PRESS RELEASE


ABA Pushes Best Practices For Consumers

ABA ENCOURAGES CONSUMERS TO “PASS” ON AN IDENTITY THEFT NIGHTMARE THIS HALLOWEEN

WASHINGTON D.C. - October 22, 2007 – This Halloween, the American Bankers Association is urging consumers to follow some simple steps to “PASS” on identity theft.

Identity theft, the fastest growing type of fraud, involves more than the misuse of a Social Security number; it also can include credit card and mail fraud. Fraudsters are continually developing innovative ways to steal consumer’s personal information.

“The greater the public’s awareness of identity theft, the greater chance we have at preventing it. An educated consumer is the key to prevention,” said Nessa Fedis, senior federal counsel for ABA. “Everyone enjoys a Halloween scare, but no one wants to wake up to the real life nightmare of having their identity stolen.”

ABA and its member banks encourage consumers to “PASS” on an identity theft nightmare this Halloween by following these tips:

Protect
Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your social security card with you or have your number printed on checks. Never give out your bank account or credit card number unless you initiated the contact. Use firewalls, anti-spyware and anti-virus software to protect your home computer. Secure mailboxes with locks and protect mail before and after it gets into your home.

Alert
Be on alert for signs that your identity may be in jeopardy, including: bills that do not arrive when expected; unexpected credit cards or account statements; denials of credit for no apparent reason; calls or letters about purchases you did not make; or telemarketing scams that trick customers into revealing personal account information.

Shred
Shred or tear up statements and other personal information that link your name to account numbers or your Social Security number. Criminals may be able to get access to your accounts and personal information by “dumpster diving” (retrieving canceled checks, deposit receipts or bank statements from dumpsters or trash bins).

Scan
Scan your credit report and accounts regularly. For your credit report, check that everything is accurate, all accounts are yours and closed accounts are marked closed. Check your bank and credit card statements online for unauthorized charges. To access your free credit report from the Federal Trade Commission, visit www.annualcreditreport.com.

In addition to educating consumers, banks use encrypted systems, employee training, strict privacy policies and rigorous security standards to protect customers’ personal information.

Consumers generally are not responsible for fraudulent transactions or accounts they did not open. If you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft, contact your bank immediately, then file a complaint with the FTC by calling toll-free 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338) or visiting www.ftc.gov/idtheft. For additional information or other consumer tips visit www.aba.com and click on “Consumer Connection.”

The American Bankers Association brings together all categories of banking institutions to best represent the interests of this rapidly changing industry. Its membership — which includes community, regional and money center banks and holding companies, as well as savings associations, trust companies and savings banks — makes ABA the largest banking trade association in the country. For more press releases, backgrounders and fact sheets, visit our online press room at ABA.



SOURCE: The American Bankers Association