identity theft
What is Identity Theft?
Helpful Tips to Protect Yourself
Check Your Credit Report
About Phishing
Credit Bureau Contacts
Federal Trade Commission
Identity theft occurs when someone acquires your personal information and
uses it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. It is a serious crime
and cases are growing. An all-too-common example is when an identity thief uses
your personal information to open a credit card account in your name.
No matter how cautious you are, there is no way to completely prevent
identity theft from occurring. But there are ways you can help minimize your
risk. This page contains valuable information on how you can protect yourself by
managing your personal information wisely, the warning signs of identity theft,
and what to do if you do become a victim.
- Don;t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or
over the Internet unless you;ve initiated the contact or are sure you know
whom you;re dealing with.
- Don;t carry your Social Security card with you; leave it in a secure
place. Carry only the identification and credit and debit cards that you
need.
- Don;t put your address, phone number, or driver’s license number on
credit card sales receipts.
- Social Security numbers or phone numbers should not be put on your
checks.
- Shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance
forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge
cards that you;re discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail.
- Secure your credit card, bank, and phone accounts with passwords. Avoid
using easily available information like birth date, the last four digits of
your SSN, or your phone number. When opening new accounts, you may find that
many businesses still have a line on their applications for your mother;s
maiden name. Use a password instead.
- Secure personal information in your home, particularly if you have
roommates or hire outside help.
- Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If you;re planning to be away
from home and can;t pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at
1-800-275-8777 to request a vacation hold.
- Ask about information security procedures in your workplace. Find out
who has access to your personal information and verify that records are kept
in a secure location. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records as
well.
- Before revealing any personally identifying information (for example, on
an application), find out how it will be used and secured, and whether it
will be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice about the use of your
information. Can you choose to have it kept confidential?
Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major
credit-reporting agencies every year. Make sure it is accurate and includes only
those activities you have authorized. By checking your report on a regular basis
you can catch mistakes and fraud before they wreak havoc on your personal
finances. Don;t underestimate the importance of this step.
Click here to check your credit with one of the agencies.
Phishing is a form of identity theft and usually comes in the form of
fraudulent emails that appear to come from legitimate sources. These ask
customers to verify personal information or link to counterfeit Web sites that
appear real. Watch for emails that:
- Urge you to act quickly because your account may be suspended or closed,
or to update your personal information
- Don;t address you by name, but use a more generic one like "Dear valued
customer"
- Ask for account numbers, passwords, Access IDs, or other personal
information
Inland Bank and Trust will NEVER ask for sensitive information, such as
account numbers, Access IDs or passwords, via e-mail.
The American Bankers Association offers the following tips for protecting
yourself against phishing:
- Don’t give your Social Security number or other personal credit
information about yourself to anyone who calls you
- Tear up receipts, bank statements and unused credit card offers before
throwing them away
- Keep an eye out for any missing mail
- Don’t mail bills from your own mailbox with the flag up
- Review your monthly accounts regularly for any unauthorized charges
- Order copies of your credit report once a year to ensure accuracy
- Do business with companies you know are reputable, particularly online
- Don’t open email from unknown sources and use virus detection software
- Protect your PINs (don't carry them in your wallet!) and passwords; use
a combination of letters and numbers for your passwords and change them
periodically
- Report any suspected fraud to your bank and the fraud units of the three
credit reporting agencies immediately
If you become a victim, contact:
- The fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus (contacts below)
- The creditors of any accounts that have been misused
- Your local police to file a report
- Inland Bank and Trust and any other banks with whom you have accounts,
to cancel existing accounts held in your name and re-open new accounts with
new passwords Inland Bank and Trust is committed to safeguarding our
customers’ financial information. Maintaining our customers’ trust and
confidence is a top priority. To learn more about how we protect your
information, please view our Privacy Policy by clicking on the link at the
bottom of our website.
Credit Bureau Contacts:
Equifax - www.equifax.com
To order your report, call: 1-800-685-1111
To report fraud, call: 1-800-525-6285
Experian - www.experian.com
To order your credit report or report fraud, call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
(800) 301-7195
TransUnion - www.transunion.com
To order your report, call: 800-916-8800
To report fraud, call: 1-800-680-7289
Federal Trade Commission
For comprehensive information on general consumer interests, policies, issues
and consumer protection, visit the website of the Federal Trade Commission at
www.ftc.gov.
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