How can we help you?
Identity Theft Protection & Prevention
The number of Americans affected by identity theft will top 30 million this year. Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information to establish credit, purchase items or borrow money in your name.How can you protect yourself? Here are some important facts, tips and reminders:
Protecting Yourself
- Safeguard your financial information such as checking and credit card numbers, and your Social Security number. Unless you know the person or organization you're dealing with, don't give it out, even 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 inquiries 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.
- 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 and steal your identity.
- If your bills include questionable items, investigate immediately. This is often the first sign of identity theft fraud.
- Avoid phishing scams. Never reply directly or click on a link in response to an e-mail that asks for personal or financial information. If you are concerned about your account contact the company or institution via a web site you know to be genuine. Remember-your bank will never contact you "out of the blue" to ask for personal financial information.
