Understanding Identity Theft
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing forms of crime in the country. Protecting you and your information is a top priority at the Bank of St. Croix. We strive and work diligently to ensure your personal information remains private and secure.
What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft occurs when a criminal acquires personal information about you, such as your name, address, social security number, or credit card information. The criminal can then use that information to impersonate you on the internet. There are a lot of scams and steps criminals take in order to obtain your information. Two of the most popular and widespread methods of obtaining people’s information are called Phishing and Pharming; more on these types of scams can be found under Threats. Both of these are effective ways to get the victim to provide their information to people that should not have it.
How Does it Happen?
Commonly, victim’s information is found in the garbage or taken out of a mailbox. This easy access to private information is a major factor in the popularity of such crimes.
Steps to Protection
Following a couple simple steps will aid in your protection. Never throw information into the trash that contains your name, address, or any other personal information without shredding it first and never give personal information over the phone. More on these steps to protection can be found under Protection.