Identity Theft
What is Identity Theft and "Phishing"
Here at Thomaston Savings Bank your privacy is our
priority!
Identity theft
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal
information such as your name, social security number,
credit card number or other identifying information,
without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.
They may obtain this information by: stealing wallets,
stealing bank statements from the mail, rummaging
through trash for personal data.
Ways to help prevent Identity Theft - never give out
personal information, such as account numbers or social
security numbers, over the telephone, through the mail,
or over the Internet, unless you initiated the contact
or know with whom you are dealing. Always destroy
pre-approved credit card offers before you throw them
out.
Guard your mail from theft, do not leave bill payment
envelopes in your mailbox with the flag up. Instead
deposit them in a post office collection box or at the
local post office and promptly remove incoming mail.
Protect your PINS and other passwords avoid using easily
available information, such as your mother's maiden
name, your birth date, the last four digits of your
social security number, or phone number.
Phishing
Phishers send out large numbers of e-mails to random
people and hope to hit customers of the target company.
The e-mails usually look official, and include the
company's logo. They ask the customer to either fill in
a form included in the e-mail or to go to a different
Web site to fill out a form asking for information like
account numbers and Social Security numbers.
Ways to help prevent Phishing - Be suspicious of any
email with urgent requests for personal financial
information. Always confirm such requests with your
financial institution. "Phishers" often use upsetting or
exciting (but false) statements in their emails to get
people to react immediately. They typically ask for
usernames, passwords, credit card and social security
numbers. DO NOT use links in an email to get to any web
page if you suspect the message might not be authentic.
Call the company or log onto the website directly by
typing in the web address in your browser. Avoid filling
out forms in email messages that ask for personal
financial information. Regularly log on to your online
accounts and verify each transaction is legitimate.
If You're a Victim of Identity Theft or "Phishing"
If you suspect that your identity has been misused to
commit fraud take immediate action.
Here's what to do now:
1. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the
three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on
your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to
contact your existing accounts. As soon as the credit
bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit
bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud
alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you
free of charge.
Equifax
To order a report: 1-800-685-1111or write: P.O. Box
740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To report fraud: 1-800-525-6285 and write: P.O. Box
740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian
To order a report: 1-888-Experian (397-3742)
or write: P.O. Box 2104, Allen, TX 75013
To report a fraud: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
and write: P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
To order a report: 800-916-8800
or write: P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022
To report fraud: 1-800-680-7289
and write: Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box
6790,
Fullerton, CA 92634.
2. Call the ID theft clearinghouse toll free at
877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) to report the theft.
3. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been
tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID theft
affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.
4. File a police report. Get a copy of the report to
submit to your creditors and others that may require
proof of the crime. It is important that you keep any
evidence you may have related to your complaint.
Thomaston Savings Bank is committed to protecting your
identity and financial information.
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