In today's world, protecting your personal and financial information from identity theft and fraud is more important than ever. At Heritage Bank, we understand the significance of safeguarding our customers from such potential risks. Therefore, we want to share a list of free steps that can be taken to lessen the risk of identity theft and fraud.
One of the most effective things you can do to protect yourself is to freeze your credit. This prevents unauthorized persons from opening new accounts and borrowing money in your name. Luckily, freezing your credit is free and can be quickly accomplished online or by contacting all three major credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. This step does not impact your credit score.
Apart from this, you can take additional steps to secure your accounts. Change all your passwords for online accounts regularly and use multi-factor authentication when possible. Request an "Identity Protection Pin" from the IRS to protect your tax refund and returns. Check your social security benefits regularly and report any identity theft suspicion to the Federal Trade Commission.
At Heritage Bank, we also offer extra security measures for your online banking accounts. You can set up multiple alerts for each account - balance and transfer alerts - and other service alerts like address and email changes to stay informed of any suspicious activity.
If you detect any unusual activity on your Heritage Bank accounts, including financial information, please contact us as soon as possible. We are here to help you and your finances remain secure.
We understand that even with all the precautions, identity theft can still occur. Hence, we offer a free identity theft resolution service called CyberScout with our Rewards Checking accounts. If you become a victim of identity theft, CyberScout provides expert guidance to help you deal with the situation. They take care of the necessary paperwork, work with credit bureaus to remove fraudulent accounts, and even assist in notifying the authorities.
"Our goal is to help our customers recover from identity theft as quickly and easily as possible by offering CyberScout with our Rewards Checking accounts," said our President and CEO, David Crumhorn. "We understand the stress that comes with identity theft, and that's why we're committed to making the resolution process as painless as possible."
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