IDENTITY THEFT
&
FRAUD
INFORMATION
Having your identity stolen is a traumatic experience. You have already taken the first important
step by contacting an Ossian State Bank customer service representative
immediately.
Ossian State Bank will work with you every step of the way
to correct all unauthorized transactions with your Ossian State Bank accounts.
Enclosed are additional materials we hope you will find
helpful when documenting and resolving this problem with your other service
providers:
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A list of steps to take with resolution advice
and helpful phone numbers
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A chart to record account information on your
various accounts
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A customer activity log to track the chronology of
what happened, what was lost and the action steps you take
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Identity theft affidavit
We hope you will find these materials beneficial in managing
this process and minimizing further risk and exposure. Should you have any questions concerning your
fraud claim, please contact Ossian State Bank at
Thank you for your business and we look forward to serving
your financial needs.
Ossian State Bank
IDENTITY THEFT: STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU
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:
l). Contact your bank(s) and credit card
issuers immediately so that the following can be done: access to your accounts can be protected;
stop payments on missing checks; personal identification numbers (PINS) and
online banking passwords changed; and a new account opened, if
appropriate. Be sure to indicate to the
bank or card issuer all of the accounts and/or cards 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 statement. Contact the major check verification
companies to request they notify retailers using their databases not to accept
these stolen checks, or ask your bank to notify the check verification service
with which it does business. Three of
the check verification companies that accept reports of check fraud directly
from consumers are:
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Telecheck
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International Check Services
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Equifax
2). File a police
report with your 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 clarifying to creditors that you are a victim of
identity theft.
3). Contact the three
major credit bureaus and request a copy of your credit report.
You are entitled to a free credit report if you are a victim
of identity theft. 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 the 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 new accounts or changing your existing
ones. This can help prevent an identity
thief from opening additional accounts in your name. Here are the major credit bureaus and their
phone numbers:
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Trans Union
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Experian
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Equifax
You can also contact the FTC’s ID Theft Consumer Response
Center toll free at
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1-877-IDTHEFT
4). Check your
mailbox for stolen mail. Make sure
no one has requested an unauthorized address change, title change, PIN change
or ordered new cards or checks to be sent to another address. If a thief has stolen your mail to get credit
cards, bank and credit card statements, pre-screened credit offers, or tax
information, or if a thief has falsified change of address forms, that’s a crime. Contact your local post office and police.
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 any relevant report or reference numbers and instructions.
6). If your social security number was used
fraudulently, report the problem(s) to the:
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Social Security Administrations Fraud
Hotline
In extreme cases of fraud, it may be possible for you to get
a new SSN. Also, order a copy of your Earnings and Benefits Statement and check
it for accuracy:
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Order
Earning and Benefits Statement
7). Passports, if
you have a passport, notify the passport office in writing to be on the lookout
for anyone ordering a new passport fraudulently.
8). Driver License
Number Misuse: You may need to
change your driver’s license number if someone is using yours as identification
on bad checks. Call the state office of
the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see if another license was issued in
your name. Put a fraud alert on your
license. Go to your local DMV to request
a new number.
Also, fill out the DMV’s complaint form to begin the fraud
investigation process. Send supporting documents
with the completed form to the nearest DMV.
9). DO NOT GIVE IN: Finally do NOT pay any bill or any portion of a bill, which is a result of
identity theft. Do NOT cover any checks, which were written and/or cashed
fraudulently. Do NOT file for bankruptcy.
Your credit rating should not be permanently affected, and no legal
actions should be taken against you. If
any merchant, financial institution or collection agency suggest otherwise,
simply restate your willingness to cooperate, but do NOT allow yourself to be coerced into paying fraudulent bills.
If fraudulent charges appear on your account call:
v
Consumer Credit Counseling Service
They will help in clearing false claims from your credit
report.
Visit these Web sites for more information on ID Theft:
v
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Federal Trade Commission: www.consumer.gov/idtheft
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Department of Justice: www.usdoj.gov/creminal/fraud/text/idtheft.html
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Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: www.fdic.gov/consumers
Web sites for credit card companies:
v Discover: http://www.discovercard.com/
v MasterCard: http://www.mastercard.us/
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Visa: www.usa.visa.com/personal
To remove your name from mailing lists:
Direct Marketing Assoc.
Mail Preference Service
Telephone Preference Service
Add your name to the National and
Indiana Do Not Call Lists.
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To add your name to the National Do Not Call List call:
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To add your name to the
CUSTOMER ACCOUNT RECORD
Use this form to record the steps you’ve taken to report the
fraudulent use of your identity. Keep this list in a safe place for reference.
In dealing with the authorities and financial institutions,
keep a log of all conversations, including dates, names, and phone
numbers. Confirm conversations in
writing. Send correspondence by certified mail (return receipt requested). Keep copies of all letters and documents.
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Credit Bureaus –
Report Fraud |
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Bureau
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Phone Number |
Date Contacted |
Contact Person |
Comments |
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Equifax
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Experian |
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Trans |
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Banks, Credit Cards Issuers and Other Creditors |
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(Contact each
creditor promptly to protect your legal rights.) |
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Creditor
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Address/ Phone |
Date Contacted |
Contact Person |
Comments |
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Law Enforcement
Authorities – Report Identity Theft |
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Bureau |
Phone Number |
Date Contacted |
Contact Person |
Comments |
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Federal Trade Commission |
1-877-IDTHEFT |
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Local Police |
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U.S Postal Inspector |
Call Post Office |
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CUSTOMER ACTIVITY LOG
This Customer Activity Log is designed to assist you in
maintaining a written chronology of what happened, what was lost and the steps
you took to report the incident to various banks and agencies.
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Incident Details
(date, time, location and circumstances of incident) |
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Methods of
Discovery (how did you first discover the incident?) |
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Statement review
(list of any unauthorized withdrawals, transactions or charges) |
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Other Information |
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