At Farmers we take great care to protect your personal information. Procedures are in place to ensure that your account information is kept confidential. Only authorized signers can access account information. Every effort is made to protect our customers.

We will never request your Personal Password (P.I.N.). We strongly suggest that you do not share this information with anyone under any circumstances. Be wary of emails or individuals who ask for such information, as sharing your P.I.N. will provide the recipient with full access to your account.

To educate and protect you, we are providing these tips for preventing identity theft, and a checklist of things to do immediately if you become a victim.

What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone acquires key pieces of another person's identity with the intent to commit fraud. Information such as name, date of birth, social security number, mother's maiden name, etc., can help a criminal impersonate another individual. Once this person has access to this information, they can commit different kinds of fraud, including accessing bank accounts, obtaining loans, making purchases, renting apartments, etc.

Who Does It Affect?
Identity theft can happen to anyone in hundreds of different ways. The availability of high-tech tools, such as color printers and scanners, has greatly affected this crime. Today, it's the fastest growing crime facing every citizen. Identity theft is a felony crime; however, police cannot help with your credit record or undo the damage that has been done. Delayed discovery of identity theft and the various ways criminals can now gain access to your personal information, can complicate a criminal investigation. Proper precautions with your information are the best protection.

How We Protect You
Your protection is the highest priority for us.

• Verification: when you change an address, for example, we request specific information about you to verify your identity before making any changes.
• Communication: we contact you regarding any suspicious activity we find associated with your Farmers account.
• Bill Pay: A fast, easy and totally secure way to receive, pay and manage bills online from the convenience of your PC.
• Online Banking: Easy way to check your account activity, quickly and often.

How You Can Avoid Being Victimized
Minimize your risk by completing the following steps:

• Change all passwords regularly, using a mix of numbers and characters. Memorize your passwords and write them down in a secure place, never on your card or card sleeve.
• Never share your Bank Personal Password (P.I.N.) with anyone. Be wary of emails or individuals who ask for such information. We will never ask for your P.I.N. Sharing your Password will provide the recipient with full access to your account if they have your P.I.N. or Account Number.
• Guard your PIN at ATMs. Never write the number down anywhere in your purse or wallet.
• Never provide personal information over the phone unless you initiated contact or know with whom you are speaking. Ask how your personal information will be used and protected and whether the information you're asked to provide is voluntary or mandatory to complete the transaction.
• Do not put outgoing mail in your home mailbox to be picked up. Take it to a postal box.
• Get a local mailbox or postal box.
• Don't carry extra credit cards or your social security card in your wallet.
• Don't use your credit card number on the Internet unless the site has a secured, encrypted system (look for øHTTPS' in the URL or the lock icon in the corner of your screen).
• Make a list of your credit card and bank account numbers, along with customer service numbers, and keep it in a safe place.
• Shred all personal documents and unwanted mail. Criminals often work in groups going through garbage.
• Have your checks delivered to your bank or post office box, not your home address.
• Sign up to receive and pay bills automatically online instead of by mail.
• Monitor your bank and credit card statements every month. Be aware of billing cycles; if you miss receiving a bill, it can be an indication that your credit card company has received a change of address from someone other than you.
• Order a credit report from all three agencies each year and review them carefully. Report any discrepancies in writing to each credit agency and explain the situation. You can also be alerted if potential identity theft is suspected.
• To reduce unwanted mail, email and/or telephone solicitations, contact the Direct Marketing Association.

What To Do If You Suspect Identity Theft

• Immediately contact the U.S. Bank Fraud Liaison Center toll-free at 1-877-595-6256.
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Hotline: 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338).
• Call the three main credit bureaus to get copies of your credit report (see the numbers below). With the bureau's help, add fraud flags and statements to your report saying that all potential creditors should contact you to verify credit application.
• Notify local law enforcement to file a report.
• Report the theft of mail to your local postal inspector. To stop mail during a vacation, call 1-800-275-8777.
• After contacting your phone company about unauthorized long distance charges, contact the Consumer & Government Affairs Bureau or call 1-888-225-5322 if you are still having difficulty removing fraudulent charges from you account.

If you have been victimized, immediately do the following:

• Law Enforcement: contact law enforcement to file a police report. Record the police department name and case number.
• Credit Agencies: you are entitled to a free credit report if you are the victim of identity theft, have been denied credit, receive welfare or are unemployed. Contact one of the following credit reporting agencies to report fraud and ask about putting a fraud alert on your record:
  • Equifax: to order a credit report, call 1-800-685-1111 or write P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241. To report fraud, call 1-800-525-6285 and write P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241.
  • Experian: to order a report or to report fraud, call 1-888-397-3742 or write P.O. Box 949, Allen, TX 75013-0949.
  • Trans Union: to order your report, call 1-800-916-8800 or write P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022. To report fraud, call 1-800-680-7289 and write Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92384.

Learn More About Identity Theft
Visit these sites to find out more about identity theft and ways to protect yourself:

• Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information
• Office of the Inspector General: Identity Theft
• U.S. Department of Justice: Identity Theft and Fraud