Identity theft is one of the most devastating scams a consumer can fall victim to and is the fastest-growing crime in the U.S. It is estimated that 900,000 people – or one every minute – will be the victim of identity theft this year. The losses are in the billions annually.

Identity Theft is the theft or misuse of any type of identity information such as name, telephone number, Social Security Number, date of birth, credit card number, bank account number, etc.

Account Hijacking occurs when a criminal obtains your personal banking information and uses it to take over your bank accounts. It can take weeks or months to discover.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

• Never share personal information with someone you don’t know or for unnecessary reasons.
• Never place outgoing mail in your curbside mailbox. Use a Postal Service collection box instead.
• Don’t have your Social Security number or driver’s license number printed on your checks.
• Shred any sensitive documents with personal information.
• Check your bank statements regularly and contact your banker if something seems irregular.
• Check your credit report at least annually. You are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit bureaus.(www.annualcreditreport.com)
• Have a firewall program running anytime you a reconnected to the Internet and keep it up to date by using patches with your software company.
• Use passwords that are a combination of letters and numbers to make it difficult for an Internet hacker to figure out.
• Unexpected e-mails or e-mails that you do not know the sender and are suspicious should be deleted.
• Remember that your bank will never e-mail you and ask you to go to another site to “verify information”. This is called “Phishing” and it deceives customers into providing personal information with deceptive e-mails.
• Be aware of spyware on your computer that can be loaded when a user opens an e-mail attachment or clicks on a pop-up advertisement. The spyware collects selected information and forwards to the fraudster.

What to do if you have been the victim of Identity Theft or Account Hijacking.

• Report the identity theft to the police or sheriff in the area where you live. Once you have filed a report, ask for a report number. You will need this to help correct your credit rating.
• Report the identity theft to your financial institution and other creditors. Close any accounts that have been tampered with.
• Contact all three credit bureaus and have a “Fraud Alert” placed in your file.
• Notify the Social Security Administration regarding fraud with your Social Security Number.

We are taking substantive measures to protect the safety and security of your accounts. By acting today to strengthen security at your end of the Internet highway, hijackers will have an even tougher time. If you want more information stop by the bank today to learn more.