Identity Theft

With the growth of technology, protecting your personal information has never been more important.

Fraudsters use a variety of techniques to acquire a victim’s card number. Some of  the ways include using high-tech devices known as skimmers to swipe the card so as to collect the pertinent information from the magnetic strip or by using low-tech methods such as copying or obtaining discarded receipts. To protect yourself, consider a few common sense tips:

  • Shred all mail that has your personal information, especially credit card offers.
  • Never store debit/credit card PINs with the card. Commit them to memory.
  • Shred all receipts.
  • Check your bank and credit card statements regularly for any unauthorized purchases.
  • Never share your online account passwords.
  • Change your passwords often and use complex passwords, with a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols.

If you have been a victim of Identity Theft, take the following steps immediately:

  1. Call the Fraud Departments of the three major credit bureaus.
    Experian (TRW): 1-888-397-3742
    TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
    Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
  2. Contact the card issuer.
    -Report the fraud immediately by phone and in writing.
    -Close all of the affected accounts.
    -Complete an affidavit indicating fraud has occurred.
    -Keep detailed logs of all contacts you have made.
  3. Notify your local police department and obtain copies of all police reports.

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