Liberty Bank

Identity Theft:  Learn how to protect yourself

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Ten Tips to Protect Yourself

Identity theft and account fraud continue to make headlines.  Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.

It has been estimated that as many as nine million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft.

Liberty Bank works hard each day to ward off threats, but our efforts are most effective with your help. Awareness is an effective weapon against many forms of identity theft. Be aware of how information is stolen and what you can do to protect yours.  Monitor your personal information to uncover any problems quickly, and know what to do when you suspect your identity has been stolen.

Here are some tips on how you can protect yourself and your assets:

  1. Keep account numbers, such as checking and credit card account, safe.  Unless you have initiated the contact, or know the organization you are dealing with, do not give your account numbers or social security number over the phone or the internet.  Liberty will never contact you and ask for your account information.
  2. Be aware of suspicious phone calls or emails claiming you “won a prize”, or they need to verify your information.  Gather as much information as possible, and contact your bank.  If you are unsure of the legitimacy of an e-mail, don't be afraid to ask. Either seek advice from the company who issued the e-mail (by phone, in person or with a verified contact), or you can forward your e-mail and question to FraudWatch International atscams@fraudwatchinternational.com. To register a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, visit www.ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.
  3. Notify the bank immediately if you are aware of any lost or stolen checks.  Stop payments may be placed on those checks to avoid any losses.  Be sure to check new check orders for any missing checks.
  4. Store your personal information in a safe and secure place at home.
  5. Protect your debit card, debit card PIN, and receipts.  Thieves can use these to access your accounts.
  6. Protect yourself online by not using obvious passwords like your birth date, sequential numbers (Example: 1234), or the last four digits of your Social Security number.  Use a combination of upper case and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.
  7. Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.  Liberty Bank offers several FREE Shred days throughout the year.  Refer to the Liberty Bank quarterly newsletter for more information.  The Latest - Customer Quarterly Newsletter - Winter, 2008
  8. Protect your home computer by using firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software and keep them up-to-date. Do not click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know.
  9. Routinely monitor your financial accounts and billing statements.  If your regular bills fail to reach you, call the company to find out why.  Be alert to signs that require immediate attention.  Enroll in electronic bills and statements when possible.  Sign up for Liberty Bank's Online Banking which provides you with the flexibility to monitor the activity of your bank accounts on a regular basis.  Additional Online Banking features include:
    1. Bill Pay which is convenient and safe by giving you the flexibility of eBills.
    2. eStatements which helps to protect yourself from mail fraud and identity theft by choosing to view your statements online, rather than having your sensitive financial information sent through the mail. 
  10. Periodically check your credit report. Credit reports contain information about you, including what debts you have and your bill paying history. The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.
     

If you suspect your identity has been compromised or if you need assistance handling an identity theft related concern, call Liberty Bank at 877.305.7070 or contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.

 


Source:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/about-identity-theft.html