At F&M Bank, we want to help you protect your personal information and protect you from fraud. F&M Bank will never send an email, phone or text message request asking for our customers to verify or update personal information or passwords. For your protection and privacy, Bank representatives will ask for certain information to verify your identity when you contact us.
Protect Yourself from Fraud
Never
- Open unsolicited e-mails from unknown e-mail addresses.
- Send personal information via e-mail unless it is to a trusted source and you use some type of encryption.
- Use the “Save ID and Password” option.
- Access your bank account using a public computer.
- Respond to a request that states your account has been compromised and then asks you to enter or confirm your personal or account information.
- Keep PIN numbers attached to debit or ATM cards.
- Leave mail for pickup in an unlocked mailbox.
- Never download or open an e-mail attachment from an unknown e-mail address.
Always
- Exercise reasonable care when downloading software and opening e-mail attachments.
- Monitor your online financial account frequently and sign up for electronic statements. Keep your virus definitions and browser and security software current.
- Use a highly secure password for your online banking accounts.
- Check your credit report at least once a year. You can get a copy of your FREE credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com every twelve months.
Report Fraud
As soon as you realize that you may have been a victim of an identity theft, or your account has been compromised, it is important to take immediate action. An aggressive response on your part may help reduce your exposure to financial loss.
7 Steps to take if you become a victim of identity theft
Step 1: CONTACT THE BANK AND OTHER CREDIT CARD ISSUERS BY PHONE AND IN WRITING
If the theft involved existing bank accounts (checking or savings accounts as well as credit or debit cards) you should take the following steps:
- Put stop payment orders on all outstanding checks that might have been written without your knowledge or permission.
- Close all existing debit card and credit card accounts. The number to call for F&M Bank lost or stolen debit cards during normal business hours: 1.800.391.2265 or after business hours 1.800.472.3272
- Keep copies of all correspondence and documents exchanged with each creditor.
- Open up new accounts with a new password or personal identification number (“PIN”). DO NOT use the same passwords or PINs as on the original accounts. Do not use common numbers (like birth dates, part of your social security number), or commonly chosen words (such as a child’s, spouse’s, or pet’s name) as passwords or PINs.
Step 2: FILE A REPORT WITH YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
Obtaining that report will help you in dealing with the bank, creditors, and the major credit reporting bureaus.
Step 3: FILE A REPORT WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
The Federal Trade Commission maintains an Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse. The FTC aids identity theft investigations by collecting complaints from identity theft victims and sharing the information with law enforcement agencies, credit bureaus, companies where the fraud took place, and other government agencies.
File a complaint with the FTC by going to: www.consumer.gov/idtheft or by calling their toll free number: 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338).
Many creditors and the major credit reporting bureaus will accept the “ID Theft Affidavit” available on this FTC web site. IDENTITY THEFT AFFIDAVIT: Fill out the Identity Theft Affidavit offered by the FTC. This form will help you report information about your identity theft with just one form. Many companies accept this form, though others will require you to use their own form or submit more forms. If a new account has been opened in your name; you can use this form to provide the information that will help companies investigate the fraud. Once you have filled out the ID Theft Affidavit as completely and accurately as possible, mail a copy to any of the companies concerned with the fraud, such as banks or creditors. Keep copies of all your paperwork.
Step 4: CONTACT ONE OF THE THREE MAJOR CREDIT REPORTING BUREAUS
You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert, and they will contact the other two. Ask the credit bureau to place a “fraud alert” on your file. You must then be contacted directly before any new credit is taken out in your name.
Ask for copies of your credit reports. If you are a victim of identity theft, credit bureaus must give you a free copy of your report for you to check for inaccuracies.
Credit Bureaus
EQUIFAX
Call 1-800-766-0008
Write: Equifax Fraud Assistance
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30348
www.equifax.com
TRANSUNION
Call: 1-800-680-7289
Write: Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834
www.transunion.com
EXPERIAN
Call 1-888-397-3742
Write: P.O. Box 949
Allen, TX 75013
www.experian.com
Call 1-800-766-0008
Write: Equifax Fraud Assistance
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30348
www.equifax.com
TRANSUNION
Call: 1-800-680-7289
Write: Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834
www.transunion.com
EXPERIAN
Call 1-888-397-3742
Write: P.O. Box 949
Allen, TX 75013
www.experian.com
Step 5: NOTIFY THE POST OFFICE
If you suspect that your mail has been stolen or diverted with a false change of address request, contact your local postal inspector. You can obtain the address and telephone number of your local postal inspector by visiting the web site at: www.usps.com/ncsc/locators/find-is.html.
Step 6: NOTIFY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
If you suspect that someone is using your social security number to obtain credit or employment, contact the Social Security Administration’s fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271(TTY: 1-866-501-2101). To check the accuracy of your work history, order a copy of your Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement(PEBES) and check it for accuracy. You can obtain a PEBES application at your local Social Security office or you can download one from the Social Security Administration web site: http://www.ssa.gov/online/.
Step 7: IF YOU ARE CONTACTED BY A COLLECTION AGENCY
If you are contacted by a collection agency about a debt for which you are not responsible, immediately notify them that you did not create the debt and that you are a victim of identity theft. Follow up with the collection agency and creditor in writing and include a copy of your law enforcement report or ID Theft Affidavit. Send your letter, and copy of the report or affidavit, “return receipt requested,” or with some other process that gives you proof that the collection agency received your letter.