TABLE OF CONTENTS. Identity Theft Steps to take if you are a victim Page 3

Transcription

1 Identity Theft Kit This kit has been prepared for you to use in the event you may have become a victim of Identity Theft. First National Bank Bemidji has compiled this kit of information and procedures for you to use for reporting the theft and monitoring your financial information during this time of concern TABLE OF CONTENTS How can you tell if you are a victim of Identity Theft? Page 2 Identity Theft Steps to take if you are a victim Page 3 Tips on Organizing Your Case Page 4 Identity Theft Action and Check List Page 5 7 Tips for filing a Police Report Page 8 Instructions for completing and sample copy of ID Theft Affidavit Page 9 Also enclosed are brochures: Tools to Prevent Identity Theft published by ABA American Bankers Association Deluxe ID TheftBlock Plus Identity Theft Detection and Recovery First National Bank Bemidji offers our customers this Deluxe Financial Services product to monitor your credit files for early signs of identity theft. Please call First National Bank Bemidji at with any concerns and questions that you have about Identity Theft. 1

2 How can you tell if you are a victim of Identity Theft? Monitor balances of your First National Bank Bemidji accounts. Look for unexplained charges or withdrawals. Other indications of identity theft may include: Failing to receive bills or other mail signaling an unauthorized address change by the identity thief; Receiving credit cards for which you did not apply; Denial of credit for no apparent reason; Receiving calls from debt collectors or companies about merchandise or services you did not buy. If an identity thief is opening new credit accounts in your name, these accounts are likely to show up on your credit report. You can find out by ordering a copy of your credit report from any of the three major credit bureaus. (The names and addresses are included in this kit See # 3 of the Identity Theft Action and Checklist.) FYI The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that each of the three major credit reporting agencies provide you with a free credit report once each year. If you find inaccurate information, check your reports from the other two credit bureaus. Of course, some of the inaccuracies on your credit reports may be because of computer, clerical, or other errors and may not be a result of identity theft. If your personal information has been stolen, you may want to check all of your reports more frequently during the first year following the incident. There may be a credit bureau fee for this service. 2

3 Identity Theft Steps to take if you are a victim If you suspect misuse of your personal information to commit fraud, take action immediately. Keep a record of all conversations and correspondence when you take the following suggested steps. (See enclosed Identity Theft Action and Check List for recording your conversations) Step 1 Contact First National Bank Bemidji, any other financial institutions where you hold accounts, and credit card issuers immediately so that the following can be done: access to your accounts can be protected; stop payments on missing checks placed; personal identification numbers (PINs) and online banking passwords changed; and a new account opened, if appropriate. Be sure to indicate to First National Bank Bemidji all of the accounts and/or cards that are potentially impacted, including ATM cards, check (debit) cards and credit cards. Customer service or fraud prevention telephone numbers can generally be found on your monthly statements. Contact the major check verification companies to request they notify retailers using their databases not to accept these stolen checks. Two of the check verification companies that accept reports of check fraud directly from consumers are: Telecheck (800) and Equifax (800) Step 2 File a police report with our local police department. Obtain a police report number with the date, time, police department, location, and police officer taking the report. The police report may initiate an investigation into the loss with the goal of identifying, arresting, and prosecuting the offender and possibly recovering your lost items. The police report will be helpful when notifying creditors that you are a victim of identity theft. Step 3 Contact the three major credit bureaus and request a copy of your credit report. Review your reports to make sure additional fraudulent accounts have not been opened in your name or unauthorized changes made to your existing accounts. Check the section of your report that lists inquiries. Request the inquiries be removed from your report from the companies that opened fraudulent accounts. In a few months, order new copies of your reports to verify your corrections and changes and to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred. Request a fraud alert for your file and a victim s statement asking creditors to call you before opening any new accounts or changing any old ones. This can help prevent an identity thief from opening additional accounts in your name. The three major credit bureaus and phone numbers are: Trans Union (800) , Experian (888) , Equifax (800) , or you may also contact the Federal Trade Commission s ID Theft Consumer Response Center at (877) ID-THEFT Step 4 Consider that mail maybe have been stolen form your mailbox. Make sure no one has requested an unauthorized address change, title change, PIN change or ordered new ATM or VISA Check cards or checks to be sent to another address. If you are missing mail from First National Bank Bemidji, credit card companies, and/or other financial institutions, check with us and/or the others to see what has happened. If a thief has stolen your mail or made unauthorized address changes to get credit cards, bank and credit card statements, pre-screened credit offers or tax information, you should contact the post office and the police because this is a crime. Step 5 Maintain a written chronology of what happened, what was lost and the steps you took to report the incident to the various agencies, banks and firms impacted. Be sure to record the date, time, contact telephone numbers, person you talked to and relevant report or reference number and instructions. See the Identity Theft Action and Check List for recording information and your conversations. 3

4 Tips for Organizing Your Case Accurate and complete records will greatly improve your chances of resolving your identity theft case. Follow up in writing to all contacts you ve made on the phone or in person. Use certified mail, return receipt requested. Keep copies of all correspondence or forms you send. Write down the name of anyone you talk to, what he/she told you, and the date the conversation occurred. Use the Identity Theft Action and Check List included in this packet to help you record any pertinent information. Keep the originals of supporting documentation, like police reports, and letters to and from creditors; send copies only. Set up a filing system for easy access to your paperwork. Keep old files if you believe your case is closed. One of the most difficult and annoying aspects of identity theft is that errors can reappear on your credit reports or your information can be re-circulated. Should this happen, you ll be glad you kept your files. 4

5 Identity Theft Action and Check List Use this form to record the steps you ve taken to report fraudulent use of your identity. Keep this list in a safe place for reference. 1 - Check Verification Companies Company Phone number Date Contacted Contact Person Other Info Telecheck (800) Equifax (800) Law Enforcement Report of Identity Theft Agency/Department Phone # Date & Time contacted Report Number Officer taking report Comments Federal Trade Commission IDTHEFT Local police Bemidji

6 3. Credit Bureaus Report Fraud Bureau Phone Number Website Date Contacted Contact Person Comments Equifax Experian TransUnion Bank, Credit Card Issuers & Other Creditors or Financial Institutions Creditor Address and phone # Date Contacted Contact Person Comments First National Bank Bemidji PO Box 670 Bemidji MN

7 Chart of Action List what happened Lost /Stolen Items Steps taken to report loss What agencies, banks etc are impacted by loss Date and time lost Contact information of who you talked to about loss Other important information 7

8 Tips for filing a Police Report Provide documentation. Furnish as much documentation as you can to prove your case. Debt collection letters, credit reports, your notarized ID Theft Affidavit (included in this package or online at edu/resources/forms/affidavit.pdf), and other evidence of fraudulent activity can help the police file a complete report. Be persistent. Local authorities may tell you that they can t take a report. Stress the importance of a police report; many creditors require one to resolve your dispute. Credit bureaus will automatically block the fraudulent accounts and bad debts from appearing on your credit report, but only if you can give them a copy of the police report. If you can t get local city police to take the report, try your county police. If that does not work, contact the state police. Minn Stat is the law on Identity Theft. Be a motivating force. Ask the police department to search the Federal Trade Commission s (FTC) Consumer Sentinel database for other complaints in the Bemidji community. You may not be the first or only victim of this identity thief. If there is a pattern of cases, local authorities may give your case more consideration. That s why it s also important to file a complaint with the FTC. Law enforcement agencies use complaints filed with the FTC to aggregate cases, spot patterns, and track growth in identity theft. This information can then be used to improve investigations and victim assistance. 8

9 Instruc ons for Comple ng the ID The Affidavit View online at 9