Protect Your Identity
Peoples National Bank believes protecting your identity is very important.
Identity thieves are very real and very dangerous. They want your personal information such as your account numbers, passwords, Social Security number, and other confidential information. They can use this information to steal from your bank accounts, charge items to your credit cards, and for other fraudulent activity purposes. If successful, they can take out loans, obtain credit cards, and even driver's licenses in your name. They can do damage to your financial history and personal reputation that can take years to correct. Their goal is to use your identity for their gain.
The good news is if you learn how identity theft works and how to protect yourself, you can help stop this crime.
The links below are provided for you to learn more about identity theft. You will learn why protecting your identity is important, what you can do to protect it, and what to do if your identity is ever stolen.
FDIC Introduction to Identity Theft and Electronic Scams, Additional Resources and Contact Information - Identity theft, spyware, malware, phishing, what do these terms mean? This resource by the FDIC provides an online self-educational multimedia tool on how to prevent identity theft and advice on steps to take if your identity has been stolen.
Federal Trade Commission - 'ID Theft: What's It All About' - This resource can assist you in understanding what identity theft is and what it's all about. For more information, select the link to FDIC above.
OnGuardOnline.gov - This resource contains practical tips from the Federal Government and technology industry to assist you in protecting your identity.
What to do if you fall victim to identity theft:
- Contact the institutions and/or companies where the fraud occurred
- If you hold accounts with Peoples National Bank, contact us immediately and alert us to the situation
- File a report with the police department and obtain a copy of that report.
- Contact one of the three major credit bureaus listed in our "Your Credit Rights" section below. Discuss with them whether or not you need to place a fraud alert on your file
- Review your credit reports periodically and carefully
- Report all suspicious contacts to the Federal Trade Commission:
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www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft | |
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1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) | |
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1-866-653-4261 | |
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Identity Theft Clearing House | |
| Federal Trade Commission | ||
| 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW | ||
| Washington, DC 20580. |
Your Credit Rights
PNB knows your credit is important to you. This section is provided for you to learn more about your credit, your rights as a consumer, as well as the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACT) Act.
Federal Trade Commission for Consumers - This site contains FACT Act education. Learn how you can obtain a free credit report annually, build a better credit report, better understand credit scoring, and more!
Federal Trade Commission for Business - This site contains FACT Act education, business credit education, and more.
AnnualCreditReport.com - AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site to help consumers obtain their free credit report. This site allows you to request a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer reporting bureaus being Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
If you believe there is a discrepancy with your credit report, or you are a victim of identity theft, you should contact one of the three major credit bureaus and discuss whether you need to place a fraud alert on your file. The contact information for each fraud division is located below:
| Experian | ||
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1-888-397-3742 |
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PO Box 1017 |
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Allen, TX 75013 |
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Consumer Protection
Federal Trade Commission for Consumers - The Federal Trade Commission for consumers has information to assist you in protecting yourself as a consumer.
