HOULTON – In recognition of National Protect Your Identity week on Oct. 17-22, Katahdin Trust Company is urging customers to pay particular attention to identity theft prevention.
“Katahdin Trust Company works diligently to protect our customers from identity theft,” said Vicki Smith, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications. “We use a combination of safeguards to protect customer information, such as employee training, strict privacy policies, and rigorous security standards. But we can’t do it alone. Customers can help us protect them by following a few simple precautions.”
Katahdin Trust Company encourages customers to follow some simple steps to avoid becoming a victim:
• Shred or tear up statements and other personal information. 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).
• Keep an eye out for any missing mail, particularly account statements and bills that do not arrive when expected.
• Review your monthly account statements regularly for any unauthorized charges through the Internet, phone, ATM or debit card.
• Order free copies of your credit report once a year from each of the credit reporting agencies to ensure accuracy. Go to the Federal Trade Commission’s authorized web site www.annualcreditreport.com for your free credit report.
• Choose to do business with companies you know are reputable, particularly online. When conducting business online, use firewalls, anti-spyware and anti-virus software and do not respond to unsolicited requests for personal information.
• Protect your PINs and passwords. Use a combination of letters and numbers for your passwords and change them periodically.
• Report any suspected fraud immediately to your bank and the fraud units of the three credit reporting agencies.
