TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOUR INFORMATION
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT DESCO WILL NEVER CONTACT YOU BY PHONE OR EMAIL AND REQUEST YOUR CREDIT/DEBIT CARD NUMBER, PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, LOGIN ID, OR PASSWORDS.
Always guard your personal information.
- Do not transmit non-public or confidential information via unsecured channels such as e-mail, text messaging, social media, websites or chat platforms. For your protection, do not include account numbers, social security numbers, passwords or any other non-public or confidential information in electronic communications unless the transmission is through a secure channel.
- Do not provide your personal identification, credit card number, or account number to anyone over the phone unless you have initiated the call to a business that you trust.
- Shred documents containing sensitive information before you dispose of them.
- Carry only the cards that you need to minimize the loss potential from theft.
- Be aware of your surroundings when entering your PIN at a point of sale or an ATM terminal.
- Look for irregularities on the ATM or gas pump before inserting your card.
- Report lost or stolen cards immediately.
- Follow best practices for online and mobile security.
PROTECT YOUR CARDS
All card users are potential victims of credit or debit card fraud. A thief does not have to steal your credit card or rifle through your trash to get account numbers. Any time you use your card your account number is exposed to everyone who is involved in the transaction, from the merchant to the merchant’s bank or third party processor, if applicable. Although there is no foolproof way to avoid fraud entirely, here are a few tips that you can practice to help maximize your protection from credit or debit card fraud.
How to Protect Yourself
- Never leave cards or receipts lying around
- Avoid signing blank receipts
- Keep a record of your card numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone numbers and addresses of each creditor, and store in a secure place
- Sign up for Card Alerts
- Report any questionable charges to the card issuer promptly
- Never give your account numbers over the phone or online, unless you are initiating the transaction and you know the company is reputable
- Save receipts to compare with your billing statements or better yet, compare them to your online history before your statement is even generated
VICTIMS OF IDENTITY THEFT – NEXT STEPS
If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, act quickly and follow these steps to potentially minimize the impact.
- Keep a detailed log of all contacts you make during your recovery efforts.
- Contact the credit bureaus to put a fraud alert on your account.
- Notify the fraud departments of your account issuers to discuss closing your accounts and reissuing your cards. Notification should be done by phone and in writing.
- Contact the local police department where the ID Theft occurred. Obtain copies of all police reports made.
- Visit these sites for additional guidance
