How Thieves Steal Your Information
Unfortunately, your personal, confidential information can be stolen in a variety of ways and each method can provide the criminal with a variety of information. Here are just some ways your information can be stolen and what the criminal gains knowledge of:

• Theft of your purse or wallet. Items generally include your driver's license, bank information such as account numbers, debit/credit cards, social security numbers, medical information, etc. The information available in your purse or wallet can essentially give a crook everything he/she needs to commit a variety of crimes, such as establish new credit, take over and deplete existing accounts, obtain a new ID with your name with his/her picture, commit medical fraud, etc.
• Stealing your incoming or outgoing mail. Your incoming mail may include checks that you are waiting for and bank/credit card statements. Your outgoing mail may provide a criminal with your signed check (bank information) along with the account information associated with the bill you are paying (credit card number, balance, available limit, etc).
• Rummaging through your trash. Credit card offers, bank statements, credit card statements, etc. may be retrieved through someone's garbage. With this personal information, crooks can order and begin using a credit card established in your name or gain access to your current bank/credit card information.
• Calling on the telephone. By soliciting you for your personal information, such as social security number, Personal Identification Numbers (PIN), and bank or credit information a thief can essentially use these details to deplete your existing accounts or set up new accounts for themselves.
• Online Fraud. By providing you with a counterfeit Web site or a fraudulent e-mail threatening to cancel your account, the crooks trick you into providing them with confidential bank information which will allow them access to the account to make purchases using your money and your name.

How to Protect Yourself
By following the steps outlined below, you can protect yourself from Identity Theft or at least make it more difficult for someone to make you a victim.

• NEVER carry ANY cards that display your social security number. If your medical card has your (or your spouse's) social security number on it, call the provider and request a randomly generated number.
• Leave extra credit cards at home in a safe, secure, locked area.
• Do not have your driver's license number pre-printed on your checks (let the cashier record the information as needed when paying by check).
• Keep track of your incoming and outgoing mail (use a secure post office drop box) and never write your account number on the front of an envelope.
• Know when your bills and bank statements are due to arrive and review them promptly!
• Keep all of your personal information at home and at work, in a safe, secure place.
• Shred or burn any old receipts, bank/credit card statements, credit card offers, or any other information with your personal information listed.
• Before disclosing any personal information over the phone, make sure you know who you are dealing with, why the information is required, and how it will be used. If you feel uncomfortable, STOP!
• When using your computer, always use virus protection, a firewall, a secure browser, and do not open or respond to unsolicited e-mail requests (no matter what the "threat").
• Select passwords that consist of both numbers and letters (avoid easily identifiable items such as your mother's maiden name, the last four digits of your social security number, or your date of birth).
• Obtain and review your credit bureau annually (it's free!) from: www.annualcreditreport.com.
• Consider "opting out" of unsolicited credit card offers by calling: (888) 567-8688 or via computer at: www.optoutprescreen.com.
• Use First Banking Center's 24-hour First Touch Banking by calling (800) 417-5193 or sign up to view your accounts online: FBC Bank@Home. Either method allows you to keep a closer eye on your accounts, rather than waiting for a monthly statement.

If You Do Become a Victim of Identity Theft
Follow the steps below if you find you've become a victim of identity theft:

• Contact any of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Trans Union or Experian) and ask that a "fraud alert" be placed on your file.
• File a report with your local law enforcement agency. Keep a copy of this report as you will need it when dealing with retailers, financial institutions, and other companies.
• File a report with the Federal Trade Commission, either online at: www.ftc.gov or at (877) IDTHEFT (again, keep a copy of this report for your records).
• Contact, directly, companies or businesses that you think may have been affected, alerting them to the problem right away.
• Close any accounts that have been accessed or you think may be accessed; this includes bank accounts, credit card accounts, etc.
• Keep detailed records of your contacts. Start a file with copies of all reports along with information pertaining to who you spoke with, when, and what the expected outcome is to be.
• Understand that this is going to be a long, sometimes very frustrating process to resolve.