First National Bank of Hutchinson - Personal Checking and Savings Accounts

When your name and credit history are on the line

Introduction | Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft | Sources for Assistance | If You Become a Victim
Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998

Introduction

The FBI says identity theft is the fastest growing white-collar crime in the nation. It involves criminally using another individual's personal identifiers, which are acquired through various means, including your own mail box. Identity thieves need only obtain your name, address, and bank or credit card account numbers, or your social security number, etc., to take over your identity. The crooks can then change your address, open new accounts at banks and credit card companies in your name, and deplete your funds, running up huge credit card balances and generally creating havoc with your good name and credit rating.

Tens of thousands of identity theft cases have impacted ordinary people, not just the wealthy. It can impact anyone. Identity theft results in job turndowns, denied loans and impaired credit history. Repairing the damage from identity theft may take months, even years.

There are ways to protect against identity theft. Some of this is accomplished when a bank asks you for identification or your credit card company calls to verify a recent purchase. Banks and law enforcement will do what they can, but identity theft is often very difficult to detect.

Introduction | Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft | Sources for Assistance | If You Become a Victim
Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998

Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft

This is chiefly your responsibility. You are in the best position to protect your own identity by taking some basic precautions. The list that follows suggests some of the things you can do.

Use passwords on all accounts and your PC that are difficult to guess -- and don't use the same password for everything. Don't use passwords that relate to family names, birthdates, your SSN, addresses, or your job.
Do not keep passwords on you, and don't write this information on your debit or ATM cards.
Be careful what you throw in the trash: bills, cancelled checks, account statements, marketing solicitations and similar documents.
Shred or tear up your charge receipts, credit card solicitations, expired cards, statements, checks and other sensitive personal information.
Carry only the identification and bank/credit cards you actually need.
Review your monthly statements promptly and carefully. Immediately report anything that you question, or if the bill does not arrive on time.
Call your credit card company immediately if your new card has not arrived.
Destroy and cancel old, unwanted or unused credit cards. Cutting them up is not enough.
Don't give private information to anyone unless you are positive who the person is and that there is a legitimate need for the information.
Never lend your password to anyone -- you will probably be responsible for everything that results.
Guard your mail. Deposit outgoing mail at the post office rather than in your mailbox, and quickly remove mail from your mailbox.
Be absolutely positive of the identity of anyone telephoning you to request personal information. Be especially cautious of anyone claiming to be a law enforcement official. Arrange to call the person back, using a phone number you can verify in the phone book.
Do not give out personal data over the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you have initiated the contact.
Periodically check your credit report to see if there are loans or credit cards outstanding that you don't know about.
Never write down PINs -- memorize them and do not use any part of your social security number, mother's maiden name, birth date or address.
Guard YOUR social security number. Never carry it in your wallet, or write it on checks.
Give your social security number only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other identifiers.
Be careful and mindful of who is around you at ATMs and when using phone cards. "Shoulder surfers" can get your PIN number and gain access to your account

Introduction | Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft | Sources for Assistance | If You Become a Victim
Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998

Sources for Assistance The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the Federal government's primary agency for dealing with identity theft matters. They operate a hotline devoted only to identity theft. The toll-free number is: 1.877.IDTHEFT (438.4338). The FTC publication Identity Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your GOOD Name, February 2002, contains many useful tips such as:

How identity theft occurs
How identity thieves use your personal information
Minimizing your risk

Introduction | Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft | Sources for Assistance | If You Become a Victim
Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998

If You Become a Victim

First, contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus.
Second, contact the creditors or bank for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
Third, file a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

Some important telephone numbers are:

Equifax:

Order your report, 800.685.1111, or
Report fraud, 800.525.6285/ TDD: 800.255.0056

Experian:

Order your report, 888.EXPERIAN (397.3742), or
Report fraud 888.EXPERIAN (397.3742)/ TDD 800.972.0322

TransUnion :

Order your report, 800.916.8800, or
Report fraud, 800.680.7289

Social Security Administration:

Order benefits and earnings statement, 800.772.1213 or
Report fraud, 800.269.0271

Federal Trade Commission:

File ID theft reports, 877.438.4338

Chexsystems:

Report fraudulent check use, 800.428.9623

Equifax:

Report fraudulent check use, 800.437.5120

Global Payment Systems:

Report fraudulent check use, 800.638.4600x555

International Check Services:

Report fraudulent check use, 800.526.5380

TeleCheck:

Report fraudulent check use, 800.710.9898

To order a copy of your credit report online, click here.

Introduction | Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft | Sources for Assistance | If You Become a Victim
Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998

Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998

The Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act makes it a federal crime when someone:

"knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means of Identification of another person with the Intent to commit or to aid or abet; any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of federal law or that constitutes a felony under any applicable state or local law."

Note that under the Act, a name or SSN is considered a "means of identification." So is a credit card number, cellular telephone electronic serial number or any other piece of information that may be used alone or in conjunction with other information to identify a specific individual.