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Wednesday, October 8, 2014
KAREN PROVINCE & SUE RADFORD, REALTORS
THE REALTY ADVISORS OF SUN VALLEY 870 Maple Leaf Drive, Hailey, ID (208) 788-2164 • www.trasv.com • sales@trasv.com
A Stranger Wants To Be You
“Thank you for providing solutions to my company.”
By Tracy Groll
As a parent, I’m concerned about how identity thieves are targeting young people like my four children. It may surprise you to learn that adults ages 20 to 29 are most commonly affected by identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission. In our modern online world — where young people are sharing their names and birthdates through social media channels like Facebook — it is easier than ever for crooks to gain information they can use to buy a home or car or open a credit card account, or even get a driver’s license or a job. So why are young adults the most common target? Perhaps it’s because this age group is inexperienced at managing money and may be less inclined to reconcile their checkbook and notice discrepancies. They also use social media frequently — a favorite hunting ground for identity thieves. During the months of October and November, Zions bankers throughout Idaho are visiting students in grades 7 to 12, teaching lessons about identity theft in support of National Get Smart About Credit Day. They will be sharing the following tips, which are useful to consumers of all ages who want to be proactive in ghting identity theft: 1. Don’t reveal sensitive or personal information on social networking sites and make sure your children do the same. 2. Put a passcode on all phones, tablets and other devices. According to Javelin Strategy
and Research, more than half (62 percent) of smartphone users do not passcode protect their mobile devices, and an unprotected phone or tablet can be a gold mine to identity thieves. 3. Don’t ever provide your Social Security number or account information to someone who contacts you online or on the phone, even if they sound legitimate. 4. When shopping online, make sure your browser’s padlock or key icon is active. Also look for an “s” after the “http” to be sure the website is secure. 5. Enroll in mobile fraud alert programs that your bank may offer to warn of suspicious activity on your accounts. 6. Order a free credit report every year by visiting www. annualcreditreport.com. Look for suspicious activity and notify the credit reporting agency of any issues. 7. Report suspected fraud to your bank as soon as possible.
Grant Petersen — CEO, BRONCO MOTORS
Grant Peterson uses Zions Bank’s time and money-saving products to help his business run more efficiently. “Zions Commercial Card program gives us the ability to manage our expenses and see what’s going on with our various employees and managers. And the ability for us to get the information when we need it is unprecedented.”
Identity theft continues to top the Federal Trade Commission’s national ranking of consumer complaints, and Americans reported losing more than $1.6 billion to fraud overall in 2013. With this level of risk, it pays to take steps to protect your identity. Tracy Groll is Area President for the Wood River Valley for Zions Bank, which operates full-service nancial centers at 291 Washington Ave. in Ketchum and 111 N. 1st Ave., Ste. 1H in Hailey.
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To hear the rest of his story, visit zionsbank.com/thankyou.
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