How to Prevent Fraud
What is Identity Theft?
An identity thief obtains a piece of your personal information and uses it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. This can include your social security number and bank or credit card account numbers.
How Do I Prevent It?
Identity thieves acquire personal information by outright theft, hacking a computer, making a phone call, stealing mail, or sorting through trash for credit card offers. Here are a few ways to avoid becoming a victim:
- Check your credit report annually. To request your credit report, contact one of the three credit reporting agencies at:
- Equifax — www.equifax.com or 1-800-685-1111
- Experian — www.experian.com or 1-888-397-3742
- Trans Union — www.transunion.com or 1-877-322-8228
These three national credit reporting agencies sponsor www.annualcreditreport.com, where you can request copies of your credit report from all three reporting agencies at one time.
- Review your bills and statements on a regular basis for any unusual activity and report any discrepancies immediately.
- Guard your mail and trash from theft.
- Shred any financial solicitations or other bank statements before disposing of them.
- Report lost or stolen checks or credit/debit cards immediately.
- Notify your bank immediately of suspicious phone inquiries and emails such as those asking to verify personal account information.
- Keep your social security number safe and don't give it out unless you know the person or organization you are dealing with.
What is Phishing and Spoofing?
Phishing is the act of defrauding customers of their personal or account information through online or electronic means. Spoofing is a method of Phishing, when an imitation email or Web site is used to fraudulently acquire information. Often people will receive fraudulent emails directing them to a Web site that appears to be legitimate, but is not. When this happens, customers enter these fraudulent Web sites where they are asked to “confirm” their account number and/or passwords.
How Do I Prevent It?
- Notify your bank immediately of email inquiries such as those asking to verify personal account information. We will never request you verify your account number or password via email.
- Do not send sensitive account or personal information via regular email.
What is Social Engineering/Pretexting?
Social Engineering or Pretexting is the general attempt to influence people to behave a certain way or believe something. In terms of personal information or account fraud, Pretexting is often used to “con” people out of their information whether by phone, email or mail. For example, someone may call a customer under false pretenses, pretending to be from the bank itself, from an affiliate, or some other business. The caller then requests personal information that can include account numbers, social security numbers, the existence of any retirement accounts, etc.
How Do I Prevent It?
- Never give out account or personal information over the phone during an unsolicited call from someone you do not know. If necessary, tell the caller that you will hang up and call the bank or credit card company directly, using a number you already have in your possession.
- Notify your bank or credit card company immediately of suspicious phone inquiries such as those asking to verify personal account information.
