Preventing Credit Card Fraud

Please use the following website for more information about identity theft.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/index.html

• Sign immediately. Sign the signature panel on your credit cards as soon as you receive them and keep duplicates in a safe place.

• Memorize your PIN. Don't carry your PIN (Personal Identification Number). Memorize it or keep the number at home.

• Verify your card. Be sure your credit card is returned after a purchase, and that it is indeed your card.

• Wait for your card receipt. Don't leave your credit card receipts at the checkout counter. Always take your charge slips and tear up any carbons.

• Save your receipts. Check them against your monthly billing or account statements to make sure you can identify all of your transactions. Report any unauthorized transactions immediately. After you have reconciled your billing statements, tear up all receipts and discard them at home.

• Check statements and watch your charges. Verify that your monthly statement reflects the amount you authorized. Also, watch for multiple charges.

• Keep it private. Keep your statements in a safe place.

• Out of sight. Never leave your purse or wallet unattended and always keep your cards out of plain sight.

• Never lend your card. Your credit card is your responsibility. Also, periodically check to make sure you have all your cards.

• Keep a list. In a separate location, keep a list of account numbers and telephone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen.

• Check statements and watch your charges. Be cautious when giving your card number over the phone. Verify that your monthly statement reflects the amount you authorized. Also, watch for multiple charges.

How you can Protect Your Security

Your role in protecting personal information

• Do not respond to un-solicited e-mails from companies with which you do business requesting that you re-validate personal information or that link to Web sites requesting that you re-validate personal information. Should you receive such an e-mail, contact the company directly via phone or by typing in their home URL directly to determine the validity of the e-mail.

• If e-mails or Web sites contain typographical or grammatical errors, review them carefully as these are often signs of fraud attempts to compromise your information.

• Do not click on "links" you receive in an e-mail message. Open your browser and enter the address directly.

• Do not share your ID or password with anyone.

• Change your password regularly.

• Only provide your personal or account information online to sites you trust and where you initiated the contact.

• Remember to sign off the Web site once you have submitted an application or completed a secure online session.

• When your computer is not in use, shut it down or disconnect it from the Internet.

• If you think you may have provided information to a fraud perpetrator, change your password immediately and monitor your account activity frequently.

Computer virus protection

• Anti-virus protection. If your computer becomes infected with a virus, you could possibly lose information and incur repair expense. Make sure your computer has an anti-virus protection program installed to reduce the risk of your computer becoming infected.

• Automatic upgrades. We recommend that you purchase a program that automatically upgrades your virus protection on a recurring basis. If you currently do not have this automatic upgrade feature, make sure you update your virus detection program weekly and when you hear of a new virus.

• Attachments. We advise not to open attachments or diskettes unless you are certain that you can trust the source. Learn how to manually screen diskettes and attachments if your anti-virus software does not automatically screen for viruses.

Protecting Yourself from Identity Fraud

Identity fraud happens when someone steals personal information such as your bank account number or Social Security number and then uses this information illegally, such as withdrawing money from your account.

Take these precautions to protect your information

• Be discriminating when providing personal information such as Social Security number and account or credit card information over the telephone, in person or on the Internet. Don't give out this information unless you are sure with whom you are dealing.

• Protect your Social Security number and the Social Security numbers of your children and other family members by not carrying them in your wallet.

• Report lost or stolen checks, credit or debit cards immediately. First Federal will block payment on the check numbers or account numbers involved.

• Store cancelled checks, new checks and account statements in a safe place.

• Notify your banker of suspicious phone inquiries such as those asking for account information to "verify a statement" or "award a prize."

• Review your credit report at least once every year. Make sure all information is up-to-date and accurate.

• Memorize your PIN (Personal Identification Number) and refrain from writing it, your Social Security number or credit card number on a check.

• Tear up or shred any pre-approved credit offers to which you do not respond. Thieves can use these offers to assume your identity.

• Keep mail secure. Don't mail bills or sensitive information from your home or unsecured mailboxes. Retrieve and review your mail promptly. Thieves may use the personal information contained in your mail to steal your identity.

• If you do not receive your regular bills when expected, call the company to find out why.

• Review your monthly account statements thoroughly. Investigate suspicious items immediately to head off any possible fraud before it occurs.

• Do not carry your Social Security card, passport or birth certificate unless needed that day.

Fraudulent E-mails

Many Internet users have recently been targeted by a growing number of e-mail scams. The scams involve unsolicited e-mails that ask customers to disclose sensitive account information at a website that has been created as an imitation or copy of an existing legitimate Web page. These fraudulent messages attempt to obtain information such as account usernames and passwords, PIN numbers, credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc.

To protect yourself from such scams, remember the following:

• Do not respond to unsolicited e-mails appearing to be from First Federal asking for account or other personal information

• Exact content of these e-mail scams will vary, but the scam remains the same - to obtain account information

• Do not reply or click on the links provided in such an e-mail - this confirms the validity of your e-mail address and may lead to more spam

• Never share usernames, passwords, or PIN numbers

At First Federal, we take the security of your account very seriously. As a general business practice, we would not ask for this type of information by unsolicited e-mail.