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Identity Theft & Fraud Protection
ATB Financial takes steps to protect you.
Protecting
the confidentiality and security of your Personal Information is one
of ATB Financial's top priorities.
We use the latest technology to detect and investigate any irregular
activity in your accounts. Your ATB debit and credit cards contain only
the minimum amount of information necessary to make a transaction. No
Personal Information is included on your ABM cards. As soon as you enter
your PIN number at a banking machine, it is automatically scrambled before
it's sent on the network and the transaction begins.
If you lose your bank card or credit card, or someone fraudulently creates
a duplicate card and uses it to take money from your account or run up
your credit card, as soon as you spot a problem, let ATB Financial know
immediately. Refer to your cardholder agreement for further details on
liability.
We'll continue to take whatever steps we can to help you protect your
identity and secure your Personal Information. But there are important
steps you can and should take as well. It means you have to manage your
Personal Information wisely and cautiously and take steps to minimize
your own risk.
Protecting your PIN is up to you.
Think of it like a key. Instead of unlocking
the door to your house or car, your PIN number unlocks the gateway to
your financial and Personal Information.
We regularly lock our houses and cars, but too often, we're careless
about the "keys" to our bank accounts and financial information.
PIN Pointers:
- Consider changing your PIN number regularly.
- Don't lend your bank card to anyone, including friends and family.
- Memorize your PIN number. Don't write it down and "hide" it
in your drawer, post it on your computer, or attach it to your cards.
- Don't disclose your PIN to anyone.
- When selecting your PIN, don't pick the obvious. Your name, your children's
names, street number, telephone number or date of birth are all easy
to find out. Choose something more complicated.
- Don't let your bank card out of sight when you're conducting a transaction.
As soon as the transaction is complete, remember to take your card
and the transaction record with you.
- Don't use banking machines where you don't feel secure. And when you're
making a transaction, use your hand or your body to prevent people
from looking over your shoulder.
- Notify ATB Financial immediately if you detect any irregular activity
on your accounts or if your bank or credit card is lost, stolen or
retained in a bank machine.
Change your PIN number. It's good protection and provides added security.
Take steps to protect your personal identity:
- If you have several bank cards and credit cards, carry only those that
you need. Leave the others at home in a safe place.
- Sign your cards immediately.
- Don't carry your social security card or birth certificate with you and
don't give out the number unless it's absolutely required. Keep it
in a secure, safe place.
- Don't attach or write your PIN number or social security number on anything
you are going to discard such as receipts or scraps of paper.
- Shred any document that contains your debit card or credit card number
before you discard it.
- Check your receipts to make sure they belong to you and not someone else.
- Don't give Personal Information or account numbers to anyone until you
have confirmed the identity of the person asking for it. You should
also ask how the information will be used and whether it will be shared
with anyone else. Ask if you have a choice about providing personally
identifying information and, if you can, choose to keep it confidential.
- Frequently check your credit report so you're aware of any changes or
unusual activity. Credit information can be obtained once a year at
no charge from Equifax Canada by calling 1-800-465-7166,
and Trans Union of Canada, or by calling 1-800-663-9980.
- Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your
bills don't arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an
identity thief have taken over your credit card account and changed
your billing address to cover their tracks.
- Guard your mail from theft. Promptly remove your mail from the mail box
and notify Canada Post to hold your mail if you're going to be away
for some time.
- Protect your computer with a good firewall and anti-virus software. Take
advantage of technologies that enhance security and privacy when using
the Internet, such as using digital signatures, data encryption, and
different ways of making the information anonymous.
- Avoid posting Personal Information on publicly accessible Web sites and
on-line bulletin boards.
- Give your social insurance number only when it's absolutely necessary.
Don't include your social insurance number and other sensitive Personal Information in on-line resumes.
- When you register for certain Web sites, use strong passwords and avoid
words that are easy to guess. Don't use the same password for different
sites and don't store your password in your computer.
- Be wary of on-line offers from Web sites you don't know and trust.
- Shred outdated bills, tax documents and other sensitive information.
Take action immediately if your suspect identity theft.
- Call ATB Financial immediately, at 1-800-332-8383, if you suspect you
have been a victim of identity theft or if there is unusual activity
in any of your accounts. This service is available seven days a week.
We can provide advice on what to do with your credit card accounts, bank
accounts and investments with ATB Financial.
- Call the police and file a report. Ask for a copy of the police report.
- Contact each credit grantor who has allowed a
fraudulent account and tell them you did not open that account. Have
them close these accounts.
- Change your PIN number immediately. If you open new accounts, make sure
you put a new password on the accounts.
- Contact Canada Post if someone is diverting your mail.
- Document all the contacts you make along with dates, names and phone
numbers.
Your security is important.
At ATB Financial, we're working with you to protect your identity. By
taking steps to carefully guard your PIN number, safeguard your debit
and credit cards, and by being aware of any unusual signs, you can minimize
your risks. At ATB Financial, we'll continue to use the latest technology
available for ABM cards, credit cards, and online banking to ensure that
you have the best access to trusted and secure financial services. Your
security is important to us. If you have any questions about ATB Financial's
security measures or further actions you can take to protect your identity,
ask your local branch manager or call ATB Financial at 1-800-332-8383.
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