Safeguard your personal information

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOTV) - Identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your permission. It’s a serious crime that can wreak havoc with your family's finances and credit history and can take time, money and patience to resolve.

Fifth Third Bank has five important steps you should take to prevent identity theft from happening to you.

1.       Safeguard your information.  

• Be aware of the latest ways to get your information (ie. Phishing, Vishing, SMiShing)
• Never disclose information that could be used to steal your identity to someone you don’t know. Legitimate companies should never ask you for your login username and passwords.
• Never click on links embedded within email or text message if you don’t know or trust the source.

2.       Only use computers that have the appropriate security.

• Ensure security software is active on computer including antivirus software and spyware/malware detection programs.
• Never use computers on unsecured wireless connections for sensitive transactions like banking.

3.       Use strong/complex credentials when logging into sites.

• Use different password for every account.
• Use a strong password made up of numbers, letter and symbols (create passwords from phrases that are easy for you to remember. For example:  “The cow jumped over the earth and moon two times” which could translate to password “Tcjote&m2x”

 4.       Monitor the transactions in your bank and credit card accounts.

• Sign up for the financial institution’s online banking tool to get the most up to date transaction history.
• Regularly monitor your credit report.
• Sign up for some form of identity theft protection like Fifth Third Bank's Identity Alert program.

5.       Never throw documents containing confidential information in the trash.

• Use a shredder to completely destroy financial, medical and other sensitive documents that may contain your personal information.