing your wallet/purse with personal information
Stealing your bank and credit card statements out of
your mailbox
Completing a change of address form in your name
Rummaging through your trash for private information
Using personal information you share on the Internet
How they use your personal information:
They'll call your credit card issuer and change the
mailing address, and then use your credit card.
They'll open a new credit card account or take out a
loan in your name.
They'll establish phone or wireless services in your
name.
They'll use checks/debit cards to drain your account.
They'll open a bank account and write bad checks on the
account.
What can you do:
At least once a year, obtain a copy of your credit
report from one of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and
TransUnion through www.annualcreditreport.com
Place passwords on credit card, bank, and phone
accounts.
Don’t give out personal information over the phone or
website, unless you know it is secure and you initiated the contact.
Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes
or at your local post office.
Shred items like: credit card applications, charge
receipts, and past financial statements, before placing them in the
trash
Keep your social security card in a secure place like a
safe deposit box; not in your wallet.
What to do if your identity has been stolen:
Place a fraud alert on your credit report and review your credit report.
Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
File a report with your local police or the police in the community
where the identity theft took place.
File a complaint with the FTC.
For more information
on how you can protect your personal information, or to obtain copies of
standard forms to assist you with reporting identity theft, please visit the
FTC website. You may also
contact us for more information.
