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identity
THEFT
In the course of a busy day, you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax returns, change service providers for your cell phone, or apply for a credit card. Chances are you don't give these everyday transactions a second thought. But an identity thief does.
Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years and thousands of dollars cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of a good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims of identity theft may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing, or cars, and even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit. Humiliation, anger, and frustration are among the feelings victims experience as they navigate the process of rescuing their identity.
fight identity theft
Go digital. By paying bills online, you reduce the risk that checks and statements containing personal information may be stolen by identity thieves. And have your paycheck deposited electronically into your account.
Monitor accounts online and frequently. Use Lake Elmo Bank's and other financial institutions' websites to check for signs of fraud, and report suspicious or unauthorized activity immediately. Consumers with 24/7 access to account activity are most likely to uncover fraud the fastest.
Install and update security software. Make sure you have a firewall, antispyware, antivirus software, and browser security software on your home computer.
Never give personal information to callers. Don't respond to phone messages that prompt you to call another telephone number about your account. Similarly, don't send account information via e-mail messages--they're not secure. Use contact information you already have for the financial institutions with which you do business.
Order your free credit reports. A regular review of your credit file may detect unauthorized accounts or other fraudulent activity. Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to order one free report per year from Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.
Shred it. Get rid of sensitive papers and statements you no longer need that contain personal information.
Finally, change a few daily habits. Mail bills from a locked mailbox; secure sensitive mobile data stored on a laptop, PDA (personal data assistant) or phone; and don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet unless you need it for a specific purpose on that given day. A stolen wallet that contains a Social Security card--as well as your address and other forms of identification--is like handing over your identity to a thief.
Report suspicious e-mails or calls to the Federal Trade Commission through the Internet at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ or by calling 1.877.IDTHEFT
what you can do if you fall victim
Contact your financial institution immediately and alert it to the situation. If you have disclosed sensitive information in a phishing* attack, you should also contact one of the three major credit bureaus and discuss whether you need to place a fraud alert on your file, which will help prevent thieves from opening a new account in your name. Here is the contact information for each bureau's fraud division:
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Equifax
800.525.6285
P.O. Box 740250
Atlanta, GA 30374
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Experian
888.680.7289
P.O. Box 1017
Allen, TX 75013
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TransUnion
800.680.7289
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634
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IRS Warns of New E-Mail and Telephone Scams Using the IRS Name
Advance Payment Scams Starting
The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers to beware of several current e-mail and telephone scams that use the IRS name as a lure. The IRS expects such scams to continue through the end of tax return filing season and beyond. This includes the government rebate starting in May. For more information click here!
avoiding cashier's check fraud
For more information on how to avoid becoming a victim of fraudulent cashier's checks click on the following link: www.occ.gov/ftp/ADVISORY/2007-1.html
lottery scams
Dont fall victim to the lastest Lottery scams. For more information on Lottery Scams click on the following link: www.fraudaid.com/ScamSpam/Lottery/lottery_scam_alerts.htm
phishing
There's a new type of Internet piracy called "phishing." It's pronounced "fishing," and that's exactly what these thieves are doing: "fishing" for your personal financial information.
Here's how phishing works.
In a typical case, you'll receive an e-mail that appears to come from a reputable company that you recognize and do business with, such as your financial institution. In some cases, the e-mail may appear to come from a government agency, including one of the federal financial institution regulatory agencies.
The e-mail will probably warn you of a serious problem that requires your immediate attention. It may use phrases, such as "Immediate attention required," or "Please contact us immediately about your account." The e-mail will then encourage you to click on a button to go to the institution's Web site.
In a phishing scam, you could be redirected to a phony Web site that may look exactly like the real thing. Sometimes, in fact, it may be the company's actual Web site. In those cases, a pop-up window will quickly appear form the purpose of harvesting your financial information.
In either case, you may be asked to update your account information or to provide information for verification purposes: your Social Security number, your account number, your password, or the information you use to verify your identity when speaking to a real financial institution, such as your mother's maiden name or your place of birth. If you provide the requested information, you may find yourself the victim of identity theft.
For more information on the latest internet scams and how to protect yourself from identity theft click on any of the following links: www.onguardonline.gov/index.html or www.idtheft.gov.
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