PROTECT YOURSELF!

Be prepared. Identity theft, when someone uses your personal information without your permission, is a serious crime. Learn more about identity theft and how you can minimize your risk. We want you to be aware of some helpful tips to protect you and your identity. 

Please note:   Lake Region Bank will never ask for your confidential information via email. if there is ever a question about an email you receive from us, please contact us at 320-354-2011 or toll free at 800-806-2856.

Remember these tips to help you protect yourself and your identity.

1. Do not give personal information (such as account number or social security numbers) over the telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you initiate the transaction and you know who you are dealing with. It’s important to note that Internet pages and emails created by phishers* may look identical to a legitimate website. Don’t be fooled. Never click on a link given to you to a website from an unsolicited email. 

2. Before you reveal any personal identifying information, find out how it will be used and if it will be shared. 

3. File all personal information in a safe place.  Shred old credit card receipts, ATM receipts, account statements, and unused credit offers.

4. Review your account statements carefully to ensure all charges, checks, and withdrawals were authorized.

5. Pay attention to your billing and statement cycles. Inquire of your institution if you do not receive a monthly statement; it may mean that bill has been diverted by an identity thief.

6. Do not give out your Social Security number, except only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible.

7. Minimize the identification information as well as the number of cards you carry to what you actually need.

8. Guard your mail from theft. Do not put outgoing mail in your mailbox. Drop off your outgoing mail at designated US Post Office receptacles.

9. Order a copy of your credit report every year. (See below for details).  Make sure your credit report contains only those activities you've authorized.

If you are a victim of identity theft or need more information, visit the national resource against identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission at  www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

* “Phishers” are thieves using the Internet to conduct fraudulent business.  These thieves are “fishing” for your personal information, and if they are successful in getting this information , they can fraudulently access your accounts and credit cards.

Credit Reporting Information

Effective in March, 2005, the FACT Act (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act) gives all Americans the right to check their credit report annually – free of charge.  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.

To order, click on 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/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.

A Warning About "Imposter" Websites
Only one website is authorized to fill orders for the free annual credit report you are entitled to under law – annualcreditreport.com. Other websites that claim to offer "free credit reports," "free credit scores," or "free credit monitoring" are not part of the legally mandated free annual credit report program. In some cases, the "free" product comes with strings attached. For example, some sites sign you up for a supposedly "free" service that converts to one you have to pay for after a trial period. If you don't cancel during the trial period, you may be unwittingly agreeing to let the company start charging fees to your credit card.

Some "imposter" sites use terms like "free report" in their names; others have URLs that purposely misspell annualcreditreport.com in the hope that you will mistype the name of the official site. Some of these "imposter" sites direct you to other sites that try to sell you something or collect your personal information.

www.annualcreditreport.com and the nationwide consumer reporting companies will not send you an email asking for your personal information. If you get an email, see a pop-up ad, or get a phone call from someone claiming to be from annualcreditreport.com or any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies, do not reply or click on any link in the message. It's probably a scam. Forward any such email to the FTC at spam@uce.gov.