Protect Yourself and Your Identity
Become informed about what could happen and how to protect yourself.
What is Identity Theft?
How does Identity Theft occur?
What can happen if your identity is stolen?
What is “Phishing”?
How does “Phishing” occur?
What to do if you are a victim of Identity Theft or Phishing?
How to prevent Identity Theft and Phishing?
Click here to see how Byron Bank Protects you.
You have the Power to Stop Identity Theft
Latest Scams
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft has been on the rise since the 1990’s. It is an extremely serious crime that occurs when an identity thief obtains your personal information from everyday transactions; this could include your name, address, phone numbers, bank or credit card account numbers or even your social security number. The information is then used without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. It can take months or even years (not to mention a large amount of money) to clean up the mess an identity thief can make of your name and credit record.
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There are many methods that a skilled thief can use to get your personal information. They will:
- Get information from businesses or other institutions by:
- Stealing records from their employer
- Bribing an employee who has access to these records
- Hacking into the organization’s computer system
- Rummage through your trash or the trash of a business
- Obtain credit reports through pretending to be a landlord, employer, or someone else who has legal right to the information or through using an employer’s access to credit reports
- Steal credit and debit card numbers as your card is processed by using a special information storage device in a practice known as “skimming”
- Steal wallets and purses containing identification and credit and bank cards
- Complete a change of address form to divert your mail to another location
- Steal personal information from your home
- Scam information from you by posing as a legitimate business person or government official
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Once identity thieves obtain the information, there are many things they may be able to do with it. They could:
- Go on shopping sprees with your credit or debit card, purchasing big ticket items that they can easily resell for cash
- Open a new credit card account, using your information, when the delinquent account is reported it will be on your credit report
- Change the mailing address on your credit card account, then run up the charges on the account with out you realizing there is a problem because the bills are being sent to the new address
- Take out auto loans in your name
- Establish phone or wireless service in your name
- Write counterfeit checks or debit cards and drain your bank account
- Open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account
- File for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they’ve incurred, or to avoid eviction
- Give your name to the police during an arrest
- If they are released and don’t show up for their court date, an arrest warrant could be issued in your name
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Phishing is a new way for internet scammers to lure unsuspecting victims. It is also known as “web spoofing” or “carding”. They use spam or pop-up messages to deceive you into disclosing personal information such as bank account numbers, social security number, passwords, or other sensitive information.
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Phishers will send e-mails or pop-up messages that claim to be from a business or organization that you normally deal with.
- Your internet service provider (ISP)
- Your bank
- Online payment service
- Or a government agency
The message usually says that you need to “update” or “validate” your account information and it will threaten terrible consequence if you don’t respond. The message will direct you to a Web site that looks like a legitimate organization’s site, but it isn’t. The purpose of the phony site is to trick you into inputting your personal information so the phishers can steal your identity.
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- Place a Fraud Alert on your credit reports by contacting one the three Credit Reporting Agencies.
If you call one of these companies, they will give your information to the other two companies, which will save you time.
- Notify your Financial Institutions to close any accounts that have been opened fraudulently or tampered with.
- Report the crime to your local police department or the police department in the community where the Identity Theft took place.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Click below for more information on Identity Theft!
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- Do not open links in emails or respond to pop ups.
If you receive any emails from Byron Bank or any other Financial Institution requesting personal information or any of your account information, please forward it to Byron Bank immediately at customercare@bankatbyron.com. Or call us Toll Free at (800) 747-5004, our Customer Care Specialist are available Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 5:30pm, and Saturdays from 8:30am to 12:00pm.
- Use anti-virus software and keep your computer up to date. Some phishing emails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge. Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files. Anti-virus software scans incoming communications for troublesome files. Look for anti-virus software that recognizes current viruses as well as older ones; that can effectively reverse the damage; and that updates automatically.
- Use a firewall. It helps make you invisible on the Internet and blocks all communications from unauthorized sources. It’s especially important to run a firewall if you have a broadband connection. Finally, your operating system (like Windows or Linux) may offer free software “patches” to close holes in the system that hackers or phishers could exploit.
- Review your credit card and bank account statements as soon as possible to make sure there wasn’t unauthorized activity.
- Do not give out any personal account or credit card information over the phone unless you initiate the call.
- Periodically check your credit report for any inaccuracy.
- Don’t write your pin number on your debit card
- Do not carry your social security card with you; keep it in a safe and secure location.
- Destroy unnecessary financial documents. Shredding is recommended.
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May 7, 2010
Consumer Alert from the Better Business Bureau
The check in the mail could be fraudulent. Fraudulent foreign lottery and sweepstakes companies are once again targeting U.S. citizens. Consumers are receiving checks for thousands of dollars in their mailboxes. Unfortunately, too many find out that the check is a counterfeit. If you receive what looks like an official check in the mail, do not cash it. Contact your bank. And, be sure to check the lottery or sweepstakes company out with the better business bureau. If you are asked to cash a check and send money back to the company, consider this a red flag! Legitimate sweepstakes companies will not ask winners to wire back money.
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February 18, 2010
REMINDER:
Byron Bank will never initiate emails or phone calls requesting customers disclose or “verify” personal information about their accounts – or any accounts you may have with organizations we are affiliated with. If you receive a suspicious email or phone call, please call our Customer Care Team at (800) 747-5004. We’d be happy to help.
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December 16, 2009
Consumer Alert from the Better Business Bureau
Scam “Delivery” Package
Offer Hits West Michigan
The BBB of Western Michigan warns all regional residents that a SCAM OFFER has been mailed to hundreds of consumers. The postcard claims to be a “package” that could not be delivered to you during the Christmas season and claims, “Sorry we missed you!!!”
Scam offer is from:
Express Package Delivery
P.O. Box 131690
Tyler TX 75713-1690
Phone: (888) 4-PAK-DEL
(903) 839-1500
Instructions are to “Call to schedule pickup”. After calling the number, consumers are asked for the twelve-digit pickup number and then told that they have a free vacation package. Consumers are then asked for a credit card number to pay for a, “…nominal delivery fee,” which must be paid in advance.
Consumer complaints allege the company is sending out a card by mail, which claims in red letters, “SORRY WE MISSED YOU”, and also in bold letters, “CALL TO SCHEDULE PICKUP”.
On calling the number, the consumer is:
- asked for 12 digit pickup number on card
- asked for credit card number to pay for a “nominal” delivery fee which must be paid in advance
- consumers state EPD is using deceptive marketing tactics, since there was no attempted delivery
- also calling the EPD number reveals your home phone number to them, even if the number is on the DO NOT CALL list
- EPD has 4 unanswered complaints (3 in Michigan) and an “F” rating already at the BBB. As this offer just arrived in west Michigan, it appears our region was the first targeted.
Ken Vander Meeden, BBB of Western Michigan President, stated:
“I received this offer at my own home and immediately checked it out at www.bbb.org as it looks, acts, and certainly is very deceptive and misleading. As many people expect package deliveries during the holidays, it certainly garners attention immediately. This is a flat out scam to sell vacation certificates and gain access to credit card information. Our alert needs to be publicized in all 38 counties in west Michigan before significant losses are incurred. As law enforcement is difficult for false advertising, we encourage all consumers to file complaints at www.bbb.org. While they have an “F” BBB Business Rating, more research is being done to assist law enforcement in getting involved in this offer.”
As always, Start With Trust by checking every unknown offer or company at the BBB.
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November 16, 2009
Rejected ACH transaction, please review the transaction report
NACHA - The Electronic Payments Association - has issued an advisory to financial institutions about phishing emails designed to appear as if they were sent from NACHA warning users about failed ACH transactions. The e-mail includes a link that, if clicked, redirects the individual to a fake web page that appears to be a NACHA website and contains a link that almost certainly leads to a Jabber/Zeus malware download.
This phishing attempt is not targeted specifically at Digital Insight or at any single financial institution. It is being sent broadly across the Internet.
= = = = = Start of Sample E-mail Content= = = = = =
From: nacha.org
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:25 AM
To: Doe, John
Subject: Rejected ACH transaction, please review the transaction report
Dear bank account holder,
The ACH transaction, recently initiated from your bank account, was rejected by the Electronic Payments Association. Please review the transaction report by clicking the link below:
Unauthorized ACH Transaction Report (this is how the link is presented)
Sanitized link:
hxxp://nacha[DOT]org[DOT]fffazsa[DOT]org[DOT]uk/
ACHNetwork/Unauthorized/report[DOT]php?
transaction_id=3D00149589098593&reference=
3D822741659237684356904818198557124583214180193361899444733=20
= = = = = End of Sample E-mail = = = = = =
NACHA is aware of the phishing attack and has an article on their home page at www.nacha.org. Please also reference the Digital Insight Client Site Security Page for more information about malware and security precautions: https://www.diclientsite.com/security/index.html
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November 9, 2009
2010 Census Warning
2010 Census Cautions from the Better Business Bureau
Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers - by Susan Johnson
With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.
The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census
worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice: If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home. Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. > Census.
While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Anyone asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.
Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org
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