Union National Bank promotes identity theft prevention education for
customers and non-customers. The bank provides an annual shredding
service to the community along with informational materials from the
Federal Trade Commission. For more information regarding our annual
shredding service, please contact Union National Bank at 608-269-6737.
Identity theft occurs when your personal identifying
information (name, social security number, or credit card number, etc.)
is used by someone without your permission, to commit fraud or other
crimes.
Identity theft is serious. Although some identity theft
victims can put an end to their problems promptly, others spend a lot of
time and money repairing damage to their good name and credit record.
In some cases, consumers victimized by identity theft may lose out on
job opportunities, or be denied loans because of negative information on
their credit reports. In exceptional cases, they may even be arrested
for crimes they did not commit.
You can minimize your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft and
the potential damage by making it more difficult for identity thieves
to access your personal information.
- Protect your Social Security number
- Treat your trash and mail carefully
- Be cautious when using the Internet
- Select intricate passwords
- Verify a source before sharing information
- Safeguard your purse and wallet
- Store information in secure locations
Stay alert for the signs of identity theft, which include the following:
- Accounts you didn't open and debts on your accounts that you can't explain
- Fraudulent or inaccurate information on your credit reports
- Mail or bills that do not arrive as expected. A missing
bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and
changed your billing address to cover his tracks
- Receiving unexpected credit cards that you didn't apply for
- Being denied credit or being offered less favorable credit terms for no apparent reason
- Receiving calls or letters regarding merchandise or services you didn't buy
Early detection of a potential identity theft can make a big
difference. Keep an eye out for any suspicious activity by regularly
monitoring your financial statements and your credit report.
If you are a victim of identity theft, the following four
steps should be taken as soon as possible. A record should be kept with
the details of your conversations and copies of all correspondence.
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review the reports carefully
- Close any accounts that you believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
- File a police report.
Please visit these Identity Theft resources for more information.
Annual Credit Report
Federal Trade Commission – Identity Theft Site
Internet Crime Complaint Center
