Fraud Alert
At Focus Business Bank we are very serious about
protecting your accounts and personal information. Criminals use many
different methods to discover sensitive information in order to steal your
identity and use it for fraudulent purposes. You can protect yourself and
your information by taking time to learn about the different “scams” crooks
are using.
Please remember that Focus Business Bank will never
call, e-mail or send a pop-up through the Web asking you to verify your
account or personal information. If you receive such a request, please do
not give or verify any of your information. Call Focus Business Bank
immediately at (800)742-8142 and notify us if you believe somebody is trying
to steal your information.
Here are some of the ways identity thieves may attempt
to get information:
- Stealing records or information while they’re on the job.
- Bribing an employee who has access to these records.
- Conning information out of employees.
- Using technology to obtain business records stored on
networks, which is commonly called “hacking.”
- Stealing your mail, including bank and credit card statements,
credit card offers, new checks, and tax information.
- Rummaging through your trash, the trash of businesses, or
public trash dumps in a practice known as "dumpster diving."
- Obtaining unauthorized credit reports by abusing their
employer's authorized access to them or by posing as a landlord, employer or
someone else who may have a legal right to access your report.
- Stealing credit or debit card numbers by capturing the
information in a data storage device in a practice known as "skimming." They
may swipe your card for an actual purchase, or attach the device to an ATM
machine where you insert or swipe your card.
- Stealing your wallet or purse.
- Requesting a change of address to divert your mail to another
location.
- Burglarizing your home and taking personal information.
- Posing as a legitimate company and claiming that you have a
problem with your account. This practice is known as "phishing" if it is
done through the Internet or “pretexting” if it is done by telephone.
The
following steps can help protect you from identity theft:
- Never provide personal financial information, including
your social security number, account number or passwords, over the phone or
the Internet if you did not initiate the contact.
- Never click on a link provided in an e-mail you believe
may be fraudulent. It may contain a virus that can contaminate your
computer.
- Do not be intimidated by an e-mail or caller who
suggests dire consequences if you do not immediately provide or verify
financial information.
- If you believe the contact may be legitimate, go to the
company’s Web site by typing in the site address directly or using a page
you have previously bookmarked, instead of a link provided in the e-mail.
- If you fall victim to an attack, act immediately to
protect yourself. Alert Focus Business Bank by calling (800)742-8142. Place
fraud alerts on your credit files. Monitor your credit files and account
statements closely.
- Report suspicious e-mail or calls to the Federal Trade
Commission through the Internet at
www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT.
For more
information about identity theft and how to protect yourself please visit
the following link to the Federal Trade Commission
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/idtheft/idt04.shtm
For recent and frequently
updated consumer alerts visit the FDIC consumer alert page at:
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/alerts/index.html
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