Consumer Alerts
It is important to protect your private information from people who want to steal it. These people want to steal your name, address, Social Security number, credit card number, and bank account number. During the past five years identity theft has been the number one fraud complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission.
Simple things you can do to help protect yourself:
- Check your credit report at least once a year from Equifax, Expérian and Trans Union Credit Bureaus. Every 12 months you may request a free credit report from each of them.
- Share personal information only with companies you have a business relationship with.
- Shred all sensitive information before throwing it away.
Plains Commerce offers you these important strategies to protect yourself. If you have any questions, contact your nearest
Plains Commerce Bank.
| Identity Theft | Minimize the risk of your identity being stolen by knowing what to look for. Watch out for:
- Dumpster Divers - Your garbage is the perfect place for fraudsters to find non-shredded personal
information. When they use or sell that information, your identity is easily stolen.
- Mail Theft - Mail left in the mailbox is easy access for fraudsters to gain access of pre-approved
credit offers, bank statements,
tax forms, or other forms of your identity. Mail with checks left for the mailman to pick up is also easy pickings for them.
- Online Data - Your data with phone companies, utilities and memberships can be purchased from identity thieves. This information can include Social Security number,
birthdate, and address.
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| Phishing | Phishing is normally an email
message that looks like it is from a company you do business with. These emails may include site graphics, logos and other materials from legitimate agencies to trick you into providing
your personal financial information.
- Correct Phone Number - If there is an email requesting your personal information, call the company by phone, using the company's phone number - not the one listed on the email!
- Downloads - Some software and downloads have the capabilities of grabbing your personal
information and sending it to the person trying to steal it.
- Type Links - Do not click on links in suspicious emails; type the link in your browser to make sure you are visiting a legitimate website.
- Do Not Fill Out Forms - Forms within emails are a sure sign the email is phishing for your information. Do not complete them.
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| Email Scams | Legitimate businesses generally do not send emails requesting personal information. Do not use any information from the email to contact the business; they can easily be falsified.
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| Internet Fraud | Protect yourself from all forms of internet fraud by:
- Changing Passwords - Change your passwords every 3-6 months. Do not use passwords related to your birthday, SSN, anniversary, etc. because they are easily figured out.
- Deleting Emails - Delete questionable emails without clicking on any of the links on it.
- Protecting Your Computer - Keep your computer protected with program updates, anti-virus and firewall programs.
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