First Wisconsin Bank & Trust takes many security precautions to protect your account information and keep it safe from unauthorized use. Unfortunately, identity theft is a growing problem and can take weeks or months to discover. Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information to establish credit or borrow money in your name. Fortunately you can protect yourself. Here are a few tips that will minimize your risk from becoming a victim.

• Before you give out any personal information over the phone, through mail or over the internet, make sure you have either initiated contact or know and trust the person you are giving the information to. Notify First Wisconsin Bank & Trust if you have ever received a suspicious phone inquiry such as asking for account information to “verify a statement” or “award a prize.”
• Protect your social security number as often as possible. Store it in a safe place at home. Do not carry it around with you. When asked for your social security number, only give it out when necessary.
• When choosing passwords for credit card and ATM cards, try not to use information such as your birth date, mother’s maiden name, or phone number. Avoid using any information that is easily attainable. It is also important to protect your ATM Personal Identification Number (PIN) and ATM receipts.
• Monitor your accounts online regularly to detect fraud earlier than paper statements. If something seems unusual, please contact First Wisconsin Bank & Trust to discuss the issue.
• Regularly check your credit report. You may not know when your identity is stolen until you review your file and make certain the information is correct.
  
  

  	Credit Reporting Bureaus
  	Equifax (www.equifax.com)
  	Place a fraud alert: 1.888.766.0008
  	Order a credit report: 1.800.685.1111
  	Experian (www.experian.com)
  	Place a fraud alert: 1.888.397.3742
  	Order a credit report: 1.888.397.3742
  	TransUnion (www.transunion.com)
  	Place a fraud alert: 1.800.680.7289
  	Order a credit report: 1.800.888.4213

  
  
• Copies of financial solicitations, bank statements, credit card statements, insurance forms, or any type of receipts should be shredded instead of just being thrown away.
• Report lost or stolen checks immediately.

Although technology has made the internet easy and more accessible for financial activity, there are several ways that computer hackers can obtain personal information, but there are also ways to fight back.

• Protect your password – Make it unique. Experts advise a combination of letters and numbers for your password. Avoid using your pet’s name, your birthday, and other easy to remember passwords.
• Update your anti-virus software – Your computer’s anti-virus software needs to be updated to protect your computer from new strains of viruses.
• Firewall patches – This protective wall between the outside world and your computer can help prevent unauthorized access to your computer. Updates are called patches and you should check regularly with your software company to be sure you have the latest patches.
• Spyware protection – Spyware collects personal information to be used fraudulently when a user opens up a seemingly harmless e-mail attachment or clicks on a pop-up advertisement. Every computer connected to the Internet should have anti-spyware software installed and updated regularly.
• Phishing – If you receive an unexpected email, or one that you consider suspicious, delete it. Remember, First Wisconsin Bank & Trust will never email you and ask you to go to another site to “verify information.”

If you do become a victim of identity theft, contact First Wisconsin Bank & Trust immediately.

In addition, complete following four steps suggested by the Federal Trade Commission as soon as possible, and keep a record with the details of your conversations and copies of all correspondence. For more detailed information, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports. Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. If you do not receive a confirmation from a company, you should contact that company directly to place a fraud alert.
   
   

   	Credit Reporting Bureaus
   	Equifax (www.equifax.com)
   	Place a fraud alert: 1.888.766.0008
   	Experian (www.experian.com)
   	Place a fraud alert: 1.888.397.3742
   	TransUnion (www.transunion.com)
   	Place a fraud alert: 1.800.680.7289

   
   
2. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
   
3. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. You should also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by contacting the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline. You can reach them by telephone toll-free at 1.877.IDTHEFT (438.4338); or online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
   
4. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

www.consumer.gov/idtheft
http://www.iowabankers-identitytheft911.com/home.htm
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/index.html

For lost or stolen Visa Check Cards, please call Visa at 1.800.554.8969

For lost or stolen Visa Credit Cards, please call Visa at 1.800.543.5073