Fraud & Identity Theft
Fraud through Identity Theft is growing everyday throughout the world, and everyone is at risk of becoming a victim. Criminals may obtain your information for fraudulent use from everyday transactions such as writing checks, renting a car, and using a credit or debit card for payment.
Identity Theft occurs when someone illegally obtains your personal information, such as Social Security Number, Credit Card Number, Bank Account Number, or other identification and uses it to open accounts or initiate transactions in your name. If you are a victim of identity theft or if your personal information has been compromised, please visit the Federal Trade Commission’s site at https://www.identitytheft.gov for more information.
Some ways thieves may obtain your personal information:
- Steal your wallet or purse
- Steal your mail
- Complete a change of address form to divert your mail to another location
- Rummage through your trash or public trash cans (dumpster diving).
- Collect your information through e-mail or phone by pretending to be from a legitimate company, family member or friend.
Here are a few simple rules to follow to help you protect yourself.
Review and balance your bank statement as soon as you receive it. Look for unexplained charges or withdrawals. Promptly notify us of any discrepancies. You can also check your account activity between statements using Internet Banking. The few minutes you spend reviewing your statement could save you thousands.
ATM/Debit Cards. Think of an ATM/Debit Card as the key to your bank account. Do not give it to other persons to use. Never write the PIN on the back of the card.
Shred any documents containing identifying information before throwing them away, including pre-approved credit offers, charge receipts, checks and bank statements, even on closed accounts.
Don’t give out your financial information when it is requested through unsolicited emails or phone calls. UMB will never email you or call you to ask for PINs, passwords, or other confidential account information.
Do not follow links in unfamiliar emails. These links could potentially take you to fake web sites.
Writing Checks. Fill out the payee line and the amount line completely. If you leave space, you create an opportunity for someone who gets possession of your check to add an alternative payee or to increase the amount. Guard against such alterations by eliminating the space necessary to make them. NEVER sign a check until you are ready to deliver or mail it, and NEVER endorse a check until you are ready to cash or deposit it.
Financial Scams. Beware of financial scams such as “Work from Home” scams (usually found on the internet) and “Sweepstakes” scams received through the mail. Please remember; if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Update your virus protection software on your PC regularly. DO NOT open files from strangers or companies you do not know.
Disposing of a computer. Be sure to use a “wipe” utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive before disposing of a computer.
For additional information, please visit the Consumer Awareness page.