Identity theft, fraud, and online attacks unfortunately have become a risk of everyday business. We at Blackhawk Bank & Trust are doing everything we can to protect you from becoming a victim. In addition to using technology, policies, and procedures, we feel that knowledge is power. Our goal is to enable you the customer to protect yourself by learning how your identity can be attacked, how to identify such attacks, and how to protect yourself against those attacks.

Use the links on the right to learn more about a variety of threats, how to protect yourself from them, and what to do if you feel you have become a victim. Check out the tips below to begin protecting yourself today!

Tips to Prevent Identity Theft and Fraud

• Never respond to any e-mail that asks for debit card and personal information, even if it looks legitimate and do not click on links within an e-mail; instead, copy and paste the address into your browser.
  Note: By opening or viewing a preview of the e-mail or by clicking on the link within the email, you may cause your PC to discretely download a virus or spyware.
• Install spam filter and anti-virus software on your PC.
• Ensure your PC is protected with a personal firewall.
• Scan your PC regularly to detect and remove spyware.
• Update your operating system and web browser software regularly.
• Look to ensure "https://" appears in the web site address and that the security padlock icon appears on websites that request personal information.
• Educate yourself about Internet fraud scams.
• Regularly request and validate the accuracy of your credit report.