Blog - Safeguarding Identity

It's 8:00 AM and you've just started work.  Your phone chimes - as it usually does first thing in the morning - and informs you that there is a new email.  You open the app to check it. Lo and behold there is an email from a bank - but not your bank.  "Thank you for opening your new account," it says.  

Wait.  New what?!

Identity fraud is a trick as old as banking itself, and it has only become easier with advances in technology.  How do YOU keep yourself safe if you suspect you've been compromised?

1. Don't panic!  You need to approach this with a clear mind.

2. First lock down your credit.  Create a login with the three credit reporting agencies:

   • Experian - 888-397-3742

   • Equifax - 800-525-6285

   • TransUnion  - 800-680-7289

They may ask you questions to verify your identity and it will be questions related to your credit history.  If you're downloading your credit reports regularly, then you should have logins to these already.  

3. Second, lock down your banking history and credit files.  These are separate and many people do not know about them. 

   • Chex Systems - 1-800-428-9623, M-F 8:00 - 19:00 Central

   • Clarity Consumer Report - 866-390-3118, M-F 9:00 - 17:00 Eastern

   • Nat'l Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE)

     1. 866-349-5185 for credit disclosure

     2. 866-349-3233 for 1-year fraud alert

4. Contact any bank from which you got a notification, but DO NOT click the links in the email - just in case.  You'll want the fraud department, and they will ask you questions about the email.  They can help you determine if it was just a phishing scheme or if there is an actual account.  If there is an account, then they will typically disable it with a fraud flag.

5. Request your checking history transcript.  

6. Change your passwords to all your bank web sites and any other important services.  Use passwords that are difficult to crack with a computerized attempt.  You can check the strength of your password at www.security.org. It is also an excellent idea to turn on multi-factor authentication or use an authenticator app like Duo or Google Authenticator.

7. File a police report in the city or county in which you reside.  Include things like correspondence with credit agencies, freeze documents, and any original documentation you received about the fraudulent accounts.  This will be important if you need to take any legal action later.

8. Be vigilant. Keep lookout for odd bank activity, strange emails, or other indicators that are outside of your typical daily activity.