Help With Fraud or Scams

Third Coast Bank recommends you follow these steps as soon as you become aware of identity theft:

• Contact Financial Institutions - Contact Third Coast Bank immediately if the fraudulent activity is related to your bank account(s). Review the activity on all your accounts, including checking and savings accounts, debit cards, loans, and other banking accounts and look for changed addresses, changed Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), or new cards ordered. Notify the fraud departments of credit card companies, as well as other banks and lenders, of the potential fraud. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Change your Online Banking username and password immediately.
• Contact the Police - Immediately call the local police or the police in the community where the identity theft occurred and file a report. The police can initiate an investigation and you can obtain information from the police report, which you will likely need to address credit report and account issues,
• Complete an Affidavit Form - Financial institutions and law enforcement agencies may require you to
• complete an "Identity Theft Victim's Complaint and Affidavit" form. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) developed the Affidavit form for use by victims of identity theft, you can go to https://www.identitytheft.gov/ to report identity theft and get a recovery plan.
• Contact Credit Bureaus - Contact the toll-free number of any of the three consumer reporting agencies below to place a "fraud alert" on your credit report. You only need to contact one of the three agencies, because the first agency you contact will report the alert to the others.

o            Equifax:              1.800.525.6285             www.equifax.com

o            Experian:           1.888.397.3742             www.experian.com

o            TransUnion:      1.800.680.7289             www.transunion.com

• Request a statement be shown on the report whereby creditors contact you to verify future credit applications. Once an alert is placed, you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report from each of the agencies. Review each credit report carefully once received. Look for inquiries from companies you have not contacted, accounts you did not open, and debts on your accounts that you cannot explain. Continue to check your credit reports periodically to ensure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission - Report the criminal activity to the FTC by filing a complaint using the FTC's online complaint form or by calling the Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) and speaking with a trained identity theft counselor.
• Notify Check Verification Companies - Many retailers use major check verification companies so contact your bank and ask that your account information be reported to the Texas Closed Account Notification System (CANS). By doing so, all the major check verification entities will have access to the information and report the crime to any retailer who uses their services. To access the form which is required by your financial institution to enter the information on the database, please visit the following website - https://www.dob.texas.gov/public/uploads/files/Applications-Forms-publications/Applications-Forms/cve_ssfininst.pdf.
• Keep Records - Document the names, phone numbers, and dates for each person you speak to regarding the incident. You can download and print a Chart Your Curse of Action form to record the steps you have taken to report the fraudulent use of your identity. Follow up on your phone calls with letters and keep copies of all correspondence; and
• Continue to Review All Accounts - Since identity theft can take time to completely resolve, carefully review all charges and transactions appearing on your account statements and online. Report any discrepancies immediately.

You are in the best position to identify suspicious activity in your account. Monitor your account closely and contact us if you don't recognize a transaction.

Covering the Basics

• Never lend your credit or debit card to anyone
• If you move, notify Third Coast Bank in advance of your change of address
• Sign your credit and debit cards as soon as you receive them
• Don't write your PIN on your card or anywhere near your card in case your wallet is stolen
• Don't trust caller ID — it's not always who it says it is.
• Don't share codes based on a call you receive.
• Don't be pressured to act immediately.

Using your Card at ATMs / Retail Stores

• Do keep an eye on your credit or debit card every time you use it, and make sure you get it back as quickly as possible
• Do shield your card number so that others around you can't copy or photograph it
• Carbon paper is rarely used these days, but if used in a credit card transaction, destroy it immediately

Online Fraud Prevention

• Never provide your credit or debit card information on a website that is not secure (a secure connection will display "https:" in the website address and the lock in the bottom right corner of the browser window)
• Stick to online merchants that have a trustworthy reputation. Read their privacy policy (if you can't find it, that may be a red flag) and find out what security features are in place
• Make sure your computer has a firewall installed and keep your browser software and anti-virus program updated

Email Fraud Prevention

• Never respond to emails that request your credit or debit card information via email or verification of your personal (and credit or debit card) information via a website. These scams are called "phishing."
• Third Coast Bank does NOT initiate emails seeking personal information such as account numbers, card PINs and Social Security numbers. If you receive a suspicious email from TCB or about your TCB account, please forward it, as an attachment, to us at phishing@thirdcoast.bank. We will investigate on your behalf.

Keeping Financial Information Secure at Home

• Shred all received credit card applications and any documents with your credit or debit card numbers
• Check for unusual activity or charges by reviewing your checking account and credit card statements promptly
• Treat your credit card statement like your checking account statement – reconcile it monthly. Report suspicious charges promptly to Third Coast Bank at 833-844-7708 (tel:833-844-7708)  or in person at a branch. Never leave your cards or receipts lying around or accessible to others
• Never write your card number on anything that may be visible to the public (e.g., a payment slip that may show through the envelope payment window)
• Obtain your credit report on a regular basis and make sure everything appears correct
• Keep personal records, payroll information, insurance files and other sensitive information stored securely and out of sight. Half of all identity fraud is committed by friends, family members, relatives, employees, live-in caregivers and other individuals working in or around the home