Identity Theft Protection

Each day, criminals find new ways to steal personal information, like Social Security and driver's license numbers, so they can take over existing accounts and open fraudulent new ones. At Spring Hill State Bank, measures are in place to protect your identity and your accounts against theft and fraud. Our privacy policies protect your personal and financial information.

Read information below on how ID theft happens and what you can do to protect yourself. For additional details, tips and resources, visit the Federal Trade Commission online.

Common Ways ID Theft Happens

Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information, including:

• Changing your address: They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a "change of address" form
• Dumpster diving: They rummage through the trash looking for papers with your personal information
• Skimming: They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card
• Old fashioned "stealing": They steal wallets, purses and your mail, gaining access to bank and credit card statements, new checks or tax information
• Phishing: They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information

IMPORTANT NOTES:

It is not Spring Hill State Bank's practice to:

• Send e-mail that requires you to enter personal information directly into the e-mail.
• Send e-mail threatening to close your account if you do not take the immediate action of providing personal information.
• Send e-mail asking you to reply by sending personal information.
• Send e-mail asking you to enter your User ID, Password or account numbers into an e-mail or non-secure webpage.
• Contact customers via email, phone or mail to request or verify security information about passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs).

How to Deter Indentity Theft

Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information; listed below are steps that you can take to help deter Identity Thieves:

• Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before discarding them.
• Protect your Social Security number. Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
• Don't give out personal information on the phone, through mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. User firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date.
• Don't use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
• Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.

Detecting Suspicious Activity

Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:

• Emails asking you to update your personal information online
• Denials of credit you did not apply for
• Bills that do not arrive when expected
• Calls or letters about purchases you did not make
• Unexpected credit cards or account statements

Inspect your Credit

Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history. The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.

Visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228, a service created by these three companies, to order your free credit reports each year. You can also write:

Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Credit Reporting Agencies

• Equifax: 800-525-6285 or equifax.com
• Experian: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or experian.com
• TransUnion: 800-680-7289 or transunion.com

Major Check Verification Companies

If you have had a check(s) stolen or bank account opened fraudulently, report it to the check verification companies listed below.  Place a stop payment order on any invalid (or unauthorized) checks.  Cancel your checking and savings account and obtain new accounts.

• Check Rite: 800-766-2748 or checks.checkritesystems.com
• Chex Systems, Inc.: 800-428-9623 or consumerdebit.com
• TeleCheck: 800-710-9898 or telecheck.com
• National Processing Co. (NPC): 800-526-5380 or npc.net
• Certegy, Inc: 800-437-5120

Call SCAN (800-262-7771) to find out if the identity theft has been passing bad checks in your name.

Disclaimer

The Spring Hill State Bank provides the "Identity Theft information" only as a convenience.  USERS ARE SOLEY RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, CURRENCY AND SUITABILITY OF ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. The Spring Hill State Bank does not endorse, guarantee or warrant any of the referenced commercial products or services and any mention of commercial products or services is for informational purposes only. The Spring Hill State Bank has provided links to Internet sites maintained by third parties which may be of interest to users, but for which Spring Hill State Bank has no responsibility. The Spring Hill State Banks makes no representations or warranties of any kind as to the accuracy or any other aspect of the information contained on such Internet sites.

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