Protecting You –First Trust’s Priority

First Trust Bank is committed to keeping you and your money safe and secure. Whether you deal with our bankers face-to-face at one of our branches, make purchases with your First Trust debit card, or log-on to your First Trust Bank online banking account, your personal information is guarded by account services that help to prevent fraud and to protect your financial data. An extra benefit of banking at First Trust is our commitment to knowing our customers and their banking preferences; that personal connection is an important asset in the protection of your security.

• You see an example of First Trust’s fraud protection services every time you log on to our online banking system: the multi-authentication process includes your secure user ID, your frequently-changed password, and the picture and caption you chose to use for the PassMark security function. For additional security, a series of personal questions are used to verify the user’s identity, full account numbers are never presented online, and, of course, balance information is processed through approved banking encryption programs.
• Debit card users know that the VISA card fraud detection system registers patterns of personal usage and “red flags” transactions that are unusual in type, location, and amount. This system is an important tool in detecting unauthorized card purchases.

Protecting Your Account Information

It is important for all of us to protect our personal financial information. First Trust will never request that you provide personal or account information on the phone or by e-mail.

• If someone contacts you claiming to be a representative from the bank and requesting such information, that person may be attempting to defraud you. Do not provide any information. Call the bank at (815) 929-4000 and report the event.
• Never give other individuals your pin numbers, passwords, or security question answers.
• Keep your financial documents in a safe place. You may decide to choose our option to receive encrypted electronic statements and check images.
• Guard your debit and credit cards and report a lost card or fraudulent transactions immediately.

Fraud Prevention/Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft

Consult the Detect Identity Theft section of “About Identity Theft-Deter, Detect, Defend” at www.ftc.gov , the Federal Trade Commission’s site for consumer protection against identity theft.
This site is an excellent training tool for avoiding identity theft as well as offering specific suggestions if you believe your identity has been stolen.

Identity theft is a serious problem. It is the first step in a plan to steal money, and it is a crime that can cause the victim significant time and money to resolve.

• Some of the ways information is stolen include going through trash looking for personal information, changing billing addresses for credit cards, and stealing items in your wallet and pre-approved credit card offers, new checks, and tax information in your mailbox.
• Others approaches are more technically sophisticated: Stealing credit/debit card numbers by using special storage devices as cards are used and e-mailing fraudulent cash giveaway offers that include a way to gather Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, etc.
• Sometimes these scams involve direct personal contact with victims pretending to be representatives of financial institutions, utilities, or credit card companies asking for account verification.

How Can You Detect Identity Theft?

• Specifically, check your bank statements and credit card bills promptly. Make sure that all items listed are valid transactions.
• Request your personal credit report annually and examine it for unauthorized credit applications. Three sites for obtaining credit reports are available at the end of this article. For instant access to your free credit report visit www.annualcreditreport.com
• Review other recommendations at www.ftc.gov 

Illegal Scams

There are many illegal scams in which criminals attempt to steal money and/ or financial information from unwary consumers. A few examples include the following:

• Phishing, which involves e-mail, a phone call, or a text message, attempts to get the consumer to provide account information, passwords, PIN numbers, expiration dates, etc. The plan usually involves threatening the customer with a closed account, telling him/her that the bank account has been compromised, suggesting that there are unauthorized charges on the account, or informing the account holder that he/she has won an award or received a free service. NEVER RESPOND WITH YOUR INFORMATION.
• The “Nigerian” E-mail scam is a ruse that involves a plea for help from officials, surviving spouses, or refugees of political upheaval. The victim is told the scammers will transfer lots of money into his/her bank account if he/she pays a fee or taxes to help them access their money. NEVER SEND ANY UNKNOWN PERSON OR ORGANIZATION MONEY OR PROVIDE BANK INFORMATION IN ADVANCE OF A SUPPOSED FUTURE PAYOFF. NEVER RESPOND TO ANY E-MAIL THAT CLAIMS TO BE A PLAN FOR GETTING MONEY OUT OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY. Contact the FBI about this kind of solicitation or call the bank and we will forward the information to them.
• Foreign lottery schemes may claim that you’ve already won a cash prize and you just have to pay fees to get your prize. This is a plan to steal your money and get your banking information. ADDITIONALLY, FOREIGN LOTTERY PARTICIPATION IS AGAINST THE LAW.

First Trust is always working to help protect you and your money. Knowledge and diligent monitoring of your accounts are significant ways to deter identity theft.