Tools to prevent Identity Theft
The number of Americans who have experienced identify theft has surpassed 27 million, with the incidence rate increasing every year. Substantial measures are in place at Enterprise Bank to protect your identity and your accounts against theft and fraud. For example, our strict Privacy Policy protests your personal and financial information. Password protection and multi layered authentication for online transactions help assure online security. When using our online services, you develop a secret password that only you know. Encryption of online transactions with Enterprise Bank converts your information into secure code and protects against hackers.
Maximum security is possible only with your help. Here’s what you can do to stop these crimes before they happen:
- Do not give out financial information such as checking and credit card numbers, or your Social Security number, unless you know the person or organization.
- Report lost or stolen checks immediately. We will advise you how to best protect your account against fraud.
- Notify your customer service representative of suspicious phone inquiries such as those asking for account information to “verify a statement” or “award a prize.”
- Closely guard your ATM Personal Identification Number (PIN) and ATM receipts.
- Shred any financial solicitations and bank statements before disposing of them.
- Put outgoing mail into a secure, official Postal Service collection box, not your home mail box.
- If regular bills fail to reach you, call the company to find out why.
FACT Act will help fight identity theft
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACT Act) will help reduce identity theft according to Congress and the Federal Trade Commission. For example, one provision requires the three major credit-reporting agencies to provide consumers with a free copy of their own credit report.
Another provision to help prevent identity theft is the National Fraud Alert System. Consumers, who reasonably suspect they have been or may be victimized by identity theft, or who are military personnel on active duty away from home, can place an alert on their credit files. The alert will put potential creditors on notice that they must proceed with caution when granting credit.
Other measures will help consumers recover their credit reputation after they have been victimized. Credit reporting agencies must stop reporting allegedly fraudulent account information when a consumer establishes that he or she has been the victim of identity theft;
Creditors or businesses must provide copies of business records or fraudulent accounts or transactions related to them. This information can assist victims in proving that they are, in fact, victims. Consumers will be allowed to report accounts affected by identity theft directly to creditors – in addition to credit reporting agencies – to prevent the spread of erroneous information.
How to obtain a free credit report: Click here or call (877)322-8228
