If you receive an e-mail or text from someone that you do business with, be careful before providing any information. Remember, First Capital will never ask you for personal information via email or text. In particular, fraudsters are looking for the following types of information that can be used to steal your identity:

* Account Numbers
* Passwords
* Personal Identification Numbers (PIN)
* Social Security Numbers (SSN)
* Credit Card Number
* Debit/Check Card Number
* CSV Number (3 digit code on the back of cards on the signature line)

Smart Online Shopping – How to find a safe vendor

One of the risks to performing E-commerce activities is choosing an institution or a vendor who won’t take your personal information and sell it once they purchase is finished. Here at First Capital we will never sell your personal information, however, this is a quick guide to aid you to determine if other vendors are “safe” to use to conduct E-commerce activates.

Use Well-Known Merchants. Well-known companies are more likely to be honest, have good security procedures in place, and have the resources to find and stop identity theft.

Use Businesses that Have Physical Locations. Businessesthat don’t have real offices or are run out of a someone’s basement may mean they are fly-by-night businesses.

Use Businesses that are Registered. In almost every area of the world, there is some form of registration for businesses to operate. Companies that have registered have shown some level of effort to identify themselves personally with the organization and are less likely to engage in outright fraud.

Develop a Relationship first. If possible, make the first couple of purchases from the merchant in small dollar amounts.

Use Businesses that have Established a Good Reputation. Businesses that spend the time and effort to build a good reputation are not likely to defraud you. Reputation takes years to build and moments to lose. Search the name of the person or business to see what others say about them.

Register for an Alert Service. While First Capital does not currently offer this type of service there are services available to notify you of any inquiries on your credit report. Stay tuned as we are working to implement such a service. Many credit card vendors provide protection services as well which will notify you if there are any suspicious transactions requiring authorization.