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REPORTING FRAUD:

To report a lost or stolen Putnam Bank VISA® check card please call 1-800-472-3272.  In addition, please call Putnam Bank to notify us of your incident during business hours.

Think your identity has been stolen; here is what to do now:

1. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.

• TransUnion: 800-916-8800 or www.transunion.com
• Equifax:  800-685-1111 or www.equifax.com 
• Experian:  888-397-3742 or www.experian.com

2. Close accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit (PDF) when disputing new unauthorized accounts.

3. File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.

4. File your complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps the FTC gather more information about identity theft and the problems victims are having. For more information, go to: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/.

MORE RESOURCES:

FBI Site:  http://www.ic3.gov

Federal Trade Commission Laws:  http://www.ftc.gov

The National Fraud Information Center:  http://www.fraud.org

Better Business Bureau Quiz:  http://www.javelinstrategy.com/IDSAFETYQUIZ.htm

CERT:  http://www.cert.org

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HOW WE PROTECT YOU:

How Putnam Bank safeguards you:

• Secure Login
• Login Attempts
• 128- Bit SSL Encryption
• Internal Systems Encryption
• Digital Certificates
• Browser Requirements
• Automated Time Out
• Use of Firewalls
• Third Part Verification
• Secure Sessions
  • Authentication
  • Encryption
  • Data Integrity
• Enhanced Login Security

TYPES OF ONLINE FRAUD:

• Email and fraudulent websites
• Spyware and Viruses
• Pop-up Advertisements

Phishing:  is the act of seeking information is a sly or indirect way.  Often a spoofed email is used as bait to lure someone to an imitation of a legitimate site.  If they fall for the bait and believe the fake Web page to be authentic then the phishing expedition has been a success.

Spoofing:  A spoof refers to a hoax or imitation, as a verb it means to deceive.  A spoofed email is a deception, as it appears to have come from a trusted source.  The individual performing the spoof will use an email address similar to that of a trusted source, or they will change the header information of the email so that it appears as though the trusted source is the sender.  A spoofed website is an imitation site that uses the exact graphics, colors and layouts from the trusted site it is trying to replicate.

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HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF:

You play a crucial role in preventing others from logging on to your account. Never use easy-to-guess passwords. Examples:

• Birth dates
• First names
• Pet names
• Addresses
• Phone numbers
• Social Security numbers

Never reveal your password to another person. You should periodically change your password in the User Option screen of online banking.

PREVENT IDENTITY FRAUD:

• Protect Your Accounts
• Report lost or stolen checks and / or ATM/Debit cards immediately
• Store new and cancelled checks safely
• Question suspicious emails or phone inquires
• Guard your ATM and Online Banking information
• Prevent Identity Theft
• Don’t’ give out financial information online or over the phone
• Shred unnecessary financial documents
• Promptly retrieve incoming mail
• If regular bills or statements stop reaching you, take action
• Don’t ignore suspicious charges
• Don’t write personal information on checks
• Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet

SAFE COMPUTING PRACTICES:

• Anti-Virus Software
• Firewall
• Encryption
• Passwords
• Software Updates
• Log-Off

Tips to preventing Identity Theft as provided by the Office of Thrift Supervision.  Click here to view.
More tips for protecting yourself offered by the Attorney General's Office. Click here to view