At Northern, your peace of mind is our top priority. We’re dedicated to fraud prevention and information security and routinely monitor for data breaches to protect member-owners. If a data breach includes a member’s debit card, we actively reach out to those impacted to ensure they receive a new debit card before any unauthorized purchases occur.
Last year 6,500 organizations experienced data breaches estimated to contain 5 billion personal records. Data breaches often include names, birthdates, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social security numbers, and other personal information. This information can be used to steal someone’s identity and make fraudulent purchases in their name.
Capital One recently announced a data breach that affected more than 100 million customers. Credit card applications taken between 2005 and 2019 were potentially affected, including an estimated 140,000 social security numbers and 80,000 bank account numbers.
As a result of the 2017 Equifax breach that potentially exposed the personal records of up to 147 million people, they have agreed to pay up to $425 million in a recent settlement. Those affected can receive 10 years of free credit monitoring or $125 in compensation. Click here to see if your personal information was included in the Equifax breach. If it was, click here to file a claim.
Protect your personal information and stop fraudsters in their tracks with our top tips.
- Choose strong passwords. Use different passwords for each of your accounts and devices. Make sure your passwords are strong and composed of capitalization, punctuation, and numbers.
- Be aware of suspicious emails. If an email looks suspicious, it probably is. Never give out personal information to unknown persons.
- Monitor your bank account regularly. Sign up for text message fraud alerts to receive messages about suspicious activity on your account. You can also use Online and Mobile Banking to monitor your accounts regularly.
If you’ve been affected by a data breach, have questions, or need help securing your personal information, contact us online, call 315.782.0155, or stop into any relationship center for assistance.