Don’t
Become a Victim of Identity Theft
How does someone steal your identity?
They steal your personal information such as your name, social security
number, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, or other personal
information. They then use that
information to pose as YOU and make fraudulent purchases, money transfers, etc.
at YOUR expense.
Identity theft is a serious crime – one that can take months or years to
recover from if you are the victim. We
at The Peoples Bank want you to understand some common terms, examples of how
internet thieves get your information, and how you can protect yourself.
We also want to be sure you know that you should act IMMEDIATELY if you
feel like your information has been compromised.
Please refer to the following links for some helpful information:
Phishing
and Identity Theft – What’s it all about?
How
to Avoid Being a Victim
The Peoples Bank will never ask you to disclose confidential
information via email. If you have
any questions regarding a suspicious communication that appears to be originated
from The Peoples Bank, call 410-778-3500 for assistance.
What to do if
you fall victim:
- Contact your financial institution immediately and alert
it to the situation.
- If you have disclosed sensitive information in a
phishing attack, you should also contact one of the three major credit
bureaus and discuss whether you need to place a fraud alert on your file,
which will help prevent thieves from opening a new account in your name.
Here is the contact information for each bureau’s fraud division:
Equifax
800-525-6285
P.O. Box 740250
Atlanta
, GA 30374
Experian
888-397-3742
P.O. Box 1017
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
800-680-7289
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton
, CA 92634
- Report all suspicious contacts to the Federal Trade
Commission through the Internet at
How
to Avoid Being a Victim
or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT.
The Peoples Bank
