How You Can Protect Your Personal Information:

One of the most valuable things each of us possesses is our identity.  Unfortunately, thieves know this all to well.   That’s why in the last decade the frequency of identity theft schemes has risen dramatically.  Here are some tips to reduce your exposure to the thieves:

• Keep your credit cards, debit cards, personal identifications numbers (PINs), checks, social security number, driver’s license number, and other personal information in a safe-secure place.
• Don’t give out financial information such as checking and credit card numbers – and especially your Social Security number – on the phone unless YOU initiate the call and know the person or organization you’re dealing with.
• Make photocopies of vital information you carry regularly, including credit and debit card numbers with contact phone numbers in case the items become lost and/or stolen
• Don’t use PINs or other passwords that are easy to guess
• Place outgoing mail in a U.S. Postal Service mailbox to reduce the chance of mail theft
• Promptly retrieve incoming mail to limit the opportunity for theft
• Report lost or stolen checks to Stock Yards Bank immediately
• Shred all unsolicited credit card or loan offers
• Limit the credit offers you receive by contacting the National Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies at 1-888-5-OPTOUT
  (1-888-567-8688)
• Promptly review all your banking and credit card accounts regularly
• Never give out personal or financial information to anyone over the Internet or phone and most importantly, don’t accept checks from individuals you’ve only met online. 
• The internet has become one of the easiest tools to perpetrate fraud therefore don’t believe everything you are told online.   Do your homework and check out the facts.
• Don’t accept payments for more than the amount of the service with the understanding that you send the buyer the difference
• Don’t accept jobs in which you are paid or receive commission for facilitating money transfers through your account
• Understand that you are ultimately responsible and liable for all deposits made into your account, whether they are checks, money orders, transfers, etc.,
• Confirm the validity of all request for sensitive personal, financial, or account information, particularly if they are made with an urgent or threatening tone
• Don’t leave persona information in your card.  It’s even more valuable than your stereo.
• Be cautious of telephone, door-to-door and email solicitations; be cautious of any offer that sounds to good to be true
• Eliminate paper that contains your personal information as much as possible
• Check your credit reports at least once a year – Once a year you can order a free credit report online at www.freecreditreport.com