How to Report Fraud and/or Identity Theft

If you think your identity has been stolen, contact Bremer Phone Bank at 800-908-2265 immediately. Also follow these steps:

Contact the fraud department of any one of the three consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian or Transunion – to place a fraud alert on your credit report.

The fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you're entitled to order free copies of your credit reports, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports.

Additional helpful information is provided by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the Identity Theft Victim’s Complaint and Affidavit form provided by the Federal Trade Commission when disputing new unauthorized accounts.

File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Get a copy of the report or, at the very least, the number of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.

The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that we can better assist you. File your complaint using the helpful online Complaint Assistant provided by the FTC.

The FTC also provides helpful information and free downloadable resources at their Consumer Information website for Identity Theft.

If you lose your mobile device, remove it from your online banking profile. Log in to Online Banking from a desktop web browser. Then go to the Customer Service menu to Manage mobile banking settings.

Also call Bremer Customer Support at 800-908-2265 to report the lost or stolen device.

If suspicious activity is suspected on your debit card

You may have received a call and/or letter from Bremer Bank about a potential compromise involving your Bremer Bank debit or ATM card. We are still investigating this potential compromise and have not necessarily identified any fraudulent activity with your card(s) or account(s). A new card is on its way to you. Please review the important information below.

Steps you may need to take:

  • A new card is on the way and you should receive it in approximately 10 days. Please activate your new card right away, as your old card will be closed. As part of the activation process you will be prompted to choose your PIN. Be sure to destroy your old card once the new card is active. For questions about and assistance with card activation, please call 800-908-2265.

  • Update your card information with service providers as appropriate. Your new card will have both a new card number and a new expiration date. If you have recurring payments or online accounts using your old card, you will need to update that information with the service provider or merchant.

  • Make sure Bremer Bank has your current contact information. If you have a change in phone, email address or mailing address, let us know right away. This will ensure we can contact you in a timely manner related to your account security.

  • Monitor your account activity. Keep a close eye on your account(s) through online and mobile banking to make sure only valid transactions are posting. If you suspect a fraudulent transaction, contact 800-908-2265 immediately.

  • In certain situations you may be limited to PIN-based transactions until you receive your new card. If the letter you received references a limit to PIN-based transactions you can still use your current card to make purchases at retailers; just be sure to select "Debit" and use your PIN to complete the transaction. Most larger merchants now accept PIN-based transactions for purchases. You can also use the card for ATM transactions. If you do not remember your PIN, please contact Bremer Phone Bank at 800-908-2265 for additional instructions.

  • If you suspect fraudulent activity on your card, contact us immediately at 800-908-2265.

Learn about steps that Bremer Bank has already taken

Security is a top priority for us, and we have taken proactive steps to protect your accounts.

  • We’ll contact you as soon as possible. If your card is potentially compromised, you may receive an automated call and/or message from the Fraud Service Center. You may also receive a letter and/or email informing you that we've identified a suspicious trend and are investigating the matter. This letter will advise which card or cards are potentially compromised. We are not able to provide the name(s) of merchants or other details during an active or continuing investigation.

  • In certain situations we may lower the limit for signature-based transactions. If the letter you received references a lower limit for signature-based transactions on potentially compromised cards you may still use your card for PIN-based purchases and ATM transactions as PINs were not included in the compromise. Lowering this limit will protect you from large unauthorized transactions on your account.

  • Order new cards. We ordered a replacement card for all potentially compromised cards. Activate your new card using the instructions provided with the card.

  • Proactively monitor account activity. We constantly monitor accounts for irregular or unusual activity to proactively identify fraudulent activity. We also work closely with MasterCard and other service providers to identify broader trends and potential compromise issues.

What to do if you suspect fraudulent activity?

Contact us immediately if you suspect fraudulent activity on your account(s). Report any fraudulent transactions by calling Bremer Customer Support at 800-908-BANK (2265).

Resources

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Information

For support, call 800-908-2265

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