Types of Identity Theft
Mailbox Theft
Only use secured mailboxes to deposit your mail, such as those provided by the post office. If your home mailbox is unsecured, consider changing it to a locked box with a mail slot to ensure your incoming mail is secure. Collect your mail promptly, and if you don’t receive an expected piece of mail, such as a billing statement, make a call to the company asking when they sent it out and make sure no unauthorized change of address has been made. For your eligible accounts, consider switching to online billing statements. If you have reason to believe your information was stolen, report the incident immediately through the following steps:
If you believe you are a victim of fraud:
| Call Sterling Bank immediately | Fraudulent activity on your Sterling Bank account, lost or stolen checks, or debit card; suspicious credit card transactions 800-903-5658 |
|---|---|
| If you suspect identity theft: | |
| You may find yourself in one or both of the following identity theft situations: 1) A criminal used your existing account(s), such as your checking account; 2) A criminal opening new account(s) in your name. | |
| Call Sterling Bank immediately | 800-903-5658 |
| Report the criminal activity to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) | Consider filing a complaint with the FTC if you suspect your personal information has been compromised. Call the FTC Hotline at 1-877-ID THEFT (1-877-438-4338) to speak with a trained counselor or you can submit a complaint on their website, www.ftc.gov/ |
| File a report with your local law enforcement | Contact your local police department, advising them you want to file a report involving Identity Theft. Give a copy of the FTC theft complaint to the police when you file the report. You may contact your State Attorney General’s office to inquire if an Identity Theft policy report is required in your state. |
| Contact the major credit bureaus | Upon suspicion of your personal information being compromised, contact the credit bureaus immediately to have a fraud alert placed on your profile. Temporary fraud alerts will remain on your credit report for 90 days. Credit bureaus are required to respond to your request for a fraud alert. For more information about the steps to take regarding credit reports, contact: Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 or www.equifax.com Experian 1-888-397-3742 or www.experian.com Transunion 1-800-680-7289 or www.transunion.com |
| Contact the company | If you suspect unauthorized charges, contact the company directly. Discuss options with the company representative. Always ask the company to send you an official notification of fraudulent account activity and discharge of the unauthorized transactions/debt in writing. If a new account has been opened, you will want to request the account is closed and ensure they have alerted appropriate departments. |
| Continue to review all charges and transactions appearing on your account. | |
