Identity theft occurs when someone gains access to your personal information, such as name, date of birth and Social Security number (SSN), and uses that information to commit fraudulent acts, including:
- Buying things with your credit cards
- Getting new credit cards in your name
- Opening a phone, electricity, or gas account in your name
- Stealing your tax refund
- Taking over your bank account
If you believe your identity has been compromised, please take the following steps immediately:
- If you’re a Needham Bank customer, please call us at 781-444-2100 immediately. Also, be sure to contact other financial institutions you do business with.
- Contact all three credit bureaus and request that they place a security freeze on your credit report, free of charge. A security freeze prohibits a credit reporting agency from releasing any information from a consumer’s credit report without written authorization. However, please be aware that placing a security freeze on your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prevent the timely approval of any requests you make for new loans, credit mortgages, employment, housing or other services. Under federal law, you cannot be charged to place, lift or remove a security freeze.
Equifax Security Freeze
1-800-349-9960
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/
Experian Security Freeze
1-888-397-3742
https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
TransUnion Security Freeze
1-888-909-8872
https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
- Report identity theft online at the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) identity theft website
Please be aware that Needham Bank will never call, text or email you and ask for your Online Banking username and password. For information on how to keep your online information safe, visit NeedhamBank.com/cybersecurity for helpful tips.
