Identity theft is a rapidly spreading crime. It can range from unauthorized use of your credit card to someone creating a "duplicate" of you - complete with your birth date and social security number.

The absolute best weapon against identity theft is a well-educated consumer. Listed below you will find a summary of tips here pertaining to identity theft and shopping online. We strongly encourage every consumer, whether or not they are a Columbia Bank Customer, to educate themselves and learn as much as they can about what other threats are out there.

We highly recommend the FDIC website as an excellent source of consumer safety tips. We also recommend that every credit and debit card holder visit the VISA^® website for safety tips specific to card use. For further security information, please visit our Security Resource Center for more useful links and information.

Online Shopping Safety Tips -

1. Use a secure server when shopping online.
2. Only shop with merchants you know and trust.
3. Read all merchant's policies and privacy statements.
4. Never send your card number and information via e-mail.
5. Keep a record of your receipts by saving and/or printing your order confirmation.

Tips To Avoid Identity Theft -

1. Sign your new credit and debit cards on the signature panel immediately.
2. Protect your cards as if they were cash - never leave your card unattended and always make sure your card is returned after every purchase.
3. Never leave your credit or debit cards in your car. An alarmingly high proportion of credit and debit cards are stolen from cars.
4. Report lost or stolen cards to Columbia Bank immediately!
5. Carry as few credit or debit cards as possible and check periodically to make sure you have all of your cards in your possession.
6. Only carry your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport when absolutely necessary.
7. Never have your Social Security number or driver's license number printed on your check.
8. Never give personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call.
9. Shred papers that contain personal financial data before disposing of them.
10. Never write your Personal Identification Number (PIN) down - memorize it.
11. Never disclose your Personal Identification Number to anyone over the phone or in person, for any reason. No one - from a financial institution, law enforcement, or a merchant - should request, or would ever need, your PIN.
12. When selecting your PIN, always avoid the obvious - your name, phone number, date of birth or any simple combination thereof.
13. Dispose properly of receipts from using an ATM, credit or debit cards.
14. Keep a list of credit card and financial account numbers, including telephone contact numbers, in a secure place.
15. Always be aware of your surroundings - people and places - when using an ATM.

Remember, you can't be too safe. This is a lot to remember, but no one wants to go through the ordeal of identity theft. Should it ever happen, we'll be there to assist in any way we can - but together we can also take as many preventative measures as possible. See our Privacy Policy for information on the steps Columbia Bank takes to protect your information.