Up-To-Date Information To Protect You
From Fraud and Identity Theft!
The CitiBank TV
commercials are comical indeed, but identity theft is no laughing
matter. Read
this page carefully … and check back
often. Identity thieves can use your personal data to take over
financial accounts, run up credit card charges, apply for loans, credit
cards
or other services in your name and even file fraudulent tax returns.
Southern Heritage Bank wants you to fully understand how to PROTECT
YOURSELF from fraud and identity theft … and alert you to scams
that could threaten your credit history and your financial security!
If You
Are Contacted By Southern Heritage Bank, REMEMBER …
Be positive you
know with whom you are speaking on the phone BEFORE giving out credit
card, CHECKCard or bank account numbers. Southern
Heritage Bank will NEVER ask for your ATM or CHECKCard PIN (personal
identification number) for any reason! And we will NEVER
contact you via e-mail regarding sensitive financial information.
If you receive a phone call from someone identifying himself or herself
with Southern
Heritage ... and you are unsure of the person's identity ... hang
up and call us back to verify the authenticity of the
person with whom you are speaking. Keep your identity SECURE!
Take
Care With Credit & Debit Cards
Whether you are traveling, enjoying a night out, or simply shopping
... be careful when using your credit cards and Southern Heritage CHECKCard
for purchases and cash withdrawals from ATMs.
- Guard your card numbers
- Guard your PIN
Be aware of your surroundings. Watch for people
holding cell phones near you at retail stores, restaurants and
grocery stores. With
the new CAMERA cell phones, photos can be taken of your credit
card,
which gives them your name, number and expiration date. This
information could allow someone to make multiple purchases
on your account before
you realize it.
What If My Wallet Is Stolen?
- Be prepared. Make a log of everything in
your wallet including
driver's license, debit cards, credit cards, Social Security card,
etc. Be sure to include account numbers as well as the telephone
contact
information printed on the back of the card, so you have the information
to quickly report the loss. Keep this log in a safe place other
than your wallet. If you are traveling, carry a duplicate copy
of your passport for identification. File a police report immediately
in
the jurisdiction
where your wallet is stolen, which proves to credit providers you
were diligent.
- Immediately call the three national credit-reporting
organizations and place a fraud alert on your name and
Social Security number.
This alert notifies companies that check your credit that your
information
was stolen and that you must be contacted by phone before new credit
can be authorized. The phone numbers are:
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
- Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
- Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
Also contact the Social Security Administration
fraud line at 1-800-269-0271.
New Fraud Alert Concerning Bogus E-Mails From The IRS!
The U.S. Treasury
and the Internal Revenue Service have warned of attempts to trick
taxpayers
into revealing
personal
information such
as Social Security numbers, driver's license information and bank and
credit card numbers. Unsuspecting consumers have received e-mail, claiming
they are under investigation for tax fraud and are subject to prosecution.
The e-mail informs recipients they can "help" the investigation
by providing "real" information and directs them to an official-looking
Web site where detailed personal information must be provided to dispute
the charge.
While this particular Web site was shut down, new versions of the
scam could surface in the future. The IRS does not use e-mail to
contact taxpayers about issues related to their accounts. Official
taxpayer
contact usually includes a letter on IRS stationery in an IRS envelope.
IRS letters also contain a contact phone number.
Taxpayers who believe they have received suspect communication are
encouraged to call a fraud alert hotline at 1-800-366-4484. You can
also contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. An IRS representative will
be able to verify the taxpayer's account status and determine whether
a communication is legitimate.
Fraud Alerts Regarding Bogus E-mails From The FDIC
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
is receiving complaints from consumers who received e-mail seemingly
from the FDIC. This phony
e-mail gives the recipient an opportunity to secure their credit cards
against fraud and to apply to be a part of a secure online network
launched by the FDIC in collaboration with various credit card providers.
By accessing an embedded link, the e-mail claims the recipient can
sign up for a free trial membership, which provides shopping coupons
for some of the more popular online retail outlets. This e-mail
was not sent by the FDIC and is a fraudulent attempt
to obtain personal information or to implant a computer virus onto
the recipient’s
computer.
- Do NOT access the link or attached files provided within
the body of the e-mail
- Do NOT provide any personal information
to unknown sources.
Other False E-mails
Earlier this year, bogus e-mails informed recipients that the Department
of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge had advised the FDIC to suspend
all deposit insurance on their bank account due to suspected violations
of the USA PATRIOT Act. The e-mail stated that deposit insurance would
be suspended until personal identity, including bank account information,
could be verified. This e-mail was not sent by the FDIC and was a fraudulent
attempt to obtain personal information from consumers.
Consumers are asked to report any similar attempts to obtain your
personal information to the FDIC by sending information to alert@fdic.gov.
Helpful Hints
- The next time you order checks, use your first initial
instead of first name in the address area. If someone takes your
checkbook they will not know if you sign your checks with just your
initials
or your first name, but Southern Heritage does. You continue to sign
the checks the same as always. In order to change your printed name
on your checks, stop by the nearest Southern Heritage Bank location.
- When you are
writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put
the complete
account number
on the "For" line.
Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company
knows the rest of the number and anyone who might be handling your
check
as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have
access to it.
- Put your work phone number on your checks instead
of your home phone number.
- If you have a PO Box, use that instead
of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work
address.
- Never have your
Social Security number printed on your checks. You can add it later
if
it is necessary, but if you have
it printed,
anyone
can get it. You can also use your driver’s license number
instead.
- Cancel
your credit cards immediately if they are stolen. However, the key
is having the toll-free numbers and your card numbers handy
so you know whom to call.
- Carry a photocopy of your passport
when you travel here or abroad.
- Make a photocopy
of the contents of your wallet - copy both sides of your driver’s
license, credit cards, etc. Keep the photocopy in a safe place,
NOT IN YOUR
WALLET.
- File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where
your wallet is stolen, which proves to credit providers you were
diligent.
- If your wallet is stolen, call the three national
credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert
on your name and
Social Security number. The alert means any company that checks
your credit
knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you
by phone to authorize new credit.
Helpful
Links & Numbers
For more information, to request a credit report or to place a fraud
alert on your name and Social Security Number, the national credit-reporting
organizations and other ID Theft sites are listed below.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 or visit them online at www.equifax.com
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742 or visit them online at www.experian.com
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289 or visit them online at www.tuc.com
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
Privacy Rights
www.privacyrights.org/identity.htm
U.S. Department of Justice ID Theft kit
www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html
Identity Theft Resource Center
www.idtheftcenter.org
State ID theft laws
www.consumer.gov/idtheft/federallaws.html#statelaws
