Hometown Bancorp, Ltd.

Regarding The Privacy Of Our Financial Information

Don’t Become a Victim of Identity Theft!

Manage your Mailbox

• Don’t leave bill payment envelopes clipped to your mailbox or inside with the flag up; thieves can steal your mail and change your address.
  
• Know your billing cycles and watch for any missing mail. Follow up with creditors if bills or new cards don’t arrive on time.
  
• Carefully review your monthly accounts, credit card statements and utility bills for unauthorized charges as soon as you receive them. If you suspect unauthorized use, contact the provider’s customer service and fraud departments immediately.
  
• When you order new checks, ask when you can expect delivery. If your mailbox is not secure, then ask to pick up the checks instead of having them delivered to your home.
  
• Don’t have your Social Security Number printed on your checks and don’t allow merchants to write your Social Security Number on your checks. If a business asks for your Social Security Number, request that they use an alternate number.
  
• Never give your Social Security Number, account numbers or personal credit information to anyone who calls you.
  

Check Your Purse or Wallet

• Don’t leave your purse or wallet unattended.
  
• Protect your PINs (don’t carry them in your purse or wallet) and passwords.
  
• Carry only identification and credit cards you actually need.
  
• If your ID or credit cards are lost or stolen, notify the credit bureaus to place a “fraud alert” in your file.
  

Keep Your Personal Numbers Safe and Secure

• When creating passwords and Personal identification numbers don’t use anything that a thief could easily figure out or find.
  
• Shield the keypad when using ATMs or placing calling card calls.
  
• Never keep your passwords or PINs in your purse, wallet, Rolodex or electronic organizer
  
• Get your Social Security Number out of circulation and release it only when necessary (tax filing, employment, etc.)
  

Bank, Shop and Spend Wisely

• Store personal information in a safe place and shred or tear up documents you don’t need.
  
• Destroy charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, bank checks and statements, expired charge cards and credit offers you get in the mail before you put them out in the trash.
  
• Cancel your unused credit cards so their account numbers will not appear on your credit report.
  
• When you fill out a loan or credit application, be sure the business shreds the applications or stores them in locked, secure files.
  
• Tear up receipts, bank statements, and unused pre-approved credit card offers and convenience checks before throwing them in the trash.
  
• When possible watch your credit card as the merchant completes your transaction.
  
• Never throw credit card, ATM or debit card receipts in a public trash can.
  
• Choose to do business with companies you know are reputable, particularly online.
  
• When conducting business online, use a secure browser that encrypts or scrambles purchase information and make sure your browser’s padlock or key icon is activated.
  
• Don’t open email from unknown sources or include personal or financial information in emails, particularly upon request by the sender. “Phishing” is a scam where bogus emails that appear legitimate take advantage of unwary customers by requesting private information.
  

Review Your Information

Contact one of the three major credit bureaus and request a copy of your credit report to review for fraudulent accounts that may have been opened without authorization. Check the section of your report that lists “inquiries” to ensure that unauthorized applications for credit have not been submitted. If you discover unusual activity have the credit bureau place a “fraud alert” on your file and a victim’s statement asking creditors to call you before opening new accounts or changing existing ones. The credit bureaus and phone numbers are:

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