Identity Theft and Online Fraud Protection
What is Identity Theft?
Identity Theft is when your personal information
is stolen and used to make unauthorized financial transactions often
on checking, savings and credit card accounts. This information may
be as simple as name, address and date of birth or as detailed as
social security number or Mother’s maiden name.
Ways To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
- Never write or give your ATM/Debit card Personal
Identification Number (PIN) to anyone.
- Never give out personal information such as your checking
or savings account number, credit card number or social security
number, through the mail, telephone or Internet, unless you have
initiated the contact and you are certain that the company is reputable.
- Report – to the bank – any lost or stolen
ATM/Debit Card or lost or stolen personal checks.
- Balance your checking or savings account statement every
month and report unauthorized transactions to the bank immediately.
- Shred your charge receipts, credit card applications,
insurance forms, old checks, and bank statements, anything that
contains any of your personal identification.
- Give our your Social Security Number only when you have
confirmed the authenticity of the requestor.
What are email scams such as “Phishing”?
“Phishing”
is the use of fraudulent
emails and websites designed to fool recipients into divulging personal
financial information such as credit card numbers, account usernames
and passwords and social security numbers. By posing as trusted
brands of well-known banks, online retailers and credit card companies, “phishers” are
able to convince recipients to respond to them.
How to avoid “Phishing” Scams
- Be suspicious of any email with urgent requests for personal
financial information. Always confirm such requests with your financial
institution. “Phishers” often use upsetting or exciting
(but false) statements in their emails to get people to react immediately.
They typically ask for usernames, passwords, credit card and social
security numbers. These emails often include incorrect grammar and
misspelled words.
- It’s important that you look beyond the logos and
do not give out any requested personal or confidential information.
To make fraudulent emails or Websites appear legitimate scammers
frequently include actual logos and images of legitimate companies,
as well as convey a sense of urgency that you provide the requested
information.
- Don’t use links provided in an email to get to any
web page if you suspect the message might not be authentic. Call
the company or log onto the website directly by typing in the web
address in your browser.
- Avoid filling out forms in email messages that ask for
personal financial information if the website is not secure. To
ensure you are on a secure web server, check the beginning of the
web address in your browser’s address bar. It should read “https://”
rather than “http:// “. Also, look
for the mini padlock icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the
web page.
- Regularly log on to your online accounts and verify each
transaction is legitimate.
- Ensure that your browser is up to date and security patches are
applied.
Omni National Bank’s Commitment to You
At Omni National Bank we’re committed to keeping your account
safe from unauthorized access. Omni National Bank will never send
emails asking our customers to provide, update, or verify their
personal or account information, or any other confidential information.
If You’re a Victim of Identity Theft or “Phishing”
Even if you’ve been extremely careful, Identity Theft may
strike. If you suspect that your identity has been misused to commit
fraud, take immediate action.
Contact the fraud departments of each of the credit agencies: