Our customers are important to us at Bridge City Bank. We want to provide you with information regarding areas of fraud that have become part of the information technology age.

Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information without your permission. This information may include your name, address, driver's license number, Social Security number, mother's maiden name, birth date, or financial information such as your bank account, credit card, or PIN number. An identity thief may obtain your identifying information by stealing credit card applications, bank statements, or checks from your trash or mail, finding your lost or stolen wallet or purse, hacking your credit card number from a corporate database, or stealing your information from inside a company that holds it.

Information that needs to be protected:

• Credit Cards and Debit Cards
• Driver's License and Number
• Social Security Cards
• Personal Identification Numbers (PINS) and Passwords
• Insurance Cards

Sharing Personal Information

• Never give personal information to someone over the telephone unless you have initiated the call and have a very good reason to trust the party you are speaking to.
• Never send your personal information, credit card numbers or account numbers via e-mail or instant message.
• Do not be taken by individuals or companies that state you have won a prize, but first need to provide personal information before they give it to you. This is probably a scam.

Account Numbers, Log-In Names, PINS and Passwords

• Do not carry PIN numbers in your purse or wallet or write them on your card.
• Use a combination of numbers and letters for PINS and passwords. Don't use something easy to guess, for example, 11111, 123456, or your telephone number.
• Never share your log-in name, password or PIN with anyone at any time.
• When you enter your PIN into an ATM or point of sale terminal, make yourself aware of those around you and be sure to hide the numbers as you enter them.

Mail

• If possible, a mailbox that can be locked with an opening for delivery of mail is advised. Criminals may steal your incoming and outgoing mail and have access to your personal information in this correspondence.
• Remove your mail as soon as possible after it is delivered. When traveling, make arrangements for your mail to be held at the post office.
• Utilize your financial institution's automatic bill payment service to eliminate the need to mail bills.

Debit and Credit Cards

• Don't carry any more credit or debit cards with you than necessary in the event your purse or wallet is stolen. Store unused cards in a secure place. Do not leave them in your car even if it is locked.
• Never lend your credit card or debit card to anyone.
• Watch carefully as clerks swipe your card for a “double swipe” to prevent a dishonest clerk from submitting a phony charge later.
• Maintain a list of all credit card and personal information. This list should include credit card numbers, credit card company numbers, bank numbers and credit reporting agency contact information. Keep this information in a safe place that can be accessed easily.
• Always shred your credit card, debit card and ATM receipts. Never discard them at the point of sale.
• If you are receiving courtesy checks from your credit card company, you may want to request they discontinue sending them unless requested and shred the unused ones.
• If you would like to not receive any more pre-approved credit card offers, call 1-888-567-8688. This service is offered jointly by the three credit bureau agencies.

Statement Review

• Examine your credit card, debit card, and bank statements immediately when you receive them to determine whether there are any unauthorized transactions.
• Report any that you find immediately to your financial institution.
• Obtain a copy of your credit report annually from all three major credit bureaus and review for accuracy.

Warning Signs of Identity Theft

Warning signs include:

• You receive bills from a credit account you did not open.
• You see unauthorized charges on your credit, long distance, or bank accounts.
• You are contacted by a collection agency regarding a debt you did not incur.
• Checks disappear from your checkbook.
• Bank and credit billing statements don't arrive on time.
• Your credit report shows accounts you did not authorize.
• You are turned down for a credit card, loan, mortgage, or other form of credit due to unauthorized debts on your credit report.

What to do if you suspect that you have been a victim of identity theft

• Close accounts that you suspect have fraudulent activity or that you have been informed are at risk.
• Maintain a file with detailed information regarding all fraudulent transactions and the steps you have taken to resolve the problem. This should include copies of telephone bills showing calls made and their cost. Receipts of certified mailing of letters, copies of letters sent, etc.
• Contact the following:

1. Your financial institution
2. Your local law enforcement agency
3. If you suspect mail has been stolen, contact the US Postal Service at (800) 275-8777.
4. Contact the Federal Trade Commission at 877-IDTHEFT (1-877-382-4357).
5. Contact the Consumer Response Center FTC at www.ftc.gov.
6. Contact the Texas Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-621-0508 or at www.oag.state.tx.us.
7. Contact the three major credit bureaus and ask them to put a fraud alert on your credit report. This alerts any potential credit grantors of the problem. The grantor should require more information about your identity to avoid issuing credit to an identity thief.
   
   EXPERIAN
   P. O. Box 2104
   Allen, TX 75013-2104
   www.experian.com
   (888) 397-3742
   
   EQUIFAX
   P. O. Box 740241
   Atlanta , GA 30374-0241
   www.equifax.com
   (800) 685-1111 (order report)
   (800) 525-6285 (report fraud)
   
   TRANS UNION
   P .O. Box 2000
   Chester , PA 19022-2000
   www.transunion.com
   (800) 888-4213 (request report)
   (800) 680-7289 (report fraud)

Check Fraud

More than 1.2 million worthless checks enter the banking system each day. Check fraud affects not only small businesses and major corporations, but individuals as well. More than 500 million checks are forged annually, with losses totaling more than $10 billion.

Ways to Combat Check Fraud:

• High security checks - these checks contain at least eight (8) safety features. High security checks are available at any check printer.
• Reconcile bank statements promptly.
• Report forged checks as soon as they are discovered. Banks have timeframe limits in which to report forged checks.
• Do not give out bank routing numbers or account numbers to anyone requesting such information. The bank would never call you and request such information.

Counterfeiters and New Technology

Here are some techniques used to counterfeit or alter checks:

• PC's and Scanners - any information on the check can be altered and appear genuine.
• Color Copiers - can reproduce a color document that can not be distinguished from the original. Paper currency is copied as well.
• Desktop Publishing Software - can create actual checks. Printers now have MICR ink and fonts which will allow the check to clear without detection.
• Chemical Altering (washing) - ink can be dissolved allowing the check to be rewritten. Some chemicals will even destroy the actual paper check over a few days time, thus destroying all evidence of the fraud.
• Laser Printers - also used to create high quality authentic looking checks. These printers also have MICR ink.

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