Consumer Protection

First State Financial wants you to understand the threat posed by banking and identity fraud. The better informed you are as a consumer, the more easily you can avoid being taken advantage of by scam artists. First State Financial will never trade, rent, or sell your personal information – including email addresses – to anyone. For more information see our privacy policy.

TYPES OF FRAUD

Phishing - Criminals use fraudulent emails (known as phishes) or pop-up web pages that appear legitimate and are designed to deceive you into sharing personal or account information. The phishes often include logos of legitimate companies, content from their web sites, and names of real employees. Many scammers randomly generate email addresses - that's why you may have received fraudulent emails that appear to be from banks you do not have an account with. They may also obtain email addresses online from Web pages, chat rooms, online auctions, directories or other sources.

Watch for emails that:

• Urge you to act quickly because your account may be suspended or closed, or to update your personal information.
• Don't address you by name, but use a more generic one like "Dear valued customer."
• Ask for account numbers, passwords, Access IDs, or other personal information.

We will NEVER ask for sensitive information, such as account numbers, access IDs or passwords, via e-mail. Tips from the American Bankers Association for safeguarding your information:

• Do not give your Social Security number or other personal credit information about yourself to anyone who calls you.
• Tear up receipts, bank statements and unused credit card offers before throwing them away.
• Keep an eye out for any missing mail.
• Do not mail bills from your own mailbox with the flag up.
• Review your monthly accounts regularly for any unauthorized charges.
• Order copies of your credit report once a year to ensure accuracy. You may call 1-877-322-8228 for a free credit report from any or all three credit reporting agencies.
• Do business with companies you know are reputable, particularly online.
• Do not open email from unknown sources and use virus detection software.
• Protect your PINs (don't carry them in your wallet!) and passwords; use a combination of letters and numbers for your passwords and change them periodically.
• Report any suspected fraud to your bank and the fraud units of the three credit reporting agencies immediately.
  TransUnion: (800) 680-7289 
  Experian: (888) 397-3742 
  Equifax: (800) 525-6285

Pharming - Pharming occurs when you type in a Web address and it redirects you to a fraudulent Web site without your knowledge or consent. The Web site will try and look similar to the legitimate site in hopes of capturing your confidential information.

Credit Card Fraud - Credit Card fraud can occur when someone takes your card and uses it without your consent. It can also happen when the card sits safely in your wallet.

Phone Solicitations - Scammers will attempt to randomly call people with hopes to lure them with cash gifts or prizes in exchange for personal or account information.

Print Fraud - Scammers will use local and community newspapers publishing fake advertisements with special rates and offers. If clients call, they are asked for their personal information and for an advance payment before the transaction can be completed.

Check Scams - Scammers will overpay for an item purchased and ask the difference to be wired back. Most times the check was counterfeit or forged for a higher amount.

Mail Fraud - Mail fraud occurs when scammers illegally intercept your mail or when you receive unrealistic offers.

 

If you become a victim, contact:

• The fraud departments of the three major credit reporting agencies
• The creditors of any accounts that have been misused
• The local police to file a report
• The bank to cancel existing accounts held in your name and re-open new accounts with new passwords

We are committed to safeguarding our customers' financial information. Maintaining our customers' trust and confidence is a top priority. To learn more about how we protect your information, you may view our privacy policy.

Identity Theft

What is identity theft?

Identity theft occurs when someone acquires your personal information and uses it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. It is a serious crime and cases are growing. An all-too-common example is when an identity thief uses your personal information to open a credit card account in your name.

No matter how cautious you are, there is no way to completely prevent identity theft from occurring. But there are ways you can help minimize your risk. This page contains valuable information on how you can protect yourself by managing your personal information wisely, the warning signs of identity theft, and what to do if you do become a victim.

Helpful Tips

• Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know whom you're dealing with.
• Don't carry your Social Security card with you; leave it in a secure place. Carry only the identification and credit and debit cards that you need.
• Don't put your address, phone number, or drivers license number on credit card sales receipts.
• Social Security numbers or phone numbers should not be put on your checks.
• Shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards that you're discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail.
• Secure your credit card, bank, and phone accounts with passwords. Avoid using easily available information like birth date, the last four digits of your SSN, or your phone number. When opening new accounts, you may find that many businesses still have a line on their applications for your mother's maiden name. Use a password instead.
• Secure personal information in your home, particularly if you have roommates or hire outside help.
• Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If you're planning to be away from home and can't pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 to request a vacation hold.
• Ask about information security procedures in your workplace. Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that records are kept in a secure location. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records as well.
• Before revealing any personally identifying information (for example, on an application), find out how it will be used and secured, and whether it will be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice about the use of your information. Can you choose to have it kept confidential?

Check your credit report

Order copies of your credit report once a year to ensure accuracy. You may call 1-877-322-8228 for a FREE credit report from any or all three credit reporting agencies. (The law allows credit bureaus to charge you up to $9.00 for an additional copy of your credit report.)

Make sure it is accurate and includes only those activities you have authorized. 

By checking your report on a regular basis you can catch mistakes and fraud before they wreak havoc on your personal finances. Don't underestimate the importance of this step.

Credit Bureaus

Equifax - www.equifax.com 
To order your report, call: 1-800-685-1111 
To report fraud, call: 1-800-525-6285 

Experian - www.experian.com 
To order your credit report or report fraud, call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) 

TransUnion - www.transunion.com 
To order your report, call: 800-916-8800 
To report fraud, call: 1-800-680-728