Identity Theft

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, Social Security Number, or bank account number without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. Examples include the use of your name and personal information to open new credit card accounts, establish new bank accounts, forge checks, and even apply for loans. 

Some clues that could indicate your identity may have been stolen include failing to receive bills or other expected mail, receiving credit cards for which you did not apply, denial of credit for reasons that are not apparent, or receiving calls from debt collectors or companies about merchandise or services you did not purchase. 

While you can't entirely control whether you will become a victim, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk. Many of these steps also pertain to business practices.


How Does Identity Theft Occur?

Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information, including:

  • Dumpster Diving - thieves rummage through trash looking for bills or other documents containing personal information.
  • Skimming - a credit/debit card number is stolen when processing your card using a special storage device.
  • Phishing - a high-tech scam that uses spam or pop-up messages to deceive you into disclosing personal information.
  • Address Changes - thieves frequently divert billing statements to another location by completing a false "Change of Address" form.
  • Physical Theft - this is committed by stealing wallets, purses, and mail, such as pre-approved credit card offers, bank statements, or new check orders.
  • Pretexting - this is a form of social engineering in which a thief lies about his identity or purpose to obtain an individual's personal information.


What Can You Do To Help Fight Identity Theft?

First Carolina Bank has strict procedures for protecting and monitoring our clients' accounts and personal information. The following are a few tips you can use to reduce the risk of identity theft:

  • Protect Your Social Security Number - don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security Number on a check. Give it out only when absolutely necessary.
  • Shred Documents - shred financial documents and personal information before discarding.
  • Review Your Credit Report - Federal Law requires the major nationwide credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to provide you with a free copy of your credit report every 12 months upon your request. Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228 to request your free copy.
  • Never Click on Links in Unsolicited E-Mails - e-mails requesting account information and passwords should be scrutinized carefully, particularly if the information is needed to "award a prize," "verify a statement," or "verify information on file." These may be phishing scams. 
  • Use updated firewalls, as well as anti-spyware and anti-virus software to protect your home and business computers from viruses.
  • Protect Your Passwords - use passwords that are hard to guess and memorize them. Avoid using predictable codes such as your birth date, mother's maiden name, or Social Security Number.
  • Keep Personal Information Secure - personal information not secured at home can be at risk, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.
  • Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you initiated the contact and know who you are dealing with.
  • Avoid disclosing personal information when using public wireless connections.
  • Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes rather than in your curbside mailbox.
  • Monitor Financial Statements - carefully monitor bank and credit card accounts regularly for unauthorized charges by checking account information over the phone, at ATMs, or on the Internet. 
  • Immediately report any suspicious activity to your financial institution - if you do not receive a statement or bill as scheduled, contact the company to determine why, as it may have been diverted by an identity thief.


What Should You Do If You Are a Victim of Identity Theft?

First Carolina Bank is ready to assist you where needed if you are an identity theft victim. You can use this Identity Theft – Important Information Toolkit to help you get the process started. It is recommended that you follow these steps where necessary as soon as you become aware of identity theft:

  • Contact Financial Institutions - contact First Carolina Bank immediately if the fraudulent activity is related to your bank account(s). Review the activity on all of your accounts, including checking and savings accounts, debit cards, loans, and other banking accounts and look for changed addresses, changed Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), or new cards ordered. Notify the fraud departments of credit card companies, as well as other banks and lenders, of the potential fraud. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Change your Online Banking username and password immediately.
  • Contact the Police - immediately call the local police or the police in the community where the identity theft occurred and file a report. The police can initiate an investigation and you can obtain information from the police report, which you will likely need to address credit report and account issues.
  • Complete an Affidavit Form - First Carolina Bank, as well as many financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, may require you to complete an      "Identity Theft Affidavit" form. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) developed the Affidavit Form for use by victims of identity theft.
  • Contact Credit Bureaus - contact the toll-free number of any of the three consumer reporting agencies below to place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit report. You only need to contact one of the three agencies, because the first agency you contact is required to report the alert to the other two, which will then place an alert on their versions of your report.

    Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
    Experian: 1-888-397-3742
    TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

    Request a statement be shown on the report whereby creditors contact you to verify future credit applications. Once a Fraud Alert is placed, you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report from each of the agencies. Review each credit report carefully once received. Look for inquiries from companies you have not contacted, accounts you did not open, and debts on your accounts that you cannot explain. Continue to check your credit reports periodically to ensure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
  • Contact the Federal Trade Commission - report the criminal activity to the FTC by filing a complaint using the FTC's Online Complaint Form or by calling the Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) and speaking with a trained identity theft counselor. By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves. You can also provide a copy of your online complaint form to the police to incorporate into their police report.
  • Contact ChexSystems - First Carolina Bank uses ChexSystems to provide deposit account verification services. If your First Carolina Bank checks are used fraudulently, you may want to place a 'Consumer Reported Identity Theft' Security Alert with ChexSystems or contact the company at 1-800-428-9623. 
  • Keep Records - document the names, phone numbers, and dates for each person you speak to regarding the incident. Follow up on your phone calls with letters and keep copies of all correspondence.
  • Continue to Review All Accounts -since identity theft can take time to completely resolve, carefully review all charges and transactions appearing on your account statements and online. Report any discrepancies immediately.

If you feel that you may be a victim of identity theft, please contact your bank representative as soon as possible so that we may take the proper precautions to help you.


Are There Other Identity Theft Resources?

First Carolina Bank has an Identity Theft – Important Information Toolkit that you can download and print. It includes telephone numbers and websites for credit reporting agencies, telephone and mailing list removal companies, and other helpful numbers, such as the Social Security Administration.

Many government and nonprofit agencies have a wealth of helpful information on identity theft for consumers and businesses. To learn more, click on the following links: