Identity Theft Prevention Tips
Simple Steps to Help Protect Your Identity
Identity theft can happen when someone gets access to your personal, financial, or account information and uses it without your permission.
No single step can prevent every form of identity theft, but a few everyday habits can make your information more difficult to steal and misuse.
Think Your Information Is Already at Risk?
Contact FVSBank immediately if:
- You notice an unauthorized transaction
- You shared account information with someone you now believe was a scammer
- Someone may have accessed your Digital Banking account
- Your debit card, checks, or mobile device were lost or stolen
Call FVSBank: 800-242-7880
Lost or stolen debit card: 833-735-1894
Identity Theft Help & Resources
Protect Your Accounts and Devices
- Lock your phone, tablet, and computer with a strong passcode, fingerprint, or facial recognition
- Install software and security updates when they become available
- Download financial apps only from an official app store
- Access Digital Banking through the official FVSBank website or mobile app
- Do not sign in through a link in an unexpected email or text message
- Turn on alerts for transactions, password changes, and new-device logins
- Add a PIN or password to your mobile phone account
- Sign out of accounts when using a shared or public device
- Do not save banking passwords in a shared web browser
Protect Your Security Codes
Never share your:
- Digital Banking username or password
- Debit card PIN
- One-time security code
- Full debit or credit card number
- Social Security number
Someone who contacts you unexpectedly may already know part of your personal information. That does not mean the communication is legitimate.
Protect Your Personal Information
Carry Only What You Need
Do not routinely carry your Social Security card, birth certificate, or other sensitive documents in your wallet or purse.
Carry only the payment cards and identification you expect to use.
Share Information Carefully
Before providing your Social Security number or other sensitive information, ask:
- Why is it needed?
- How will it be protected?
- Can another form of identification be used?
- What happens if I do not provide it?
Do not provide personal information to someone who contacted you unexpectedly.
Protect Your Mail
- Collect incoming mail promptly
- Use a secure mailbox whenever possible
- Take outgoing mail containing checks or personal information directly to a post office or secure collection box
- Place a hold on your mail when traveling
- Contact the sender when an unexpected financial statement or important document does not arrive.
You may also reduce prescreened credit and insurance offers through the official OptOutPrescreen service
Dispose of Documents Safely
Shred documents containing:
- Account numbers
- Social Security numbers
- Tax information
- Medical information
- Credit offers
- Financial statements
- Signatures or identification numbers
Keep documents you still need in a secure location.
Protect Yourself From Suspicious Messages
Be cautious when a caller, email, or text message:
- Says there is an urgent problem with your account
- Threatens to close or suspend an account
- Requests your password, PIN, or security code
- Tells you to move money to “protect” it
- Asks you to purchase gift cards or cryptocurrency
- Sends a link to verify or unlock an account
- Asks you to install an app or provide remote access to your device
- Pressures you to act before speaking with someone you trust
Caller ID, email addresses, and text-message names can be faked.
Do not use the contact information provided in a suspicious message. Contact the organization through its official website, mobile app, account statement, or the number published on the back of your card.
Monitor Your Financial Identity
Review Your Credit Reports
Check your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit reports for:
- Accounts you did not open
- Credit inquiries you do not recognize
- Incorrect names or addresses
- Balances that do not belong to you
- Collection accounts you do not recognize
Free weekly credit reports are available through AnnualCreditReport.com
Check Your Credit ReportsReview More Than Your Credit
Identity theft may also involve taxes, employment, medical care, or government benefits.
Review:
- Medical bills and insurance explanations or benefits
- Tax notices
- Social Security records
- Benefit statements
- Utility and mobile phone accounts</li?
- Changes to your mailing address or contact information
Investigate activity or communications that do not make sense.
After a Data Break or Lost Wallet
Receiving a data breach notice does not necessarily mean someone has used your identity, but you should take precautions.
Take These Steps
- Read the notice carefully to understand what information was exposed
- Change affected passwords and any reused passwords
- Turn on multi-factor authentication
- Contact FVSBank if bank or debit card information may be involved
- Replace lost or compromised cards
- Review your financial accounts and credit reports
- Consider placing a credit freeze
- Follow any identity-monitoring instructions provided by the affected organization
- Visit IdentityTheft.gov if you discover that your information has been misused.
Complete a Five-Minute Security Checkup
Take a few minutes today to confirm that:
- Your email and financial accounts have unique passwords
- Multi-factor authentication is turned on
- Your phone and computer lock automatically
- Transaction and login alerts are enabled
- Your contact information is current
- Recent transactions are accurate
- Your credit reports do not contain unfamiliar activity
Small actions taken now can make unusual activity easier to detect and limit the damage identity theft may cause.
Have Questions or Notice Suspicious Activity?
We are here to help you review activity involving your FVSBank accounts.
Call FVSBank: 800-242-7880
Lost or stolen debit: 833-735-1894