Fraud Protection Information
Each year, thousands of innocent consumers fall victim to identity theft, check scams, mail fraud, credit card fraud, and other forms of bank fraud. More recently, we have seen a surge in “phishing’’ scams, which use fraudulent e-mails or pop-up Web pages that appear legitimate but are designed to trick you into revealing personal information regarding your account.
Identity theft and bank fraud are serious crimes that have a lasting impact on consumers and their financial security. In many cases, victims spend years and untold dollars trying to repair the damage to credit records and personal lives. These crimes can feel just as invasive and hurtful as if you were burglarized or robbed.
The first line of defense in stopping criminals from stealing your personal information is you. If you do not properly protect your personal information, thieves can easily steal money from your bank accounts, take out loans in your name and charge up thousands of dollars on your credit cards – all without your knowledge.
Cornerstone Community Bank recognizes the risks and hazards of these crimes, and our security experts are doing everything possible to help protect you. We value your trust and work hard to keep your personal and financial information secure. You can learn more by reading our Privacy Policy.
Here are some basic precautionary steps that you can take to protect your personal information and help prevent identity theft and bank fraud:
- Take care to shield your PIN when using an automated teller machine.
- Memorize your PIN and do not write it on anything, especially documents kept in your wallet or purse.
- Report lost or stolen checks, ATM cards, or Check Cards as soon as you discover they are missing.
- Review your bank statement monthly.
- Review your credit report yearly.
- Protect your ATM card, Check Card, and credit card receipts. Some receipts may bear the account number and expiration date.
- Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
Cornerstone Community Bank works with you to protect your financial information. We will never ask you to divulge your PIN or account number over the Internet. If you think you are the victim of fraud, please contact one of our relationship managers immediately at 385-3000.
The Federal Trade Commission Consumer Response Center (877-ID-THEFT) maintains a program to assist victims of identity theft. The Center logs complaints and provides assistance and information to victimized consumers to rectify damage to their credit and personal reputation.
For more information on preventing identify theft and bank fraud, please visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft for complete details.