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?
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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