*NEW: FDIC Special Alert!*

Attention Customers: Please remember, Union Bank will never contact customers through the use of cell phone text messages, nor will we ever ask for confidential account information over the phone or by email. If you receive fraudulent communications regarding your accounts with Union Bank, we ask that you contact one of our Branch Managers immediately. Please retain the information from the messages for our review. For more information on how to protect yourself from fraud, contact us at 816.763.4400 or stop by any of our 11 locations.

STOP IDENTITY THEFT
There is a type of identity theft using the Internet called “phishing.” Pronounced “fishing,” that’s exactly what thieves are doing, fishing for your personal financial information. They want your account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers, and other confidential information so they can use your financial accounts or run up bills on your credit cards.

In the worst case, you could find yourself a victim of identity theft. With the sensitive information obtained from a successful phishing scam, these thieves can take out loans or obtain credit cards and even a driver’s license in your name. They can do damage to your financial history and personal reputation that can take years to unravel. But if you understand how phishing works and how to protect yourself, you can help stop the crime.

HOW PHISHING WORKS

• Typically, you’ll receive an e-mail that appears to come from a reputable company that you recognize and may do business with, such as your financial institution. In some cases, the e-mail may appear to come from a government agency, perhaps a federal financial institution regulatory agency.
• The emails will probably warn you of a serious problem that requires your immediate attention. It may use phrases such as “Immediate attention required,” or “Please contact us immediately about your account.” The e-mail may also state that unless you provide certain confidential information your account will be deactivated or closed. The e-mail will encourage you to click a link to go to the institution’s Website.
• In a phishing scam, you could be redirected to a phony Website that may look exactly like the real thing. Sometimes, in fact, it may be the company’s actual Website. In those cases, a pop-up window will quickly appear for the purpose of collecting your financial information.
• You may be asked to update your account information or to provide information for verification purposes: your Social Security number, your account number, your password, or the information you use to verify your identity when speaking to your financial institution, such as your mother’s maiden name and your place of birth.
If you provide the requested information, you may find yourself a victim of identity theft.

Equifax
800-525-6285
P.O. Box 740250
Atlanta, GA 30374
www.equifax.com

Experian
888-397-3742
P.O. Box 1017
Allen, TX 75013
www.experian.com

TransUnion
800-680-7289
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634
www.transunion.com

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

• Never provide your personal information in response to an unsolicited request, whether it is over the phone or on the Internet. E-mails and Internet pages created by phishers may look exactly like the real thing. They may even have a fake padlock icon that ordinarily is used to denote a secure site. If you did not initiate the communication, do not provide any information.
• If you are unsure whether a contact is legitimate, contact the financial institution. You can find phone numbers and Websites on the monthly statements you receive from your financial institution, or you can lookup the company in a phone book or on the Internet. The key is that you should be the one to initiate the contact, using information that you have verified yourself.
• Never provide your account information and/or password over the phone or in response to an unsolicited Internet request. A financial institution would never ask you to verify your account information or confirm a password online. Thieves armed with this information and your account number can help themselves to your money.
• Review account statements regularly to ensure all charges are correct. If your account statement is late in arriving or does not arrive, call your financial institution to find out why. If your financial institution offers electronic account access, check your account activity online regularly to catch suspicious activity.

• Contact your financial institution immediately and alert them to the situation.
• Close accounts you think have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Call the security or fraud department of each associated company or financial institution. Follow-up in writing and supply copies of supporting documents.
• It is important to notify credit card companies and financial institutions in writing. Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document when and what the company received. Keep copies of your correspondence and enclosures.
• Report all suspicious contacts to the Federal Trade Commission through the Internet at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft, or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).
• Check with your state Attorney General’s office to find out if state law requires the police to take reports for identity theft. Check the Blue Pages of your telephone directory for the phone number, or check www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.

This message is provided by the federal bank, credit union and thrift regulatory agencies.

• Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
• National Credit Union Administration
• Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
• Office of Thrift Supervision