The best detector of fraud and identity theft is you. Through proactive monitoring of your financial accounts, you can detect unusual activities and act quickly to minimize any losses. We recommend frequently reviewing your account activity online.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REVIEW ACCOUNT ACTIVITY
HERE ARE SOME BENEFITS TO CONSIDER:
- Over 50% of all identity fraud is first discovered by the victim.
- The sooner fraud is detected, the lower the financial impact.
- Customers who access their accounts online detect fraud and identity crime earlier than those who rely on mailed statements.
- Customers who set up email alerts receive timely notification about important activity in their accounts, which can help identify fraud quickly.
- Customers who choose to receive electronic statements instead of mailed statements reduce their risk of mail fraud.
RECOGNIZE FRAUD AND IDENTIFY THEFT
Fraud is an act that occurs when someone uses your account to make unauthorized purchases, usually when the account number of the card has been stolen.
THE FOLLOWING MAY BE SIGNS OF FRAUD:
- You do not receive an expected bill or statement by mail
- Unexpected charge(s) occur on your account
- There are charges on your account from unrecognized vendors
- Posted checks appear on your account significantly out of sequence
Identify theft occurs when a thief steals information such as your name, birth date or Social Security number to open credit cards, mortgages and other accounts without your knowledge.
THE FOLLOWING MAY BE SIGNS OF IDENTITY THEFT:
- You find new accounts on your credit report that are not yours
- You receive credit cards for which you did not apply
- You are denied credit or are offered less than favorable credit terms for no reason
- You get calls from creditors or debt collectors regarding merchandise or services that you did not buy
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT ANNUALLY
By monitoring your credit report, you can make sure that no one has opened bank accounts or applied and been approved for loans in your name using stolen information. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months.
HOW TO REQUEST YOUR REPORT:
- Visit: www.annualcreditreport.com, or
- Call 1.877.322.8229.
You can also get an explanation of your rights from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency.