PREVENT FRAUD

First Merchants is committed to protecting your personal information. The security recommendations provided here will help you protect your personal information and will aid you in protecting yourself in all your online activity.

General

• First Merchants will never make an unsolicited request for any confidential information from you via email or phone call or require that you update your account details on a Web page. Do not respond to or click on links from unsolicited emails, and do not provide confidential information on an unsolicited phone call.
• Retrieve your mail from your mailbox promptly and mail sensitive information such as bill payments from secure mailboxes. Consider using eStatements and online Bill Pay.
• Shred documents that contain confidential information with a cross cut shredder; even credit card offers should be shredded.
• Review your credit reports regularly at www.annualcreditreport.com.
• Keep your log on credentials secret. Do not give them to anyone or leave them unsecured. Change your passwords regularly.

Businesses

The FBI has seen a significant increase in fraud involving the theft and exploitation of valid online banking credentials belonging to small and medium sized businesses. The fraud effort is normally the result of an online customer’s computer being compromised by the installation of malware or spyware. Many times this installation occurs when an unsuspecting recipient clicks on links in unsolicited emails or visits a compromised website on the Internet.

There are many forms of this cyber fraud occurring, and the criminals initiating them frequently change their methods in order to continue their deceptive practices. Therefore, it is vitally important that we all remain vigilant in the fight to protect confidential information. Security is a priority for us, and we continually work to provide a safe and secure environment for our Online Banking customers. You should consider implementing these recommended steps to help protect your business in the online environment, thus mitigating the opportunity for loss of funds.