In identity theft, criminals get hold of personal information such as your social security number or bank account and use this to get credit cards and even car and home loans in your name. This is the fastest growing crime in America, with 19 people falling victim every minute. Sometimes, victims’ only warning that this has happened is a collection agency’s call, demanding payment on a purchase or loan.
Restoring your identity from theft can often be a huge inconvenience. According to the credit reporting agency, Transunion, It takes the average victim an estimated $500 and 30 hours to resolve each identity theft crime.
Be Aware of the Threat
Identity thieves use a number of methods to obtain personal data. Take these steps to protect yourself:
1. Tear up receipts, bank statements and unused credit card offers before throwing them away.
2. Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help or are having work done in your house.
3. Make sure that your mailbox is secure.
4. Protect your PINs and passwords; use a 10-digit combination of letters, numbers and symbols for your passwords, and change them periodically.
5. Monitor account activity on a regular basis. Sign up to view your financial accounts and billing statements online.
6. Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
7. When conducting business online, make sure your browser’s padlock icon is active.
8. Don’t reply to e-mail or pop-up messages that ask for personal or financial information, and don’t click on links in the message. Don’t cut and paste a link from the message into your Web browser – fraudsters can make links look like they go one place, but that actually send you to a different site.
9. Use antivirus and antispyware software, as well as a firewall, and update them all regularly.
10. Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from e-mails you receive, regardless of who sent them.
11. Review your credit report to ensure accuracy. You may order free copies at annualcreditreport.com.
iAB Provides Free Shredding Event
As a service to the community, iAB Financial Bank is sponsoring a free shredding event, allowing for proper destruction of confidential papers such as old tax forms, cancelled checks, and credit card applications. iAB’s Shred Day will be held on Saturday, June 28th from 9-11 am at the following three locations:
▪ iABOperationsCenter:118EastLudwigRoad,FortWayne
▪ iABBlufftonNorthOffice:1405BakerPlace
▪ iABHuntingtonOffice: 2845GuilfordStreet
A representative from Confidential Shredding Services will be on hand at these offices to assist customers in shredding documents. “iAB strives to offer our customers services that truly assist them in their day-to-day needs as well as preserving and protecting their personal and financial information,” stated Michael C. Marhenke, iAB President and CEO. “It’s when we work together with solutions like Shred Day that we can truly experience the power of partnership.”
iAB Financial Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Independent Alliance Banks, Inc., is one of the largest locally- owned community banks in the area and employs approximately 285 people throughout Allen, Huntington, Wells and Grant counties.
