Beware Fake Check Scams!
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT?
Here are some necessary steps to take to prevent becoming a victim of identity theft:
- Carefully review credit card statements and utility bills for unauthorized use, soon after receiving them.
- Consider picking up new checks at a financial institution's office instead of having them mailed home.
- When filling out a loan or credit application, be sure that the business either shreds these applications or stores them in locked files.
- If you do not receive a credit card statement on time (or do not receive a new or renewed credit card when expected), you should call the creditor to see if a change of address request has been filed in your name, or if additional or replacement credit cards have been requested on your account. If either has happened to you, inform the creditor that you did not make the request, and instruct the creditor not to honor it.
- Avoid carrying a Social Security card, birth certificate, passport or more than one or two credit cards.
- Always take credit card, debit card and ATM receipts with you. Never throw them in a public trash container. Tear them up or shred them at home when you no longer need them.
- Do not leave bill payment envelopes at your mailbox for the postal carrier to pick up.
- Install a lock on your mailbox if you live in an area where mail theft has occurred.
- Tear up or shred unused preapproved credit card solicitations and convenience checks.
- Call your credit card company to request they stop sending convenience checks. You can always ask them for a balance transfer option should you want one in the future.
- Order a free credit report each year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies, and reviewing them for accuracy and indications of fraud. Stagger them throughout the year for a better picture of your credit history.
- Guard against overuse of your Social Security number. Release it only when necessary. If a business requests your Social Security number, ask to use an alternate number.
- If a government agency asks for your Social Security number, a Privacy Act notice should accompany the request. This notice will explain whether your Social Security number is required or merely requested; the use that will be made of your Social Security number; and what will happen if you refuse to provide it.
- Call the post office to see if a change of address request has been filed in your name. If this has happened, immediately notify the Postal Inspector.
- Check your Social Security Earnings and Benefits statement once each year to make sure that someone else is not using your Social Security number for employment.
- When creating passwords and PINs, do not use any part of your Social Security Number, birth date, middle name, wife's name, child's name, pet's name, mother's maiden name, address, consecutive numbers, or anything that a thief could easily deduce or discover. Memorize all your passwords and PINs; never write them in your wallet, purse or Rolodex.
- Shield the keypad when punching in your PIN at an ATM or when placing a calling card call.
October 26, 2009 E-mail Claiming to Be From the FDIC The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous reports of a fraudulent e-mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. The subject line of the e-mail states: “check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage.” The e-mail tells recipients that, "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets.” Full story Sept. 10, 2009 ALERT New Buffalo Savings Bank has recently received reports of SMiShing attacks (also known as text phishing), which have impacted cardholders of financial institutions located primarily in the eastern region of the U.S.
As you may know, SmiShing is a type of social engineering that uses cell phone text messages to persuade victims to provide personal information such as card number, the security numbers on the back of your card, and PINs. The text message may contain either a website address or more commonly, a phone number that connects to an automated voice response system, which then asks for personal information. The following are examples of SMiShing messages recently sent to cardholders:
• Text message originating from either notice@jpecu or message@cccu:
• Text message originating from sms.alert@visa.com:
Although we may ask for personal information to confirm identification such as your name, date of birth, and/or last four digits of a social security number, WE WILL NEVER ASK for the security numbers on the back of your card or your PIN.
If you are a New Buffalo Savings Bank cardholder and you believe you have been solicited by one of these fraudulent schemes, please call to report it to us. 269-469-2222.
If you are a cardholder of another institution, and believe you have been solicited by one of these fraudulent schemes, please contact your financial institution to report it. |
Click here for a sample of an email designed to
"phish" personal account information from you.
(The name of the bank has been changed.)
LEARN ABOUT THE LATEST CHECK SCAMS
Federal Trade Commission Facts for Consumers
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre40.shtm
IF YOUR IDENTITY HAS BEEN STOLEN:
In the event your identity has been stolen, here are some steps you can take, appropriate to your specific situation:
- Inform the credit reporting agencies of the theft of credit cards, account numbers or identifying information.
- Request that a fraud alert be placed in your file.
- Request that a victim's statement be added to your credit report -- for example: "My identification has been used to apply for credit fraudulently. Call me at ________ to verify any application for credit."
- Request a copy of your credit report from each credit reporting agency. Check each credit report carefully. Look for accounts that you have not applied for or opened; charges you have not incurred; inquiries you have not initiated; defaults and delinquencies you have not caused. Check identifying information carefully - especially name, address and Social Security number.
- Request that the credit reporting agencies remove all information that appears in your credit report as a result of the theft of your personal identification and credit information.
RESOURCES
Federal Trade Commission "ID Fraud" www.ftc.gov/IDTheft.
Privacy Rights Clearing House http://www.privacyrights.org/
Order your FREE Annual Credit Report https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
Equifax:http://www.equifax.com/ To report fraud, call (800) 525-6285 or write to P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374-0250.
Experian: http://www.experian.com/ To report fraud, call (888) EXPERIAN or (888) 397-3742, fax to (800) 301-7196, or write to P.O. Box 1017, Allen, TX 75013.
Trans Union: http://www.transunion.com/index.jsp To report fraud, call (800) 680-7289 or write to P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634
Providing banking services to New Buffalo, Three Oaks, Sawyer, New Troy, Michiana, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, Grand Beach, Bridgman, Harbor Country Michigan, and NW Indiana.