Identity Theft

Identity theft happens when a criminal illegally obtains your personal information to steal money from your accounts, open new credit cards, apply for loans, rent apartments and commit other crimes — all using your identity. Because your personal information can be illegally used in multiple ways, identity theft can cause financial loss, damage to your credit and result in a lengthy resolution process.

Although identity theft is often considered a high-tech crime, only affecting those who shop or do business online, the majority of identity theft occurs offline. What might surprise you is that identity theft crimes are often committed by people you know or have contact with; anyone with access to your checkbook, credit cards or statements. Common tactics used by identity thieves include stealing wallets or purses, intercepting your mail or rummaging through your garbage (dumpster diving).

You can help protect yourself and your account information by following these simple steps:

• Delete suspicious emails from unknown sources without opening them.
• Never provide personal information over the phone or the Internet if you did not initiate the contact. Bank of Bourbonnais will NEVER ask you for any private information (such as account numbers, passwords, social security numbers, etc.) through an unsolicited email.
• Purchase a shredder and shred financial and personal documents you no longer need, such as credit card offers, pay stubs and utility bills, before discarding them.
• Only carry necessary identification in your wallet or purse. For example, do not carry your Social Security card.
• Do not print your Social Security number on your checks.
• When a Social Security number is requested, confirm that it is actually needed rather than some other identifier.
• Use online banking to pay your bills online. The fewer personal documents sent through the mail, the less chance there is for identity theft.
• Closely monitor your bank account statements and credit card bills. Contact your financial institution immediately if there's a discrepancy in your records or if you notice something suspicious, such as a missing payment or an unauthorized withdrawal.
• Do not send confidential information such as account numbers and passwords over the Internet in an email.
• Avoid using public computers, such as those in libraries, hotels or Internet cafes to connect to online banking sites because of the risk of spyware residing on the public equipment.
• Reduce the number of credit offers you receive by contacting the National Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies at 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) or visiting their site at www.optoutprescreen.com. You can opt out of receiving credit offers for five years or opt out of receiving them permanently.