Each year,
millions of Americans have their identity stolen. Ossian State Bank wants you
to have the information you need to protect yourself against identity theft.
While there are no guarantees about avoiding identity theft, it’s important for
you to know:
We will never initiate a telephone call or letter to request sensitive
information from you (such as, social security number, personal login ID,
password, PIN or account number) nor ask you to verify account information via
email.
We strongly
suggest that you do not share your personal login ID, password, PIN or account
number with anyone, under any circumstance.
If you receive an
email that requests this type of action, you should be suspicious of it and
contact us immediately at (260) 622-4141. We also suggest you report suspicious emails or calls to
the Federal Trade Commission by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT or through the Internet
at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
What is
Identity Theft?
Identity theft involves the unlawful acquisition and use of someone's
identifying information, such as:
- Name
- Address
- Date of Birth
- Social
Security Number
- Mother’s
Maiden Name
- Drivers
License
- Bank or Credit
Card Account Number
Thieves then use
the information to repeatedly commit fraud in an attempt to duplicate your
identity which may include opening new accounts, purchasing automobiles,
applying for loans, credit cards, and social security benefits, renting
apartments and establishing services with utility and telephone companies. It
can have a negative effect on your credit and create a serious financial hassle
for you.
How do
they get my personal information?
There are a variety of ways thieves gather your personal information, such
as:
Lost or stolen personal items: They may obtain your personal information by
finding or stealing your checkbooks, credit cards, driver’s license or Social
Security cards.
Mail:
They may steal your mail, including bank and credit card statements,
credit card offers, new checks, and tax information. They may also complete a
"change of address form" to divert your mail to another location.
Onlookers: They will watch and/or
listen to you conduct personal business such as entering your PIN when you use
your ATM or debit card or when you are talking on the telephone.
Dumpster diving: They may rummage
through your trash, the trash of businesses, or public trash dumps in a
practice known as “dumpster diving.”
Internet: They use the Internet
to look for personal pages that contain information like genealogical data with
your mother's maiden name that can be used to set up a credit card account or
possibly access existing accounts.
Phishing: They may obtain
personal information from you through the use of "pop-ups" or emails.
These emails have Internet links to deceive you into disclosing sensitive
information such as bank account numbers and social security numbers.
Oftentimes the email appears as if it comes from a trusted source, such as your
bank or financial institution. It directs you to a "spoof" website
that encourages you to divulge sensitive information.
Pretexting: They may obtain your
personal information on the phone by posing as a legitimate company and
claiming that you have a problem with your account.
Skimming: They may steal your
credit or debit card numbers by capturing the information in a data storage
device in a practice known as "skimming". They may swipe your card
for an actual purchase, or attach the device to an ATM machine where you may
enter or swipe your card.
Inside Jobs: They get information
from businesses or other institutions by stealing records or information while
they're on the job, bribing an employee who has access to these records,
hacking these records or conning information out of employees.
Has someone
stolen your personal information?
If you fear that someone has stolen your personal information,
here are some indications that identity theft may have occurred:
·
Failing
to receive bills or other mail on time.
·
Receiving
credit cards for which you did not apply.
·
Denial
of credit for no apparent reason.
- Receiving
calls from debt collectors or companies about products or services you
didn’t buy.
How do I
protect my identity?
To protect your
identity, do the following:
·
Report
lost or stolen checks or credit cards immediately.
- Sign the back
side of all credit or debit cards as soon as you receive them in the mail
– before someone else does or write with a black marker on the back:
Always Check ID.
- Close all
credit card accounts that you are not using. Identity thieves are looking
for dormant accounts.
- Shred all
documents containing personal information, like bank statements, unused
checks, deposit slips, credit card statements, pay stubs, medical
billings, and invoices.
·
Don't
put your trash out until shortly before it will be picked up.
- Pay bills
online or mail bill payments and other items that contain personal
information at a U.S. Postal Service drop box rather than in your curb
side mailbox. Don't put any mail in your curb side mailbox until shortly
before it will be picked up daily.
- Take your mail
out of your curb side mailbox as soon as possible after it has been
delivered. If you are traveling, have the U.S. Postal Service hold your
mail or have someone you trust pick it up daily.
- Limit the
information on your checks (for example, don't include driver's license
number, social security number, or telephone number), and don't carry
around any more credit or debit cards than you will be using.
- Do not give
out your Social Security Number without checking if the company definitely
needs that information.
- Ask about
information security practices at your workplace, businesses, doctor’s
offices and find out who has access to your information, if it is shared
with anyone else, and disposal procedures.
- Don't give any
of your personal information in person, over the telephone, or over the
Internet to anyone – unless you instigated the call or the communication
and have a very good reason to trust them. If someone contacts you for
personal or account information, call the company back with a number found
in the phone book or on an invoice to make sure that you are talking to
the correct person. You can not trust caller ID because identity thieves
can spoof telephone numbers. Do not allow yourself to be pressured into
giving out personal or credit card information because you are told if you
do not respond at that time the offer will expire (this is usually a scam).
- Don't give any
of your personal information to any web sites that do not use encryption
or other secure methods to protect it. A secure website will have either a
lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a website that begins
“https:” (the “s” stands for secure). Unfortunately, no indicator is
foolproof; some fraudulent sites have forged security icons. Look for
website privacy policies and read them before giving out personal
identifying information.
- Do not follow
links in email or cut and paste a link from email to get to a website,
type in the URL that you know is correct.
- Do not open
files sent to you by strangers, click on hyperlinks, or download programs
from people or companies you don’t know. Be cautious about using
file-sharing programs. Opening a file could expose your PC to a computer
virus or spyware, which could capture your passwords or any other
information as you type it.
- Never email
personal identifying information.
- Use a firewall
if you have a high-speed Internet connection. This software can be
purchased on-line or from most software retailers.
- Update the virus protection
software and install patches on your PC regularly. Setting your PC for
automatic updates is preferable.
- Before
disposing of a computer, delete all personal information stored and use a
“wipe” utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive.
- Do not store
personal or financial information on a laptop unless absolutely necessary.
- Don't use PINs
or other passwords that are easy to guess (for example, don't use birth
dates or spouse, child, pet or mothers’ maiden names). A strong password should
be at least eight characters long using at least one of each: upper and
lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Never use words that
are in the dictionary as part of your password. Regularly change your
passwords. Also, create a username that is unique and difficult for others
to guess. Do not use the same user ID and password for more that one
account. Never share your password with anyone.
- Do not use an
automatic log-in feature on your computer.
- Examine your
credit card and financial institution statement immediately upon receipt
to determine any unauthorized transactions. Report any that you find
immediately to the financial institution.
- Make a prompt
inquiry if bills or statements are not received in a timely fashion-this
could mean that they are being diverted by an identity thief.
- Check your credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the three
national credit reporting companies to provide consumers with a free copy
of their credit report once every 12 months. It would be a good practice
to order your credit report from one credit reporting company every four
months instead of all three once a year. To order your free annual report
from one or all of the national credit bureaus, visit www.annualcreditreport.com,
call toll free at 1-877-322-8228 or visit ftc.gov/credit to print and complete the
Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report
Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348. Do not contact the three nationwide credit bureaus directly; they
provide free annual credit reports only through the Annual Credit Report
Request Service.
- Opt out of
receiving offers of credit in the mail that are based on your credit
report, call: 1-888-5OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688).The nationwide consumer
reporting companies use the same toll-free number to let you opt out of
receiving credit offers based on their lists. Note: You will be asked to provide your SSN which the consumer
reporting companies need to match you with your file.
- Add your name
to the National and Indiana Do Not Call Lists.
What do I
do if I suspect I'm a victim of fraud or my identity has been stolen?
If you suspect that your personal information has been compromised,
follow these important steps:
- Immediately
notify us and your other financial institution(s). You'll need to get new
account numbers and select a new PIN. If you are in fact a victim of
identity theft, we will offer assistance to help remedy the situation.
- Close any
other accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or
opened fraudulently. Call and speak to someone in the security or fraud
department. Follow up in writing sent by certified mail, return receipt
requested.
- Report any
suspicious activity immediately. Scrutinize the charges on your financial
statements carefully to ensure that they are legitimate. If there is a
questionable transaction or a fraudulent transaction, report it right away.
- Call the three
major credit bureaus to request that a fraud alert be placed on your
credit report.
- Contact your
local police department. Financial fraud is a crime. File a “Miscellaneous
Incidents” report and get a copy of it. It will help you deal with
creditors who need proof of the crime.
- Call the
Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft hotline at (877) IDTHEFT to report it.
The FTC maintains a program to assist victims of identity theft. The
Center logs complaints and provides assistance and information to
victimized consumers to rectify damage to their credit and personal
reputation.
- Notify the U.S. Postal Inspectors Office. Victims of fraud
should contact their local post office to report any crime involving
stolen mail or use of the mail in furtherance of a fraud scheme. It is a
felony.
- Contact the
Social Security Administration at (800) 269-0271. The
Social Security Hotline allows a victim of identity theft to report misuse
of a Social Security number. You may also visit your local Social Security
Office to obtain further information.
- Contact the
Department of Motor Vehicles. If your driver's license is stolen, report
the theft immediately to your local Department of Motor Vehicles. Ensure
that a duplicate license was not recently issued in your name to an
imposter.
- If you have a
passport, notify the passport office in writing to be on the lookout for
anyone ordering a new passport fraudulently.
- Keep detailed
notes of your repair efforts. Keep a log of all contacts and copies of all
documents, and follow up all your contact calls in writing.
- Do not pay any
bill or any portion of a bill, which is a result of identity theft. Do not
cover any checks, which were written and/or cashed fraudulently. Do not
file for bankruptcy. Your credit rating should not be permanently
affected, and no legal actions should be taken against you.
Additional
Helpful Information
Check these
resources for more information on identity theft and what to do if you're a
victim:
·
The
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – www.consumer.gov/idtheft
·
The
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) – www.fdic.gov.consumers
·
United
States Department of Justice – www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/text/idtheft.html
·
U.S
Secret Service – www.secretservice.gov
·
U.S. Postal Inspection Service – www.usps.com/postalinspectors
·
ABA Education Foundation – www.aba.com/default.htm
|
Equifax
P
O Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30349-5069
www.equifax.com
To order a report: (800) 685-1111
To report fraud: (800) 525-6285
Opt out of credit and marketing lists: (888) 567-8688
|
Experian
P
O Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013-0949
www.experian.com
To order a report: (888) 397-3742
To report fraud: (888) 397-3742
Opt
out of credit and marketing lists: (888) 397-3742
|
Trans Union
P
O Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
www.transunion.com
To order a report: (800) 916-8800
To report fraud: (800) 680-7289
Opt out of credit and marketing lists: (888) 567-8688
|
