Protecting Your Identity

SECURITY WARNING: Current Phishing Scam

First Savanna Savings Bank wants to forewarn you about a current scam directed at financial institutions and their customers. These scams target users by sending emails that appear to be from an official source and are designed to trick the recipient into clicking on a link in the e-mail for the purpose of acquiring your sensitive data, such as passwords, or personal and financial information

You should never click on these links even if the e-mail appears official. First Savanna Savings Bank will never send our customers any e-mails containing links to download software or applications without prior discussion.

Phishing

There is a type of identity theft using the Internet called "phishing" pronounced (fishing). That is exactly what they are doing, fishing for your personal information. They want your account numbers, passwords, Social Security number, and other confidential information so they can use your financial accounts or run up bills on your credit cards.

In the worst case, you could find yourself a victim of identity theft. With the sensitive information obtained from a successful phishing scam, these thieves can take out loans or obtain credit cards and even a driver's license in your name. They can do great damage to your financial history and personal reputation that can take years to correct. If you understand how phishing works and how to protect yourself, you can help stop this crime.

How it works:

Typically, you will receive an e-mail that appears to come from a reputable company that you recognize and may do business with, such as your financial institution. In some cases, the e-mail may appear to come from a government agency, perhaps a federal financial institution regulatory agency.

The e-mail will probably warn you of a serious problem that requires your immediate attention. It may use phrases such as "Immediate attention required" or "Please contact us immediately about your account". The e-mail may also state that unless you provide certain confidential information your account will be deactivated or closed. The e-mail will encourage you to click a link to go to their website. In a phishing scam, you could be redirected to a phony Website that may look exactly like the real thing.

Sometimes, in fact it may be the company's actual Website. In those cases, a pop-up window will quickly appear for the purpose of collecting your financial information. You may be asked to update your account information or to provide information for verification purposes; your Social Security number, your account number, your password or the information you use to verify your identity when speaking to your financial institution such as your mothers maiden name or your place of birth. If you provide the requested information, you may find yourself a victim of identity theft.

Protect Your Identity

1. Never provide your personal information in response to an unsolicited request, whether it is over the phone or on the Internet. E-mails and internet pages created by phishers may look exactly like the real thing. They may even have a fake padlock icon that ordinarily is used to denote a secure site. If you did not initiate the communication, do not provide any information.
   
   
2. If you are unsure that a contact is legitimate, contact them. You can find phone numbers and Websites on the monthly statements you receive from your financial institution, or you can look up the company in a phone book or on the Internet. The key is that you should be the one to initiate the contact, using information that you have verified yourself.
   
   
3. Never provide your account information and /or password over the phone or in response to an unsolicited Internet request. A financial institution would never ask you to verify your account information or confirm a password online. Thieves armed with this information and your account number will help themselves to your money.
   
   
4. Review account statements regularly to ensure that all charges are correct. If your account statement is late in arriving or does not arrive, call your financial institution to find our why. If your financial institution offers electronic account access, check your account activity online regularly to catch suspicious activity.

Identity Theft and how you can fight it

• Do not be intimidated by e-mails or callers who suggests severe consequences if you do not immediately provide or verify financial information;
  
  
• Never provide personal financial information, including your Social Security number, account numbers, or passwords over the phone or the Internet, if you did not initiate the call;
  
  
• Never click on the link provided in an e-mail that you think is fraudulent. The link may contain a virus that can contaminate your computer or steal your personal information;
  
  
• If you are not sure that a contact is legitimate, go to the company's website by typing in the site address or using a page that you have previously used instead of using the link provided by their e-mail;
  
  
• If you do fall victim to identity theft, act immediately to protect yourself.
  
  
1. Alert your financial institution and place fraud alerts on your credit reports. Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company that you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their report for you as well. If you do not receive a confirmation from them, you should contact them directly to place the fraud alert. Monitor your credit reports and account statements closely. For your convenience here are their numbers:
   
   Credit reporting bureaus
      Equifax www.equifax.com
      Place the fraud alert 1-888-766-0008
   
      Experian www.experian.com
      Place the fraud alert 1-888-397-3742
   
      Trans Union www.transunion.com
      Place the fraud alert 1-800-680-7289
   
   
2. Close the account that you know, or believe has been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
3. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by contacting the Federal Trade Commissions Identity Theft hotline. You can reach them toll-free at 1-877-438-4338 or online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft
4. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
   
   
• Report suspicious e-mails or calls, to the Federal Trade Commission, by calling:
  
  1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338)

Remember that First Savanna Savings Bank will never e-mail you and ask you to go to another site to "verify information".

Protect your password - Use a combination of letters, caricatures and numbers to make it unique. Avoid using the obvious--family names, phone numbers and birth dates.