How to Safeguard Yourself
Passwords: Make them unique and hard for criminals to guess (i.e. do not use your street address). Do not share passwords with other people and do not write passwords or Personal Identification Numbers down.
Anti-Virus: Keep your computer's anti-virus software up-to-date. New viruses are being created every day.
Anti-Spyware: Software to detect and remove spyware is readily available and should be on all computers.
Don't Get Phished: Don't answer any suspicious e-mails. And always remember that St Landry Bank will not ask you to "verify" any information through an e-mail. If you get such an e-mail, it's a scam.
Additional Safeguards
Destroy credit card solicitations before throwing them away. "Dumpster-diving" is still one of the ways criminals get cards in your name.
Prepare a list of your credit card numbers and company contact information.
Shred bank statements before discarding.
Report lost or stolen cards immediately.
Review account statements regularly to verify all transactions.
Review your credit report on an annual basis (see information below).
Protect your purse or wallet.
Check List for Victims of Identity Theft
If you become a victim of identity theft you should do the following:
- File a police report.
- Contact your bank.
- Cancel your credit cards.
- Notify credit bureau fraud units
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
- Place a fraud alert statement on your credit report.
- Request that credit bureaus identify accounts closed due to fraud as "closed by consumer's request".
- Request a free credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com.
- Check post office for unauthorized change of address requests.
- Follow-up telephone contacts with letters and keep copies of all correspondence.