Identity theft is the illegal and fraudulent use of an individual's personal identifying information. Identity thieves use information such as Social Security number, birth date, and mother's maiden name to open new bank and/or credit card accounts, obtain loans, and charge on existing credit card accounts.   According to the FBI, identity theft is one of the fastest growing white-collar crimes in the nation. More than 500,000 consumers are victimized each year. Identity theft may go undetected for months or even years. Victims may not realize that someone has stolen their identity until they are denied credit or until a creditor attempts to collect an unpaid bill.   At First Sound Bank, we are committed to protecting our customers' personal information. We maintain a comprehensive customer information security program utilizing administrative, technical and physical safeguards. To help educate our customers about identity theft, we have provided information on how identity theft happens, how to prevent it and what to do if you are a victim.   HOW IDENTITY THEFT HAPPENS Theft/Robbery dumpster diving for documents containing personal or financial information stealing a purse or wallet taking incoming or outgoing mail from your home mailbox breaking into your home and taking documents or a computer with personal or financial information stored on it shoulder surfing at ATM machines and phone booths in order to capture PIN numbers Address change identity thieves change the address on account statements or bills and have them sent to their own address or, more likely, a PO Box From businesses stealing information where they work bribing an employee conning an employee (see pretext calling) hacking into a company's computer system Skimming stealing credit/debit card information by using a data storage device when processing (swiping) a card Internet Phishing - fishing for confidential information the consumer receives an email that appears to be valid and originate from a financial institution, government agency or other reputable entity the message states an urgent reason why you must "verify" or "re-submit" personal or confidential information by clicking on a link embedded in the message - the link appears to be the website of the legitimate company but really belongs to the "phisher" Spyware software that can track online usage and personal information, even record every keystroke often unknowingly installed by consumers because it is packaged with other software Trojan Horse virus an email virus usually released by opening an email attachment the virus scours the hard drive for personal information then sends this information to the thief's email address Pretext Calling the identity thief calls a financial institution posing as a customer, an official at another bank, a government regulator or a law enforcement officer trying to get information on customer's account may use intimidation (threatening to close account), helplessness or claim an emergency situation WHAT TO LOOK FOR Bills that don't arrive when expected New or replacement credit cards that don't arrive in a timely manner Credit card bills or account statements for accounts you didn't open Calls or letters from collection agencies about accounts you didn't open Unexpected denials of credit Emails asking for personal information that don't address you by name, threaten action if you don't respond, or contain spelling errors HOW TO PREVENT IT To reduce or minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft or fraud, there are some basic steps you can take. For starters, just remember the word "SCAM": S  Be stingy about giving out your personal information to others unless you have a reason to trust them C  Check your financial information regularly, and look for what should be there and what shouldn't A  Ask periodically for a copy of your credit report M  Maintain careful records of your banking and financial accounts Keep sensitive information secured - both at home and work Shred all financial and personal documents before discarding them Don't give out personal information over the phone, mail or internet unless you initiated the contact Don't click on a link provided in an email - it may direct you to a phony website that looks legitimate but isn't. Don't cut and paste links - type the web address into the address bar add bank and other financial institution sites to your "favorites" list Place passwords on credit card, bank and utility accounts this not only prevents a thief from getting information about you or your account but also prevents him from making changes to the account, e.g., address change Don't use personal information for passwords; create "strong" passwords using letters (upper and lower case), numbers and symbols don't use an automatic log-in Use firewalls and anti-virus programs on your personal computer don't open emails or files sent by strangers Be selective when downloading software and read the fine print carefully Encrypt files containing sensitive information before emailing them Check your credit report regularly consumers are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months (www.annualcreditreport.com) Remove your name from the marketing lists of the three credit reporting bureaus -- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Call 888-5OPTOUT or go online to www.optoutprescreen.com. This will limit the number of pre-approved offers of credit that you receive. When tossed into the garbage, these are a potential target of identity thieves who use them to order credit cards in your name Collect your mail promptly each day and use a US Postal Service mailbox for outgoing mail; when you are away from home for an extended time, have your mail held at the Post Office, or ask a trusted neighbor to pick it up Limit your receipt of paper statements and documents by utilizing paperless options the fewer personal documents sent through the mail, the less chance there is for possible fraud use Bill Pay to bay bills on-line or set-up automatic deductions from your checking account and/or credit account regularly monitor and manage your accounts on-line with Sound Internet Banking to detect any fraudulent transactions more quickly Reduce the number of credit and debit cards you carry in your wallet; don't carry your Social Security card or number with you Do not use debit cards when shopping online. Use a credit card because you are better protected in case of fraud Look for signs of security when shopping online A padlock symbol in the status bar An "s" after "http" in the URL The words Secure Socket Layer ("SSL") Shield your hand when using a bank ATM machine or making long distance phone calls with your phone card. "Shoulder surfers" may be nearby with binoculars or a video camera Always take credit card and ATM receipts with you. Never toss them in a public trash container. When shopping, put receipts in your wallet rather than in the shopping bag Never permit your credit card number or SSN to be written onto your checks When ordering new checks, pick them up at the bank Use a gel pen for writing checks. Experts say that gel ink contains tiny particles of color that are trapped in the paper, making check washing more difficult WHAT TO DO IF IT HAPPENS TO YOU Keep a list or photocopy of all your credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts, and investments -- the account numbers, expiration dates and telephone numbers of the customer service and fraud departments -- in a secure place (not your wallet or purse) so you can quickly contact these companies in case your credit cards have been stolen or accounts are being used fraudulently Washington state allows ID theft victims to place a security freeze on their credit reports. A security freeze locks, or freezes, access to the consumer credit report and credit score. Without this information, a business will not issue new credit to a thief. When the consumer wants to get new credit, he or she uses a PIN to unlock access to the credit file Depending on the type of Identity Theft, you may need to contact the following - (you may want to initially contact them by phone but it is important to follow up in writing. Also, always ask the creditor for a letter confirming that they have closed a fraudulent account and discharged the debts): all financial institutions where you have accounts that an identity thief has taken over or that have been created in your name but without your knowledge. You may need to cancel those accounts, place stop-payment orders on any outstanding checks that may not have cleared, and change your Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, and Personal Identification Number (PIN) all creditors with whom your name or identifying data have been fraudulently used your local office of the Postal Inspection Service if you suspect that an identity thief has submitted a change-of-address form with the Post Office to redirect your mail, or has used the mail to commit frauds involving your identity the Social Security Administration if you suspect that your Social Security number is being fraudulently used (call 800-269-0271 to report the fraud) File a police report File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Receive free, confidential help by contacting Call For Action at 1-866-ID-HOTLINE (1-866-434-6854) or www.callforaction.org If you get deceptive spam, including email phishing for your personal information, forward it to spam@uce.gov Credit Reporting Agencies Fraud Divisions Equifax: 800.525.6285 or www.equifax.com Experian: 888.397.3742 or www.experian.com TransUnion: 800.680.7289 or www.transunion.com Federal Trade Commission 877-IDTHEFT (877.438.4338) or www.consumer.gov/idtheft Other websites to checkout: www.staysafeonline.gov www.onguardonline.gov   Home    Privacy Policy    Terms of Use    USA Patriot Act    Identity Theft      TEL 206.515.2004     FAX 206.515.2005 925 Fourth Avenue Suite 2350, Seattle, WA 98104   © 2008 First Sound Bank. 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