Consumer Alert

Identity Theft

What you need to know to Prevent Identity Theft...

• Don't give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, by e-mail, or over the internet unless you have initiated the contact or know who you're dealing with. Identity thieves may pose as representatives of financial institutions, internet service providers, and even government agencies to get you to reveal your Social Security Number, financial account numbers, and other identifying information.

• Guard your mail from theft. Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after it has been delivered. And, if you're planning to be away from home and can't pick up your mail, contact the U.S. Postal Service to request a vacation hold. They will hold your mail at your local post office until you can pick it up.

• Use care when disposing of items containing personal information. Tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and statements that you are discarding, expired charge cards, and credit offers you get in the mail.

• Keep items with personal information in a safe place. Be cautious about where you leave personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, invite guests into your home, employ outside help, or have service work done.

• Put passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Don't use information like your child's name, your birth date, your Social Security Number or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

• Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry to what you'll actually need. identity theft protection

• Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing bill could mean identity thieves have taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address to cover their tracks.

• Before you reveal any personal information, find out how it will be used 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?

• Find out who has access to your personal information at work and verify that the records are kept in a secure location.

• Give your Social Security Number only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible. And, don't carry your Social Security card; leave it in a secure place.

• Never click on links sent in unsolicited e-mails; instead, type in a web address you know. Keep your anti-virus software up to date to protect your home computer. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.

• Routinely monitor your financial accounts and billing statements to detect suspicious activity.

• Watch for signs that require immediate attention such as:

  – Bills that don't arrive as expected
  – Unexpected credit cards or account statements
  – Denials of credit for no apparent reason
  – Calls or letters about purchases you did not make

• Inspect your credit report annually to make sure it is accurate and includes only those activities you've authorized.

If you believe identity theft has ALREADY OCCURRED ...

It's frightening to lose your wallet or discover that someone has used your information for a fraudulent purpose. Sometimes an identity thief can strike even if you've been very careful about keeping your personal information to yourself. However, if you find that identity theft has already happened – don't panic. Help is available.

The Federal Trade Commission Recommends the Following Steps:

First, place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports, and review the reports carefully. (The alert tells creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or changing existing accounts.) The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert; a call to one company is sufficient:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

When you place a fraud alert you can also order your free copies of your credit report. Look on your report for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain.

Second, close the accounts by calling the security or fraud departments of each company where you know or believe an account has been fraudulently accessed or opened, and open new ones with new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. (Accounts may include those from credit card companies, phone and utility companies, banks, and other financial institutions.)

• Be sure to follow up in writing with copies of supporting documents.

• Use the ID Theft Affidavit at ftc.gov/idtheft to support your written statement.

• Ask for verification that the account has been closed and the fraudulent debts discharged.

Third, file a report with your local police – or the police where the identity theft took place. Make sure to get and keep a copy of the report in case your creditors need proof of the crime.

Fourth, report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission online: ftc.gov/idtheft or by phone: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) or TTY, 1-866-653-4261. This is to help law enforcement officials across the nation with their investigations.

Fifth, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.

Sixth, be sure to keep a log of all the contacts you make regarding this matter. Include the name, title, and phone number in case you need to re-contact them or refer to them in future correspondence.

For more information, contact a United Republic Bank customer service representative, or log on to www.ftc.gov/idtheft . To order your report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call (877) 322-8228.