Online Security and Fraud Prevention

Identity Theft

Your trust in United Minnesota Bank is our most important asset – we want to help you guard against disclosure of your personal information that could lead to identity theft. Please note: United Minnesota Bank does not contact customers via, phone or mail to request or verify security information about passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs). For your protection and privacy, United Minnesota Bank representatives will ask for certain information to verify your identity.

Identity theft occurs when someone assumes another person’s personal identifying information, like a name, social security number or date of birth with the intent of committing fraud. Identity theft is often characterized as the largest growing crime in America. Experts estimate it takes fourteen months for an average victim to discover an identity theft and approximately two years to correct credit information.

Your identity can be stolen in a variety of ways:

Loss or theft of your wallet, purse, or credit card
Mail theft
Skimming information from the magnetic strip on credit or debit cards
"Dumpster diving” through the trash
"Shoulder surfing” - looking over your shoulder when you are entering a PIN or password
Eavesdropping
Scam phone calls where a stranger asks for personal or financial information
Phishing and spyware
Computer hacking

What to Look For

These are the identify theft warning signs:

Unauthorized charges appear on your checking account or credit card statement
Accounts appear on your credit report that you did not open
You receive a call from a collection agency asking why you have not paid a bill
You receive a call from a financial institution regarding an account you did not open
You haven’t received your bills or credit card statements when they normally arrive
Your bank statements show unauthorized transfers or withdrawals

What to Do to Prevent Identity Theft

There are several preventative steps you can take to reduce your risk of identity theft:

Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet.
Don’t have your Social Security number or driver’s license number printed on your checks.
Beware of giving information to anyone over the phone or the Internet unless you initiate the call.
Shred any documents with account numbers or other personal data you are throwing out, preferably with a cross-cut shredder.
Watch for regular monthly bills that aren’t delivered. Stolen mail is one way to obtain sensitive information.
Don’t leave mail for pickup at an unlocked mailbox.
Check your credit report at least once a year to identify accounts that may have been opened in your name without your knowledge. You can get a copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com every twelve months.
Monitor your online financial accounts frequently.
Sign your new debit and credit cards promptly.
Do not keep PIN’s attached to credit, debit or ATM cards.
If you are a member of a military service unit who is on active duty, consider placing an active duty alert on your credit report. The active duty alert can prevent pre-screened offers of credit and insurance being sent while you are away on active duty.