Fraud and Identity Theft - How to Protect Yourself

   As fraud activity continues to grow and change, it is important that you understand and put into practice some simple steps to help protect yourself. At The First National Bank in Trinidad, we have implemented several state-of-the-art products to help us monitor our customers' electronic banking activity to detect potential fraud attempts; but you know best what transactions are legitimate and which are not. The first line of defense against fraud and identity theft lies with you. To protect yourself, put these simple but effective steps into practice:

• Treat unsolicited offers with suspicion, whether by phone or email, even if it appears to be originated by a trusted entity. Contact the company using the telephone number on the back of your credit card or on your monthly statement. Do not give out personal information if you did not initiate the call to a known legitimate phone number.

• Make payments electronically when possible. First National offers free online banking with unlimited free bill payment. Making electronic payments reduces the risk of information being obtained from checks in the mail. Plus, up-to-the-minute account information is available 24/7 so you can closely monitor the activity in your account.

• Review account statements regularly. Verify all transactions posted to your bank and credit card statements frequently. Online banking gives you easy access to this information anytime, or review the statements you receive in the mail on a monthly basis.

• Review credit report annually. A free credit report is available each year upon request at www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. Notify your account providers of any suspected fraudulent activity, as well as the three major credit bureaus: Experian 1-888-397-3742, Equifax 1-800-525-6285, and TransUnion 1-800-680-7289.

• Memorize PINs, passwords and Social Security numbers – do not carry them with you. Use longer, more complex passwords and change them often. PINs should never be used as passwords. Never share your PIN or password with anyone for any reason.

• Use caution when using an ATM. Hide your keystrokes from others around you. If the ATM card capture slot or keypad looks unusual, go to another ATM. Devices placed over real ATM card slots and keypads by fraudsters can collect your PIN and data from your card, so be cautious.

• Use updated anti-software, anti-spyware and a firewall on your computer. Some phishing and pharming attacks contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge, including login information and account numbers.

These are just a few of the steps you can take to protect yourself. If you suspect you have become a victim of fraud or identity theft, please call The First National Bank in Trinidad at (719) 846-9881, or report it to the local police department.