Identity theft is a nationwide epidemic.
In fact, according to the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 1.4 million reports of identity theft were filed in the U.S. in 2020. That’s more than double the number of just over 650,000 reports in 2019.
With cases continuing to rise, how can you protect yourself from identity theft? Here are five tips to help prevent you from becoming a victim.
- Never give your account number to anyone who initiates a call, text or email – Fraudsters often pose as a financial institution, saying they’ve detected fraud on your account and want to alert and protect you. Rather than give them this information, call your financial institution directly using a known number – from the website or the back of your credit/debit card – to verify.
- Lock up or shred documents – Any document containing personal information such as account numbers or Social Security numbers should be kept in a secure spot or shredded when no longer needed. This also applies to mail pieces and other items that contain personally identifiable information such as name, address and phone number.
- Keep your passwords secure – Don’t use names or birthdates of you or your loved ones when creating passwords. And never write your passwords down.
- Don’t share personal information online – While they may seem fun, the “Get to know you” posts that circulate on social media often encourage users to post information such as their high school mascot or color of their first car – these are the same questions that many secure online sites such as banks ask you to authenticate when you login to your accounts. Don’t give fraudsters that information.
- Never leave your purse, wallet or computer unattended – Keep these items close by and log out of all programs before turning off your computer.
Regions takes your security seriously and we are working to keep you informed and protected. Visit regions.com to find information and free resources.
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The information presented is general in nature and should not be considered, legal, accounting or tax advice. Regions reminds its customers that they should be vigilant about fraud and security and that they are responsible for taking action to protect their computer systems. Fraud prevention requires a continuous review of your policies and practices, as the threat evolves daily. There is no guarantee that all fraudulent transactions will be prevented or that related financial losses will not occur. Visit regions.com/STOPFRAUD, or speak with your Banker for further information on how you can help prevent fraud.