Identity theft can happen to anyone, anytime. Rates of identity theft have increased substantially in recent years, with nearly 1.4 million reports of identity theft in 2020, up from 650,000 cases in 2019, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
But fortunately, First Merchants customers can take steps to protect themselves from identity theft and fraud. Through the First Merchants Mastercard debit card, you can sign up for ID Theft Protection at no added cost.
Mastercard ID Theft Protection monitors your personal information and tracks your identity risk level. If someone attempts to steal your identity, MasterCard provides the services required to report and resolve the incident as quickly as possible. A personal identity theft resolution specialist will be assigned to your case and will lead you through the process of disputing and correcting fraudulent claims.
If you’re a First Merchants debit card holder, you can enroll in Mastercard ID Theft Protection by following these steps:
- Navigate to Mastercard's website to begin the enrollment process.
- Click “Activate Now.”
- Enter your First Merchants Mastercard debit card number to qualify. Mastercard won’t store your card number, and you won’t be charged for this service.
- Click “Enroll.”
- Fill out your personal information and complete the instructions.
- Review your personal information and submit once you’ve verified everything.
- Turn on credit monitoring.
- From here you should be able to review your account information, including risk level and alerts.
Want to learn more about Mastercard ID Theft Protection or First Merchants checking accounts? Visit a banking center or call us at 1.800.205.3464 to get started.
Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
