Fraud and Identity Theft Prevention
How do we protect you from online fraud?
Our highest priority is your security. We monitor activity of our website through sophisticated analysis tools and processes to identify fraudulent activity. In addition, any and all information that you chose to send us via our website is transmitted in a secure manner, and is encrypted. Click HERE to learn more about SSL and encryption.
What is email fraud?
There are many variations of email fraud. One of the most common approaches utilizes fake emails that ask you to provide sensitive personal information that can be used for identity theft or other malicious intents. This approach is called phishing (pronounced “fishing”). These emails are difficult to detect because the sender appears to be genuine. These emails usually request personal information or include links to a site that attempts to get you to disclose your personal information. The persons attempting to obtain this data may use it to access your accounts. If you are not expecting a communication from us, or you are uncertain, it is always wise to call us at 1-866-334-1001 and confirm the validity of the e-mail you received.
What is “smishing”?
Smishing is a phishing attempt sent via SMS (Short Message Service) or text message to a mobile device. The term “smishing” is a combination of the words SMS and phishing. The intents of text message phishing is similar to that as traditional email phishing which is to commit fraud by convincing recipients to share their personal, sensitive data. Never disclose this sensitive data via text message, this includes but not limited to account numbers, passwords, social security numbers, or any combination of sensitive, personal information that could be used fraudulently. Always use caution if you receive a text message indicating an urgent need for you to update your information, activate accounts, or verify your identity, as these messages may be part of a phishing scan conducted by fraudsters to capture your confidential personal information.
What should I do if I already shared information about my account?
If you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft or online fraud, we recommend that you follow these steps immediately.
- Notify your financial institutions and credit card companies, close the affected accounts and open new ones with new personal identification numbers and passwords.
- Contact your local police department and file a miscellaneous incident report. Be sure to get a case number and a copy of the report for your records. Having this report can help you clear up your credit records.
- Contact any businesses that may have been opened in your name without your permission and then close those accounts, informing those businesses of the fraudulent activity.
- Call the Social Security Fraud Hotline and immediately report that your card has been lost or stolen by calling the Hotline at (800) 269-0271. Click here to visit the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Hotline information. Click here
- If your checks have been stolen or misused, contact your financial institution and stop all payments. Then contact these check verification companies:
- Certegy – (800) 710-9898
- TeleCheck – (800) 437-5120
- Notify the Federal Trade Commission, there contact information is below:
- Telephone – 877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338)
- Website – www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
- Notify the major credit bureaus by calling or writing to them, their information is below:
| Equifax | Experian | TransUnion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report Fraud | (800) 525-6285 | (888) 397-3742 | (800) 680-7289 |
| Dispute Credit Report Online | Equifax | Experian | TransUnion |
| Order Credit Report | (800) 685-1111 | (888) 397-3742 | (800) 916-8800 |
| Address | P.O.Box 7040241 Atlanta, GA 30374 | P.O. Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013 | P.O. Box 1000 Chester, PA 19022 |
- Request a copy of your credit report. You can do this for free by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com, or by calling (877) 322-8228. This service was created by the three nationwide consumer credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
How can I protect myself from fraud?
You are in control of your personal information, handle it with care. Don’t provide this information to someone you don’t know. Keep all of your financial information secure. Bank online and regularly monitor your accounts – look for unusual activity, or unknown activity, and address those issues immediately.
How do I contact Foundation Financial Group about suspected fraud or identity theft?
If you receive an email, text or SMS message, and you believe it to be fraudulent, immediately forward it to abuse@ffg.com – Do not remove or modify the original subject line, and do not alter the original message in any form.
How do I know when websites and internet transactions are safe?
Click HERE to learn about SSL and what it means to you.
Fraud Prevention
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