Identity theft happens when someone uses your name or personal information to commit financial fraud. By following these simple steps, you can help safeguard your personal information and protect yourself and your credit rating.  

Shred Confidential Documents
Prevent thieves from stealing personal information by shredding sensitive documents before you trash them.

Send Sensitive Mail at a Public Mailbox
Use the big, blue mailbox at the corner or take a trip to the post office to send payments or other sensitive mail. Information theft happens frequently from home mailboxes.

Keep your personal information in a safe place.
Don't carry your birth certificate, social security card or passport with you unless you need to use it. Always make copies of the originals and keep them in a safe place. If you lose such documents, contact the appropriate government office immediately.  

Review Your Financial Statements Regularly
Check your credit card and bank statements each month for any suspicious activity. Request and check your credit report at least once a year for mistakes or fraudulent use. If you come across any suspicious activity on your accounts, contact your financial institution immediately.

Protect Your Account from Common Online Scams
Online scams—such as "phishing" and "pharming"—use official-looking messages or Web pages to deceive you into disclosing your sensitive personal information. A phishing e-mail tries to direct you to a "look-alike" Web site of a legitimate business and trick you into thinking that you are responding to a valid request. Pharming occurs when hackers disrupt the transfer of information on the Internet and point you to a fraudulent Web site.

Here are some ways to avoid getting caught by online scams:

• Do not provide your vital account information by email or phone unless you initiated the contact. American National Bank will never send an email asking you to reply with your account or personal information.
  
  
• Do not click any links in a suspicious email. Even if you don't provide your account information at the phony Web site, just clicking the link could initiate virus installations. Once installed, these viruses could capture your identification, password and Account information and then transmit them.
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  Check the URL often and if it is not ANBMP.com or telepc.net, close your browser window immediately.
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  Add the ANBMP.com Log In page to your browser's Favorites or Bookmarks menu and use it when you navigate to the site.
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  When sending private information, make sure to look for a closed lock at the bottom of most browsers. If you are unsure that a secure Web site is legitimate, check the certificate by clicking on the lock.
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  If you encounter what you think is a fraudulent ANBMP.com e-mail or Web site, please call (903) 572-1776 immediately. A Customer Service Representative can verify whether or not the email was actually sent by American National Bank or help you determine if the site you visited was legitimate.

Know Your News
All security thefts aren't created equally. Stay informed, but remember that a story in the news may not affect you. In fact, businesses must contact any employees or customers whose personal information—such as a Social Security Number—has been stolen. If someone steals your personal information, be sure to contact the credit bureaus to prevent identity theft or illegal use of your credit.