Online Security
Identity Theft and Fraud
Identity theft is when fraud is attempted or committed using identifying information of another person without their authority such as name, date of birth, social security number, or mother’s maiden name. Fraud is committed when these criminals:
- Conduct unauthorized transactions on existing accounts.
- Take over an existing account through prolonged use or by emptying an account.
- Establish or attempt to establish new accounts (credit cards, loans, etc.) using acquired information.
- Use your Social Security number to steal your tax refund.
- Protect your personal information. Only give out this information if you know how it will be used or shared and you have initiated the contact.
- Go digital. Pay bills online and sign up for e-statements to reduce the risk that checks and statements containing personal information may be stolen out of your mailbox.
- 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.
- Check your credit report.
- Do not keep unnecessary information you do not need in your purse or wallet.
Fraud Awareness
Protect Yourself & Your Personal Information
We have received reports from customers that Spoofing Call Fraud and Tech Support Scams are active in our area.Spoofing Call
This type of fraudulent activity occurs when a call comes through with the caller identification listing Lake Elmo Bank or another reputable business. The fraudster’s intent is to gain your trust by using a local business on caller ID and then they work to obtain your personal information such as your social security number, login credentials or credit/debit card numbers/information.
Tech Support
In this scam, a caller tries to convince you to pay for tech support by scaring you into believing your computer has a virus or other serious problems. They ask you to send money via debit/credit card, gift cards or by using a money transfer app. These payments often times cannot be reversed and once authorized, the customer is out the money.
If you receive one of these calls or a text/email – for your protection, please do not engage and do not give them any information. Contact Lake Elmo Bank directly at 651.773.4700 to report the incident. And always remember that at Lake Elmo Bank, we will never call to solicit your personal information. We may ask for personal information as a way of identifying you only when you contact the bank.
COVID-19 Vaccine Scams
- You can't pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine. .
- You can't pay to get early access to the vaccine.
- Nobody legit will call about the vaccine and ask for your Social Security, bank account, or debit/credit card number.
- Don’t wait for your monthly statement to arrive in your mailbox, enroll for online banking. You then are able to view transactions daily online or your mobile device.
- If you receive paper statements it’s a good idea to enroll for e-Statements. These are delivered to your online banking account and not left in your mailbox for someone to steal.
- Set-up email or text alerts through your online banking account. This is a great way to be alerted when a debit transaction is clearing your account.
- Keep paying attention- fraudulent charges to your card or fraudulent debits to your account might occur many months after a data breach.
- Contact the Bank during regular business hours if you suspect you have fraud on your account.
- If after business hours and the fraudulent item is a debit card transactions contact 1.800.264.5578 to have your card closed immediately.
- If you have a credit card through Lake Elmo Bank contact 1.800.558.3424.
- Contact your financial institution immediately and alert them to the situation. Lake Elmo Bank has an ID Theft packet available to help you walk through steps to take.
- File a police report immediately with your local agency.
- Notify the Social Security Administration if this information has been compromised. The Social Security Fraud hotline number is 1.800.269.0271
- File a compliant with the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft division:
- FTC Website: Go to www.identitytheft.gov
- Toll-free number: 1.877.438.4338
- Write to the FTC at: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580
- FTC Website: Go to www.identitytheft.gov
- Contact one of the three major credit bureaus and discuss whether you need to place a fraud alert and/or a credit freeze on your file, which will help prevent thieves from opening a new account in your name.
800.525.6285
P.O. Box 740250
Atlanta, GA 30374
888-397-3742
P.O. Box 1017
Allen, TX 75013
800.680.7289
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634
- 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.
- Visit the FTC Consumer Information website which will provide you with additional information.