WHAT IS IDENTITY (ID) THEFT?

Identity Theft occurs when someone uses your personal information [credit card account numbers, social security number or other financial information] without permission to commit fraud or other crimes. Learning about Identity Theft can help protect yourself and give you information on what to do if you suspect that you are a victim of Identity Theft.

HOW IS YOUR IDENTITY STOLEN?

There are numerous methods now in play to get your personal financial information:

1. Dumpster Diving: Going through your trash
2. Skimming: Stealing credit card account numbers with a special storage device
3. Phishing: Pretending to be a financial institution and sending spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal personal information
4. Changing Your Address: Diverting some or all your mail to another address
5. Stealing: Your wallets and purses, bank statements, credit offers and new checks

TIPS ON PROTECTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

At Burke & Herbert Bank, we work hard every day to ward off threats of identity theft, but maximum security is possible only with your help. Here’s what you can do:

1. Don’t give out financial information over the phone unless you initiate the call.
2. Report lost or stolen checks immediately. Review your delivery of new checks to make certain none were stolen in transit.
3. Store personal information in a safe place and tear up or shred credit card receipts and statements, ATM receipts and credit offers.
4. Guard your credit card and ATM Personal Identification Number (PIN). Never write it on the card.
5. Pay attention to when you receive your credit card statements each month. Call your credit card company if you do not receive a monthly statement to verify whether someone filed a false change-of-address to divert your mail.
6. Order the free copy of your credit report from the three credit reporting agencies every year. See our "Free Credit Report" tab in the drop down menu to find out how.

COULD YOU BE A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT?

To learn more about Identity Theft and the "Identity Theft Task Force" or if you think you may be a victim of Identity Theft, the Federal Trade Commission's website is the place to start. Click on this link: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ to go to their "Deter, Detect and Defend" Identity Theft home page.