Merchant Card Service - Resources - Fraud Prevention

Safeguarding you and your money

Account fraud and identity theft are serious problems, and they are getting worse each year. But, you can take steps to reduce the possibility of these crimes happening to you.

When you visit your local bank, they may ask you to swipe your ATM card or Check Card and enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN) as a form of ID. Keeping your card secure and your PIN confidential is just one way to help secure your transactions.

The following tips may help to protect you against account fraud and identity theft:

• Never share your PIN or telephone access code with anyone and don't carry them in your wallet.
• Don't give out personal, business or financial information over the phone or internet unless you initiated the call to your bank, Power Company, etc.
• Limit the number of credit cards and pieces of ID that you carry; and store your Social Security card or birth certificate in a secure area.
• Review your credit card, bank statements regularly online almost daily and credit profile regularly for unauthorized activity promptly and make sure you receive bank statements, checks and other bills on time. Preferably see if you can get a Paperless bill for added security.
• Order checks through your bank; they may have extra security features built into their checks and check ordering procedures.  Pay as many bills online to eliminate the dumpster dippers.
• Report lost or stolen checks and cards or compromised PINs and passwords immediately to your bank or by visiting your neighborhood bank or financial center.
• Don't preprint your driver license or Social Security Number on your checks, and when you receive a new order of checks, make sure the order is complete.
• Store statements and new or cancelled checks in a safe place, and shred old documents that have personal information listed on them. (1) For added protection, ask us about check safekeeping and remove credit card numbers from receipts if they are not truncated that you submitted for rebate offers.
• When possible, use secure, electronic documents and services like Personal Online Banking and Personal Bill Pay or Business Online Banking and Business Bill Pay . These services help reduce the paper trail.
• Look into setting up Payment Card Protection, a service that allows you to cancel your registered cards, stop unauthorized purchases and request new cards with just one phone call.
• Drop outgoing mail into a secure postal service box and pick up your mail each day.

ATM and Card Safety Tips

• When using an ATM or point-of-sale terminal, shield the keypad when you enter your PIN and make sure to take your transaction receipt with you.
• When using your check card for purchases, review your sales slip to verify the correct amount has been noted before completing the transaction, and retrieve your card when the transaction is complete.

(1) Subject to tax-record requirements.