Identity Theft

At Farmers & Merchants Union Bank we take great care to protect your personal information. Strict policies and procedures are in place to ensure your account information is kept confidential. Only authorized signers can access account information. Every effort is made to protect our customers from fraud.

We will never request your Internet Banking password. We strongly suggest that you do not share this information with anyone under any circumstances. Be wary of emails or individuals who ask for such information, as sharing your Access ID and password will provide the recipient with full access to your account.

To educate and protect our customers and community, we have outlined tips for preventing your identity theft, and a checklist of things to do immediately if you become a victim. In addition, find out how you can be alerted if identity theft occurs.

What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone acquires key pieces of another person's identity and commits fraud. Information such as name, date of birth, social security number, mother's maiden name, etc., can help a criminal impersonate another individual. Once this person has access to this information, they can commit different kinds of fraud, including accessing bank accounts, obtain loans, making purchases, renting apartments, etc.

How Does it Affect You?
Identity theft can happen to anyone in hundreds of different ways. The availability of high-tech tools, such as color printers and scanners, has greatly affected this crime. Today, it's the fastest growing crime facing every citizen. Identity theft is a felony crime; however, police cannot help with your credit record or undo the damage that has been done. Delayed discovery of identity theft and the various ways criminals can now gain access to your personal information, can complicate a criminal investigation. Proper precautions with your information are the best protection.

How You Can Avoid Being Victimized
Minimize your risk by completing the following steps:

Change all passwords regularly, using a mix of numbers and characters. Memorize your passwords and write them down only in a secure place.

Never share your passwords with anyone. Be wary of emails or individuals who ask for such information. Sharing your password will provide the recipient with full access to your account if they have your Access ID and account number.

Guard your PIN at ATMs. Never write the number down anywhere in your purse or wallet.

Never provide personal information over the phone unless you initiated contact or know with whom you are speaking to. Ask how your personal information will be used and protected and whether the information you're asked to provide is voluntary or mandatory to complete the transaction.

Do not put outgoing mail in your home mailbox to be picked up. Take it to a postal box.

Get a locked mailbox or post office box.

Don't carry extra credit cards or your social security card in your wallet.

Don't use your credit card number on the Internet unless the site has a secured, encrypted system (look for "HTTPS" in the URL or the lock icon in the corner of your screen).

Make a list of your credit card and bank account numbers, along with customer service numbers, and keep it in a safe place.

Shred all personal documents and unwanted mail.

Have your checks delivered to your bank or post office box, not your home address.

Monitor your bank and credit card statements every month. Be aware of billing cycles; if you miss receiving a bill, it can be an indication that your credit card company has received a change of address from someone other than you.

Order a credit report from all three agencies twice per year and review them carefully. Report any discrepancies in writing to each credit agency and explain the situation. You can also be alerted if potential identity theft is suspected.

A financial institution's Web page should never be accessed from a link provided by a third party. It should only be accessed by typing the Web site name, or URL address, into the Web browser or by using a "bookmark" that directs the Web browser to the financial instititution's Web Site.

What To Do If You Suspect Identity Theft

Immediately contact Farmers & Merchants Union Bank.

Contact the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Hotline: 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338)

Call the three main credit bureaus to get copies of your credit report. With the bureau's help, add fraud flags and statements to your report saying that all potential creditors should contact you to verify credit applications.

Notify law enforcement to file a report.

Report the theft of mail to your local postal inspector.

After contacting your phone company about unauthorized long distance charges, contact the Consumer & Government Affairs Bureau or call 1-888-225-5322 if you are still having difficulty removing fraudulent charges from your account.

Inform check security companies about the fraud affecting your account.
Contact them directly at:

National Check Fraud Center
1-843-571-2143

SCAN
1-800-262-7771

TeleCheck
1-800-710-9898

CrossCheck
1-707-586-0551

Equifax Check Systems
1-800-437-5120

International Check Services
1-800-526-5380

Chexsystems
1-800-428-9623

CheckRite
1-800-766-2748

If You Have Been Victimized, It Is Imperative That You Do The Following:

Law Enforcement: Contact law enforcement to file a police report. Record the police department name and case number.

Credit Agencies: You are entitled to a free credit report if you are the victim of identity theft, have been denied credit, receive welfare or are unemployed. Contact one of the following credit reporting agencies to report the fraud and ask about putting a fraud alert on your record:

Equifax: To order a report, call 1-800-685-1111 or write P.O Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241. To report fraud, call 1-800-525-6285 and write P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241.

Experian: To order a report or to report fraud, call 1-888-397-3742 or write P.O. Box 949, Allen, TX 75013-0949.

Trans Union: To order a report, call 1-800-916-8800 or write P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022. To report fraud, call 1-800-680-7289 and write Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92384.