Identity Theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year.

What can you do?
Awareness is an effective weapon against many forms of ID Theft. Protect your personal information, monitor your records, and follow up if you suspect a problem.

You can get a FREE credit report from the major credit reporting agencies once every 12 months at www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228.

Helpful Resources
For additional information and advice you can call the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) or visit their ID Theft Website at www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

Other helpful resources

• www.idtheft.gov
• www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html

Helpful hints to protect your identity

• Shred financial documents and paperwork before discarding.
• Protect your Social Security Number. Don't keep your card in your wallet or write your number on a check. Give it out only when necessary.
• Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with. Adopt a "need to know" approach to your personal data. Your credit card company may need to know your mother's maiden name, so that it can verify your identity when you call to inquire about your account. A person who calls you and says he's from your bank, however, doesn't need to know that information if it's already on file with your bank; the only purpose of such a call is to acquire that information for that person's personal benefit. Also, the more information that you have printed on your personal bank checks -- such as your Social Security number or home telephone number -- the more personal data you are routinely handing out to people who may not need that information.
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails. Instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer and keep them up to date.
• Use Secure Passwords. Avoid passwords like your mother's maiden name, your birthdate or the last 4 digits of your SSN. Use a strong password including letters, numbers, and characters.
• Have your mail held while traveling. Your local post office can keep your mail until you return so it's not piling up for the taking in your mailbox. Or ask someone you know well and trust, such as another family member, a friend, or a neighbor to collect and hold your mail while you're away.
• Check your financial information regularly.
  

  What Should Be There:

  • If you have bank or credit card accounts, you should be receiving monthly statements that list transactions for the most recent month or reporting period.
  • If you're not receiving monthly statements for the accounts you know you have, call the financial institution or credit card company immediately and ask about it.
  • If you're told that your statements are being mailed to another address that you haven't authorized, tell the financial institution or credit card representative immediately that you did not authorize the change of address and that someone may be improperly using your accounts. In that situation, you should also ask for copies of all statements and debit or charge transactions that have occurred since the last statement you received. Obtaining those copies will help you to work with the financial institution or credit card company in determining whether some or all of those debit or charge transactions were fraudulent.

  What Shouldn't Be There:

  • If someone has gotten your financial data and made unauthorized debits or charges against your financial accounts, checking your monthly statements carefully may be the quickest way for you to find out. Too many of us give those statements, or the enclosed checks or credit transactions, only a quick glance, and don't review them closely to make sure there are no unauthorized withdrawals or charges.
  • If someone has managed to get access to your mail or other personal data, and opened any credit cards in your name or taken any funds from your bank account, contact your financial institution or credit card company immediately to report those transactions and to request further action.

If You Become a Victim
If you find you have become a victim of identity theft, immediately take the following actions. Throughout the process, Keep a record of all details of your conversations and all of your correspondence.

1. Contact the fraud department of one of the three major credit bureaus (they will contact the other two):

   • Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
   • Experian: 1-888-397-3742
   • TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
2. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

3. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

   You can submit a complaint online (www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/) or call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. Be sure to call the Hotline to update your complaint if you have any additional information or problems.

4. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

   You can provide a printed copy of your online FTC Complaint form to the police to incorporate into their police report. The printed FTC ID Theft Complaint, in conjunction with the police report, can constitute an Identity Theft Report and entitle you to certain protections. This Identity Theft Report can be used to (1) permanently block fraudulent information from appearing on your credit report; (2) ensure that debts do not reappear on your credit report; (3) prevent a company from continuing to collect debts that result from identity theft; and (4) place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.

For more information and details on recovering from Identity Theft, go to www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/defend.html.

If you believe you have been the victim of Identity Theft, contact your local branch office. MainStreet Savings Bank has an Identity Theft information packet to walk you through the steps you will need to take to report the crime and repair your credit.