Security Tips
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We understand that security is very important to our customers.
Below are a few tools our customers can utilize to help protect themselves from fraud, identify theft & financial abuse:
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Monitor your credit
It is important to monitor your credit history. The ONLY authorized source for the free annual credit report that is yours by law is at: AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228 or mail via Free Annual Credit report, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to your credit report for free from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion -- every 12 months. If you go to www.annualcreditreport.com and follow the prompts for your free credit report, you can be sure the reports you can access really are free.
Guard yourself against Identity Theft
- Obtain a free credit report annually and look for and report any inaccurate information.
- Do not give your Social Security number, mother’s maiden name or account numbers to strangers who contact you, ESPECIALLY by phone, internet or mail.
- Make sure your full credit card number or expiration date does not appear on receipts.
- Don’t leave outgoing mail in your mailbox. Take it to a collection box or your local post office.
- Tear or shred charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, bank checks and statements, expired charge cards and credit offers you get in the mail before discarding them.
- Minimize the amount of personal financial information you carry. Memorize passwords and PIN numbers instead of carrying them with you.
If you suspect you are a victim of Identity Theft
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review your credit reports. These alerts can help prevent an identify thief from opening any more accounts in your name. This alert stays on your credit report for at least 90 days. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too.
- EQUIFAX: 1-800-525-6285
- EXPERIAN: 1-888-EXPERIAN
- TRANSUNION: 1-800-680-7289
- Close the accounts that you know, or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud dept. of each company and follow up in writing.
- File a police report with your local police. Be sure to ask for a copy of the police report. You should also report the theft to the following governmental agencies:
Elder Abuse
- If you are a senior who has been a victim of financial abuse or suspect that someone else has and want to talk confidentially to someone about it, a caseworkers can meet with you to take steps to alleviate the situation. Contacts are:
- Illinois Department on Aging, Elder Abuse Hotline: 1-866-800-1409 or
- 1-888-206-1327 (TTY)
- To report or discuss financial or consumer crimes:
Illinois Attorney General’s Office Senior Hotline at 1-800-243-5377, www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov
- To Receive Information on B*SAFE: Illinois Department on Aging Senior Helpline at
1-800-252-8966 or 1-888-206-1327 (TTY)
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