| Commerce
National Bank’s staff will never initiate a request
for sensitive information from you (i.e., social security
number, personal login ID, password, PIN or account number).
Neither will the Bank ask you to verify account information
through an unsolicited email message.
We
stress that you never share your personal login ID, password,
PIN or account number with anyone, under any circumstances.
If
you receive an email that requests this type of action or
personal information, you should be suspicious of it and contact
your Commerce National Banker immediately. We also suggest
you report suspicious emails or telephone calls to the Federal
Trade Commission through the Internet at www.consumer.gov/idtheft,
or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT.
How
to Protect Yourself and Minimize Your Risk
Check fraud, identity theft and other financial fraud schemes
are in the news every day. Every year thousands of people
are victimized through the passing of forged checks accompanied
by lost, stolen or fictitious identification. To help combat
these crimes, we may ask for extra identification or perform
additional verification steps when processing your transactions
as a protective measure. We have also put together a few tips
you can use to minimize your risk by managing your personal
and account information wisely. We strive to improve customer
service by using the best tools, systems and practices available
to assist with identifying and preventing fraud.
Ways
to Protect Your Personal and Account Information
- Protect
your personal and account information at all times. Treat
this information like you would a valuable asset.
- Never
give your checking account, credit card or Social Security
number to unknown callers or during telephone sales solicitations.
- Never
give out your automated teller machine (ATM), debit card
or credit card personal identification number (PIN). An
associate of Commerce National Bank will not ask for your
PIN during a transaction.
- Never
write your PIN on your ATM, debit card or credit card.
- Review
your Commerce National Bank statements promptly and report
any discrepancies or suspicious transactions immediately.
- Report
lost or stolen checks, ATM cards, debit or credit cards
as soon as you discover they are missing.
- Store
your extra checks and deposit slips in a secure locked location
and properly destroy cancelled checks. Never leave your
checkbook in your vehicle.
- Protect
your ATM, debit card and credit card receipts. Some receipts
may bear your account number.
- Protect
your checkbook and bank documents (including statements
and cancelled checks) so they are not accessible to guests,
contractors, repairmen, etc.
-
When you close a bank account, be certain to destroy or
shred your excess supply of checks and deposit slips.
-
If your home is burglarized, check your supply of checks
to determine if any have been stolen. Look closely, since
thieves will sometimes take only one or two checks from
the middle or back of the book, making it more difficult
to determine that they are missing.
-
Purchase your checks and deposit slips from our approved
check vendors to ensure quality of your check stock and
the integrity of your account documents.
-
Do not share your login access code for Internet Banking
services with any third-party providers.
-
Always remember to clear your temporary Internet files or
set your browser to "Empty Temporary Internet Files
When the Browser is Closed".
Ways
to Protect Your Business and Account Information
- Segregate
financial responsibilities—do not allow the same person
who issues checks on the account balance the Commerce National
Bank statement.
-
Regularly review your account activity and cancelled checks,
especially if someone else reconciles your statement.
-
Secure all reserve supplies of checks, deposit slips and
other banking documents in a locked compartment. Limit access
to only a few authorized employees and change the locks
when an employee leaves your company.
-
Conduct random audits and enforce vacation policies (especially
for employees who have access to the financial records and
documents).
-
If finances permit, use an electronic payment system for
check disbursement rather than manually issuing checks.
-
Familiarize yourself with Commerce National Bank's account
disclosure information brochure and with your liability
for fraud under the Uniform Commercial Code.
-
Use a shredder to destroy all cancelled checks and financial
data that is no longer needed.
-
Have your employees bonded, when appropriate.
- Stay
in touch with other businesses to share information regarding
suspected fraud activity.
-
Purchase your checks and deposit slips from our approved
check vendors to ensure the quality of your check stock
and the integrity of your account documents.
-
Take advantage of our services, like Check Reconciliation
Service, that are designed to assist you in protecting and
managing your accounts.
-
Do not share your login access code for Internet Banking
with any third-party providers.
-
Always remember to clear your temporary Internet files or
set your browser to "Empty Temporary Internet Files
When the Browser is Closed".
What
You Should Do If You Are a Victim
In the event you are a victim of fraud or burglary,
there are a number of immediate steps you can take to help
protect your personal and financial interests. These suggestions
are general guidelines to assist you and not all-inclusive
and should not be considered nor interpreted as legal, accounting
or financial advice. The suggestions include:
- Immediately
contact Commerce National Bank and your credit card issuers
so that the following can be done: Access to your
accounts can be protected; stop payments placed on missing
checks; PIN’s and Internet Banking passwords changed
and a new account opened where appropriate. Be sure to indicate
to the Bank or issuer all the cards and/or accounts potentially
impacted, including your ATM card, debit card and credit
card. Also, ask the Bank associate assisting you to review
all recent transactions on your accounts linked to those
cards, including checking, savings, money market, credit,
home equity, etc. Additionally, ensure that no one has requested
an address change, title change, PIN change or ordered new
cards or checks to be sent to another address. You can generally
find customer service or fraud prevention contact telephone
numbers and your account numbers on your monthly statements.
Having this information handy will often facilitate your
call.
-
File a police report with your local police department and
provide the facts and circumstances surrounding your loss.
Obtain a police report number with the date, time,
police department, location and police officer taking the
report or involved in the subsequent investigation. Having
a police report on file will often facilitate your dealings
with insurance companies, banks, credit card agencies and
commercial establishments that may be the recipient of your
stolen checks or fraudulent credit card purchases. The police
report may initiate a law enforcement investigation into
the loss with the goal of identifying, arresting and prosecuting
the offender and possibly recovering your lost items. The
police report will also help provide immediate clarification
should someone assume your identity and be arrested for
criminal activity using your name and biographical data.
- Maintain
a written chronology of what happened, what was lost and
the steps you took to report the incident to the various
agencies, banks and firms impacted. Be sure to
record the date, time, contact telephone number, person
you talked to and any relevant report or reference number
and instructions.
- Do
a thorough review and inventory of bank activity and/or
items that may have been stolen from you. If you
later discover additional fraud items or missing articles,
be sure to contact the respective police agency, bank, credit
card issuer or commercial establishment and update your
initial report.
In addition to reporting your situation to Commerce National
Bank, debit card and credit card issuers and the local police
department, remember to contact the following areas should
these items be among your missing belongings.
- Department
of Motor Vehicles for the replacement of your driver's license
and vehicle registration.
-
Social Security Administration for the replacement of your
Social Security card.
-
Voter's registration office for the replacement of your
voter's registration card.
-
Local library to replace your library card.
-
Various merchants who may have issued you a courtesy check-cashing
card.
-
Various insurance companies for replacement of your Medicare
card, prescription card, proof of homeowner's, auto, medical
insurance, etc.
-
Your employee identification card, security door access
cards, special remote computer access passwords or tokens
issued by your employer.
What
You Should Do If Your Identity Is Stolen
If your name, account number or any form of personal identification
has been used in a fraudulent scheme or transaction, you may
wish to contact the appropriate agencies listed below:
Commerce
National Bank
- (949)
474-1020 – Newport Beach Office
- (714)
451-8650 – Fullerton Office
Report
any fraudulent activity on your deposit account, such as lost
or stolen checks, and other unauthorized transactions found
in your statement.
Credit
Bureaus
Request a copy of your credit bureau report and look for unknown
inquiries or approved credit. Request a statement be placed
on your record that no further credit be approved unless you
are contacted directly before approval is granted.
Equifax
P O Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30349-5069
www.equifax.com
To order a report: (800) 685-1111
To report fraud: (800) 525-6285
Experian
P O Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013-0949
www.experian.com
To order a report: (888) 397-3742
To report fraud: (888) 397-3742
Trans
Union
P O Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
www.transunion.com
To order a report: (800) 916-8800
To report fraud: (800) 680-7289
Merchant
Check Guarantee Programs
Report any bank account set up fraudulently under your name
to:
Telecheck
(800) 366-2425
National Processing Company
(800) 526-5380
SCAN (Deluxe)
(800) 262-7771
CheckRite
(800) 766-2748
CrossCheck
(800) 552-1900
Market Block List
(888) 567-8688
These agencies will place information in their system about
checks that are reported as stolen or lost. They will also
make note of accounts that were opened for the purpose of
true name fraud. This information is then made available to
merchants who subscribe to their service.
Fraudulent
Charges on Your Credit Account
Report fraudulent charges on your credit cards or contact
the credit card issuers of cards in your name. Review your
account activity to ensure there are no unauthorized transactions.
If you subscribe to a credit card protection service, contact
them to report any fraudulent or unauthorized transactions.
Social
Security Services
Report victimization and improper use of your Social Security
number to:
- Social
Security Hotline at (800) 269-0271
The Social Security Hotline allows a victim of identity
theft to report misuse of a Social Security number. You
may also visit your local Social Security Office to obtain
further information.
U.S.
Post Office and Local Police Departments
- U.S.
Postal Inspectors Office
Victims of fraud should contact their local post office
to report any crime involving stolen mail or use of the
mail in furtherance of a fraud scheme.
- Local
Police Departments
It is recommended that victims of identity theft file a
police report with their local police department. Victims
should keep a copy of the report for their records.
Department of Motor Vehicles
If your driver's license is stolen, report the theft immediately
to your local Department of Motor Vehicles. Ensure that a
duplicate license was not recently issued in your name to
an imposter.
Other
Support Agencies
-
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC Consumer Response Center (877-FTC-HELP) maintains
a program to assist victims of identity theft. The Center
logs complaints and provides assistance and information
to victimized consumers to rectify damage to their credit
and personal reputation.
Protect
Yourself
You
should always remain vigilant to protect yourself from fraud
and identity theft attempts. Cases of stolen identity and
fraud happen to real people, and with increasing frequently.
These are some of the best and easiest ways to protect yourself
against becoming a victim, but you must take the appropriate
steps.

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