Online Security

Identity Theft and Fraud

At First Bank of Ohio, we are committed to providing quality service to you, whether you visit us online, or in person at one of our branch offices. We are dedicated to the responsible use and protection of your personal information. The procedures below outline our commitment to protecting your privacy, regardless of how you conduct your business with us.
Learn about identity theft, types of fraud and the latest scam aimed at obtaining your personal financial information and how to keep from becoming a victim.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is when fraud is attempted or committed using identifying information of another person without their authority such as name, date of birth, social security number, or mother’s maiden name. Fraud is committed when these criminals:

Conduct unauthorized transactions on existing accounts.
Take over an existing account through prolonged use or by emptying an account.
Establish or attempt to establish new accounts (credit cards, loans, etc.) using acquired information.

How to protect yourself

Protect your personal information. Only give out this information if you know how it will be used or shared and you have initiated the contact.
Only provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Driver’s License number when absolutely necessary.
Do not keep unnecessary information you do not need in your wallet or purse.
Check your credit report as often as possible.
Review your account statements promptly and report any discrepancies or suspicious transactions to your bank immediately.
Shred or tear up statements, check, credit card solicitations, charge receipts, expired cards and documents containing personal identifying information.
Promptly pick up delivered mail and deposit outgoing mail at a postal mailbox or the post office.

Reporting Identity Theft

Contact your local branch office immediately.
Contact the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline at: 877-438-4338
Contact the three main credit bureaus:

Equifax – 888-766-0008 or - www.equifax.com/home/en_us
Experian – 888-397-3742 or - http://www.experian.com/
TransUnion – 800-680-7289 or - https://fraud.transunion.com
Report the theft of mail to your local postmaster.

Internet/Online Fraud

First Bank of Ohio will never ask you to provide, verify or update your personal, account or financial information via email or pop-up windows. This includes: Social Security Number, passwords, Personal Identification Numbers (PIN), or ATM, Credit or Debit Card numbers. If you receive an email requesting such information, do not respond and never click on a link contained in the suspicious email.

Phishing

Phishing involves the use of fraudulent email or internet browser pop-up messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, often using a company name, logo and/or graphic. A typical scam consists of:

Receipt of an email message stating you need to update or validate your account information.
The message suggests a dire consequence, such as your online access expiring or being suspended, if you do not respond.
Via a link in the message, it directs you to a Website that looks legitimate, but it is not.
THE INTENT IS TO TRICK YOU INTO DIVULGING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, such as your account number, social security number, User ID or Password so they can commit crimes of a monetary nature or identity theft. It may also be an attempt to deliver and install malicious code (malware) that can harm your computer or device.

Reporting a Fraudulent Email

If you receive a suspicious email that appears to be coming from First Bank of Ohio, please forward a copy of the suspicious email to: tiffinoffice@firstbankofohio.com. If you discover a phony First Bank of Ohio website, please forward the web address (URL) to: tiffinoffice@firstbankofohio.com.
To report unauthorized transactions on your account, contact Internet Banking Customer Service at: 419-448-9740.

Pharming

Pharming occurs when you go to a website but are redirected without your consent or knowledge, to a fraudulent website which looks similar to a legitimate site; the intent of the fraudulent website is to capture confidential information.

Keys to Protecting Yourself

Protect your personal information, account numbers, User ID & password, card numbers and PIN’s. Use caution when providing this information to persons/entities over the internet or the phone.
Install and update anti-virus and anti-spyware software regularly.
Make sure your computer is updated with the most recent patches and security updates.
Never send your personal or account information using your personal email. To send this information to us, please strictly follow the instructions for contacting us on the First Bank of Ohio website.
Immediately delete any emails from an unknown source prior to opening it. If you open suspicious email, do not click on a link or attachments provided in the email.
Be cautious of emails that warn you that your account may be at risk, fraudulent activity or charges exist on your account or convey a sense of urgency. These often include details of the suspicious activity requesting you respond to the email or ‘click here’ to visit their site to update your information.
Prior to sending confidential information or financial transactions through a website, look for the lock icon on your status bar in the lower right corner. This signifies information is secure during transmission. By double clicking the padlock, you can view the security certificate. Also, look for the ‘s’ in the “https” of the URL in your web browser when engaging in financial transactions. This indicates scrambling or encryption of the communication.
Keep your password(s) confidential. Change passwords regularly using a combination of numbers, letters and special characters if possible. Avoid using obvious passwords.
Be careful when using a computer in a public area where someone could watch you enter your User ID’s or passwords.
Review your account statements promptly and report any discrepancies or suspicious transactions immediately.
Clean or destroy your hard drive when disposing of a computer.