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Fraud Alerting, Credit Report and FTC guidance
Fraud Alert - Learn How to Put a Flag on Your Credit File
Putting a fraud alert on you credit file is one of the first things you should do if you suspect someone is trying to open credit accounts in your name. It might be something you want to do, even if you don't think identity theft is an immediate threat.
What is a Fraud Alert?
A fraud alert is something that the major credit bureaus attach to your credit report. When you, or someone else, tries to open up a credit account by getting a new credit card, car loan, cell phone, etc., the lender should contact you by phone to verify that you really want to open a new account. If you aren't reachable by phone, the credit account shouldn't be opened.
A creditor isn't required by law to contact you, however, even if you have fraud alert in place.
How Do I Set Up a Fraud Alert?
It's pretty easy. Just contact each of the fraud department of the credit bureaus, you can get their contact information here; http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/fraud_numbers.html, and ask them to flag your credit file for fraud. You'll probably talk to an automated voice response system and it should only take a few minutes. You should consider using your cell phone as a contact number.
Fraud alerts are not a cure-all, however. A fraud alert can be, and sometimes is ignored by creditors. If you suspect you're a victim of identity theft, or have already become a victim, fraud alerts are only a start in trying to protect your credit. You also need to pay close attention to your credit report to make sure no new credit inquiries or credit accounts are being opened and have the information relating to fraudulent transactions deleted.
How Do I Obtain a Copy of my Credit Report For Free?
The following Federal Trade Commission web site gives guidance on credit reporting including how to obtain a free copy of your credit report.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre34.shtm
Your Access to Free Credit Reports
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies.
A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.
How do I order my free report?
The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report.
To order, visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. The form is on the back of this brochure; or you can print it from ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit. Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. They are providing free annual credit reports only through annualcreditreport.com, 1-877-322-8228, and Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
You may order your reports from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies at the same time, or you can order your report from each of the companies one at a time. The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies every 12 months.
Security Alert
| Protect yourself from phishing. |
| Phishing occurs when you receive a very real-looking email that seems to come from a company you know and trust, but actually didn’t. Unfortunately, you can receive phony emails appearing to be from all kinds of services, such as your Internet Service Provider (ISP), retailers, online banking sites and others. They’ll often use legitimate “From” email addresses, logos and links. A message might instruct you to click on a link that sends you to a fake Web site, that looks like a real legitimate site, where they’ll want you to update your personal or account information. The email may even suggest that your account or credit card will be terminated. Remember, they are trying to get you to take immediate action without thinking about the consequences. Don’t Be Fooled! What kind of information are they looking for? Your Social Security Number (SSN), bank and credit card account numbers and date of birth for starters. With that kind of information, they can steal your identity and open new accounts that you might not find out about until fraudulent charges start showing up on your credit report. |
| How do you protect yourself from phishing? |
| Here are some tips that can help you avoid becoming a victim of phishing:
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Please Note: This phish alert email address is only to be used to provide copies of suspected phishing email to the bank for review. These emails are not intended for issues that need a response or customer service answers. Riverside will not be responding to emails sent to the phish alert address. |
| Unsolicited Emails |
If you receive any unsolicited email from Riverside, or from any other source, requesting personal information or asking you to verify your accounts or security settings, we suggest that you check first with us or the other entities to make sure these requests are legitimate before responding. Help us protect you—don’t take the bait from any “phishing” schemes. If you think that you may be a victim of phishing or identity theft fraud, contact us immediately at 1.800.741.3283 or send an email to internet.support@riversidenb.com. |
Call us at 1.800.741.3283 |
