Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, address, Social Security Number, credit card or financial account numbers, passwords, and other personal information without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes.

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States.

Here are a few ways to protect against Identity Theft:

• Don’t reply to online requests for personal or financial information or even click on any links in the message.
• Don’t email personal or financial information — it’s not secure.
• If you want to provide personal or financial information through a website, look for a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”).
• Don't believe emails or web advertisements that offer to pay you money if you transfer cash to them.
• Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails, regardless of who sent them.
• Forward spam that asks for personal or financial information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the email.
• Check your credit report regularly. The law requires the major national consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it. Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228 to order yours.
• Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to check for unauthorized charges. Our Online Banking service lets you check your account information anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Shred any sensitive financial or personal information before recycling or throwing it in the trash.

Here’s what to do if you think you’ve been a victim of Identity Theft:

• Place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports.
• Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently.
• File a police report.
• Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or by calling 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) or TTY, 1-866-653-4261.

If you believe one of your Provincial Bank accounts has been victimized by Identity Theft, contact us immediately at 952-469-2265.