Huntington Ridge Homeowners

Neighborhood Watch Program - Fraud Protection

Neighborhood Watch Program

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM
FRAUD PROTECTION

Identity theft is something that happens to other people. Right? Wrong! According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft affects 700,000 to 1 million new victims each year.

Many people do not realize how easily criminals can obtain your personal data. Here are some ways they work:
· “Dumpster Diving” – sifting through trash to find a credit card or bank statement or a pre-approved solicitation to obtain account numbers and personal information.
· “Phishing” – e-mails designed to trick you into giving financial and personal information by pretending to be a legitimate financial institution or credit card company and asking you to “confirm” these details by resubmitting the information.
· Stealing mail from your mailbox – opening payment envelopes to obtain checking account information, credit card account numbers and personal information.
· Fraudulent e-mails or websites – designed to convince you there is an immediate need to update your financial information.

Tips to Avoid Financial Fraud/Identity Theft

You can protect yourself by managing your personal and financial information.
· Don’t give out personal information -- such as credit card numbers, Social Security number, passwords, mother’s maiden name, financial account numbers – over the phone, the Internet or through the mail unless you have initiated the contact or know with whom you’re dealing.
· Don’t reply to an e-mail requesting financial or personal information. Your bank will never ask you to provide these details by e-mail.
· When making an online purchase, make sure you are purchasing from a trusted and secure website.
· When paying your bills by mail, go to the post office or put them in a USPS mailbox. Don’t put them in your personal mailbox. Consider an electronic bill payment service through OnLine Access.
· Obtain a copy of your credit report annually from the three credit reporting agencies. You can also ask them to remove your name from their pre-approved offers list.
· Review all monthly account statements or online account information regularly. Report any unusual activity. If your statements do not arrive on time, it may be that a fraudulent change of address has been submitted. Contact your financial provider immediately. Then contact the post office to see if a change of address has been completed in your name.
· Sign the back of your credit cards as soon as they arrive.
· Save your credit card receipts and compare them to your billing statement each month. Report any questionable charges promptly and in writing to the card issuer.
· List or photocopy all your credit card account numbers, their expiration dates and the issuers’ customer service phone numbers and keep the list in a safe place.
· Tear or shred personal documents like credit card or bank statements, as well as pre-approved credit offers.
· Don’t write your full credit card number on checks – use last four digits only.
· Don’t carry “extra” credit cards or your Social Security card in your wallet or purse. Store them, along with your birth certificate and passport, in a safe place.
· Don’t print or write your Social Security number on personal checks.
· When making investments, make sure the brokerage firm is properly registered and verify phone and address information you receive from the firm or broker.
· Do not write Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) on your respective credit, ATM or check card and never carry these numbers in your wallet where the cards are located.

What To Do If You Are The Victim of Fraud or Identity Theft

If identity theft or fraud is suspected or if your wallet or purse is lost or stolen, act immediately to minimize damage. Keep records of conversations and correspondence.
1. Synovus Customers – Call the appropriate Synovus contact
2. Identity Theft Assistance Center – Synovus has partnered with over 50 financial institutions to provide a FREE service for assisting victims of identity theft. ITAC is a national agency that will not only assist victims of identity theft, it will create a national database to help fight identity theft. Contact your local Synovus bank for more information.
3. Other Financial Institutions and Creditors – Contact financial institutions or creditors for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Speak with someone in the security or fraud department. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you must also follow up in writing.
If your missing wallet or purse contained bank account information, checks or your ATM card, contact your bank immediately. If your checks are stolen, close your account. Also, notify the major check verification companies. For a lost/stolen ATM card, get a new card, account number and Personal Identification Number.
Contact the customer service department of any lost or stolen credit cards and close the account. If you discover someone has changed the billing address on the account, notify the issuer immediately.
4. Credit Reporting Agencies – Contact the fraud departments of Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion and request a “fraud alert” be placed on your file. Also request they include a statement asking creditors to obtain your permission before opening any new accounts in your name.
Additionally, request copies of your credit reports and review them carefully.
5. Law Enforcement – File a report with the police. Keep a copy of the report in case your creditors need proof.
6. Investment Broker – If you suspect someone has tampered with your securities investments or brokerage account, immediately report it to your broker or account manager and the Securities Exchange Commission, NASD and/or Securities Regulator.

Contacts

Contact numbers for Synovus bank customers:
· To report suspected fraud or identity theft – Contact your local Synovus Bank
· To report a lost/stolen check card or ATM card 1-866-756-7869
· To report a lost/stolen credit card 1-800-543-8227

Credit Reporting Agencies:
· Equifax – (www.equifax.com) To order your credit report, call (800)685-1111 and write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241. To report fraud, call (800)525-6285 and write to the above P.O. Box.
· Experian – (www.experian.com) To order your credit report or to report fraud, call (888)EXPERIAN and write: P.O. Box 949, Allen, TX 75013-0949.
· TransUnion – (www.tuc.com) To order your credit report, call (800)916-8800 and write: P.O. Box 100, Chester, PA 19022. To report fraud, call (800)680-7289 and write: Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634. To opt out of receiving pre-approved credit offers: (888)567-8688.

Other Contacts:
· Social Security Administration – (www.ssa.gov) To report fraud, call (800)269-0271. To order Earnings Benefits Statement, call (800)772-1213.
· U.S. Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580 or (877)IDTHEFT. To file a complaint, call (877)438-4338. (www.consumer.gov/idtheft)
· Consumer Credit Counseling Service – For advice on removing fraudulent claims on credit reports, call (800)388-2227.
· Securities Exchange Commission – If you believe you have been a victim of a security-related fraud, through the Internet or otherwise, you can submit an online complaint form (www.sec.gov) or e-mail enforcement@sec.gov. If you prefer to submit your complaint in writing, please send it to the SEC Complaint Center, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549-0213.