Equifax Breach Concerns, Tips and Measures Customers Can Take

September 1, 2017

Arundel Federal Savings Bank is deeply concerned about the compromise of millions of Americans’ personal information at Equifax. We want you, our customer, to be aware of ways to protect yourself and your personal financial information against identity theft and cyber security-related crimes. The information leaked may include:

Names
Social Security numbers
Birthdates
Addresses
Driver’s license numbers

This was NOT a compromise of Arundel Federal Savings Bank and no information was taken from our systems. Rest assured we utilize the highest level of security available for keeping all of your financial information safe. Customers can monitor their Arundel Federal accounts through online banking and downloading the SecurLOCK Equip app for your bank issued debit card. Report any unusual activity to Arundel Federal Savings Bank by contacting us at 410-863-7800 or CustomerService at ArundelFederal dot com. Protecting your account is not only a top priority but a shared responsibility as well. Let’s work together to keep your account secure. The following are tips, scams to avoid, and measures you can take to prevent and repair in case of an identity theft:

Tips

Check your credit reports via the free annualcreditreport.com;
Check your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized activity;
Think before you click, know who you are sharing your information with.

Emails/Phone Calls/Scams:

Phishing emails that claim to be from Equifax where you can check if your data was compromised;
Phishing emails that claim there is a problem with a credit card, your credit record, or other account or personal financial information;
Calls from scammers that claim they are from your bank or credit union;
Fraudulent charges on any credit card because your identity was stolen.

5 things you can do to prevent identity theft:

Sign up for credit monitoring (there are many companies providing this service).
Consider placing a “fraud alert” on your credit report at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0275-place-fraud-alert.
Freeze your credit files at the three major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Remember that generally it is not possible to sign up for credit monitoring services after a freeze is in place. Advice for how to file a freeze is available here on a state-by-state basis: http://consumersunion.org/research/security-freeze/.
Check your bank and credit card statements every month for any unauthorized activity.
If you believe you may have been the victim of identity theft, here is a site where you can learn more about how to protect yourself: http://www.idtheftcenter.org/. You can also call the center’s toll-free number (888-400-5530) for advice on how to resolve identify-theft issues. All of the center’s services are free.

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