Identity Theft Protection
What can you do?
In the course of a busy day, you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax returns, change service providers for your cell phone, or apply for a credit card. In each transaction, you reveal bits of personal information, like your bank and credit card account numbers; your income; your Social Security number (SSN); or your name, address, and phone numbers – this is enough information for an identity thief. Once a thief has that information, it can be used without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft.
Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend time and money cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their good name and credit. They may lose out on job opportunities, and loans for education, housing, or cars.
How identity theft occurs
Skilled identity thieves use a variety of ways to gain access to your personal information. For example, they may get information from businesses or other institutions by stealing it while they're on the job; bribing an employee who has access to these records; hacking these records; and conning information out of employees.
Other ways an identity thief may steal your personal information:
- Steal your wallet or purse.
- Provide a “change your address” to divert your mail to another location.
- Steal your personal information through email or the phone by saying they're from a legitimate company and claiming that you have a problem with your account. This practice is known as "phishing."
- Steal your credit or debit card numbers by capturing the information in a data storage device in a practice known as "skimming." They may swipe your card for an actual purchase, or attach a device to an ATM machine where they may enter or swipe your card.
- Access your credit reports by abusing the authorized access that was granted to their employer, or by posing as a landlord, employer, or someone else who may have a legal right to your report.
- Rummage through your trash, the trash of businesses, or public trash dumps.
- Steal your mail, including bank and credit card statements, credit card offers, new checks, and tax information.
Once identity thieves have your personal information, they may use it to commit fraud or theft. For example:
- Call your credit card issuer to change the billing address on your account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because the bills are being sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there's a problem.
- Open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, the delinquent accounts are reported on your credit report.
- Establish utility services in your name.
- Open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on the account.
- Counterfeit checks or credit or debit cards, or authorize electronic transfers in your name, and drain your bank account.
- Obtain identification such as a driver's license issued with their picture, in your name.
- Get a job or file fraudulent tax returns in your name.
Online Safety Tips
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You should also avoid using the same password for multiple online accounts. For example, if you use one password to access your email account, make sure to use a different password to access your online accounts.
Update your Online Banking password regularly. Changing your password once a month is a good habit to start. This will keep hackers on their toes and keep someone from being able to access your account if by some means they have acquired your previous password.
Don't open links in emails. Hackers try to get information from individuals by sending emails asking for verification of account information. These emails may say that your bank account has been closed or that it needs to be verified. If you ever receive an email of this nature, do not open the attached files, and do not provide any personal information. Warren Federal Credit Union will never solicit your personal or account information through email.
Install a firewall. A firewall protects your computer from hackers and intruders. A firewall is software that guards your computer from unauthorized or unwanted traffic. You can purchase a firewall program from your local computer store.
Use anti-virus software. Anti-virus software protects your computer against viruses. Viruses destroy stored information and interrupt operations. An anti-virus program detects and destroys viruses. With new viruses emerging daily, you need to regularly update your anti-virus program.
Use anti-spyware software. Spyware is software that gathers information electronically about people without their knowledge or consent. It then relays that information to an unauthorized third party. You may get spyware by downloading free software or by clicking on pop-ups or dialogue boxes. Always read the disclosure to understand what you are downloading. It's possible for you to inadvertently agree to accept spyware with a program you're downloading.
Take advantage of security updates. Your Internet service provider and your Internet browser manufacturer (e.g. Microsoft) periodically issue security updates. These updates patch holes that allow viruses to get through. If you don't have or don't use auto-update mechanisms in your software, visit the manufacturers' websites regularly to make sure you have the latest fixes.
Do not store your password in an insecure place. In your wallet, in a file, in your dresser ... these are all terrible places to keep your "secure" password. The most secure place to keep your password is in your head. If you must write it down though, put it in a place that will be locked up, and difficult to find.
How to tell if you're a victim of identity theft
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If an identity thief is opening new credit accounts in your name, these accounts are likely to show up on your credit report. You can find out by ordering a copy of your credit report from the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. If you have lost any personal information - or if it has been stolen - you may want to check all your reports more frequently for the first year.
Monitor the balances of your financial accounts. Look for unexplained charges or withdrawals. Other indications of identity theft can be:
- If you fail to receive bills or other mail. This could mean an identity thief has submitted a change of address.
- Receive credit cards for which you did not apply.
- Denial of credit for no apparent reason.
- Receive calls from debt collectors or companies about merchandise or services you didn't buy.
Review your credit report regularly
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It is important to monitor your credit report regularly to check it for accuracy. An inaccurate credit report can hurt your chances of getting loans, and can increase your payments when you do obtain loans.
There are three major credit bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. These bureaus acquire credit data from creditors such as lenders, credit card companies and retail establishments. They also search court records for lawsuits, judgments and bankruptcy filings.
Under the FACT Act, you are entitled to one free credit report per year. To obtain your free report do one of the following:
www.annualcreditreport.com
Call: 1.877.322.8228
Send requests to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Equifax: 1.800.525.6285
www.equifax.com
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian: 1.888.397.3742
www.experian.com
P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion: 1.800.680.7289
www.transunion.com
Fraud Victim Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Manage your personal information
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How can a responsible consumer minimize the risk of identity theft, as well as the potential for damage? Exercise caution and prudence when a situation involves your personal information.
Place passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers. When you open new accounts, you may find that many businesses still have a line on their applications for your mother's maiden name. Ask to use a password instead.
Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your home.
Ask about information security procedures in your workplace or at businesses, doctors' offices, or other institutions that collect your personally identifying information. Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that it is handled securely. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records, as well. Find out if information will be shared with anyone else. If so, ask how your information can be kept confidential.
Everyday Awareness
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Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know who you're dealing with. Identity thieves are clever, and have posed as representatives of banks, Internet service providers (ISPs), and even government agencies to get people to reveal their SSN, mother's maiden name, account numbers, and other identifying information. Before you share any personal information, confirm that you're dealing with a legitimate organization. Check an organization's website by typing its URL in the address line, rather than cutting and pasting it in. Many companies post scam alerts on their sites when their name has been used improperly. Or call customer service using the number listed on your account statement or in the telephone book.
Treat your mail and trash carefully. Deposit your outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. Stop your mail if you plan to be away from home for an extended period of time. The Postal Service will hold your mail at your local post office until you can pick it up or are home to receive it.
Deter a thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired credit or charge cards that you're discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail. Warren Federal Credit Union offers shred bins at every branch location for your convenience.
Opt out of receiving offers of credit in the mail that are based on your credit report, call: 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). The nationwide consumer reporting companies use the same toll-free number to let you opt out of receiving credit offers based on their lists. Note: You will be asked to provide your SSN, which the consumer reporting companies need to match you with your file.
Opt out of receiving telemarketing calls at home from the National Do Not Call Registry.
Use the secure registration form. https://www.donotcall.gov/
Call toll-free: 1-888-382-222; TTY: 1-866-290-4236
Don't carry your SSN card in your wallet; store it in a secure place.
Give your SSN only when absolutely necessary, and ask to use other types of identity. If your state uses your SSN as your driver's license number, ask to substitute another number. Do the same if your health insurance company uses your SSN as your policy number.
Carry only the identification information and the credit and debit cards that you'll actually need when you go out. If your wallet is stolen - or if you lose it - report it immediately to the card issuers and the local police.
Be cautious when responding to promotions. Identity thieves may create phony promotional offers to get you to give them your personal information.
Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work; do the same with copies of administrative forms that have your sensitive personal information.
When ordering new checks; pick them up from the bank instead of having them mailed to your home.
Online Security
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Warren Federal Credit Union takes security very seriously. Protecting your account information is our highest priority. Security, however, is a shared responsibility. There are many steps you can take to safeguard your private account information. Here are some ways to help you keep your computer, and the personal information it stores, safe.
- Update your virus protection software regularly; install patches for your operating system and other software programs to protect against intrusions and infections that can lead to the compromise of your computer files or passwords. Ideally, you should set your virus protection software to update automatically. The Windows operating system also can be set to check for patches automatically and download them to your computer.
- Do not open files sent to you by strangers, click on hyperlinks, or download programs from people or companies you don't know. Be cautious about using file-sharing programs. Opening a file could expose your system to a computer virus or a program known as "spyware," which could capture your passwords or any other information as you type it into your keyboard.
- Use a firewall program, especially if you use a high speed Internet connection like cable, DSL or T-1 that leaves your computer connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. The firewall program allows you to stop uninvited access to your computer. Without it, hackers can take over your computer, access the personal information stored on it, or use it to commit other crimes.
- If you need to provide your personal or financial information through an organization's website, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser's status bar or a URL for a website that begins "https:" (the "s" stands for secure). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some fraudulent sites have forged security icons.
- Try not to store financial information on your computer unless absolutely necessary. If you do, use what experts call a "strong" password - a combination of letters (upper and lower case), numbers, and symbols. A good way to create a strong password is to think of a memorable phrase and use the first letter of each word as your password, converting some letters into numbers.
- Don't use an automatic log-in feature that saves your user name and password, and always log off when you're finished. If your laptop is stolen, it makes it harder for a thief to access your personal information.
Reporting Lost or Stolen Information
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If you've lost personal information or identification, or if it has been stolen from you, you can minimize the potential for identity theft if you act quickly.
- Financial accounts: Close accounts, like credit card and bank accounts, immediately. When you open new accounts, place passwords on them. Avoid using your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
- Social Security number: Call the toll-free fraud number of any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports. An alert can help stop someone from opening new credit accounts in your name.
- Driver's license/other government-issued identification: Contact the agency that issued the license or other identification document. Follow its procedures to cancel the document and to get a replacement. Ask the agency to flag your file so that no one else can get a license or any other identification document from them in your name.
Once you have taken these precautions, watch for signs that your information is being misused, and that your identity has been stolen.
If your information has been misused, file a report about the theft with the police, and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Internet: Visit http://www.ftc.gov/
Phone: Call our toll-free helpline: 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)
TTY: 1-866-653-4261
Write to: Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
Victim of Identity Theft?
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If you are a victim of identity theft, take the following four steps as soon as possible, and keep records of your conversations and copies of all correspondence. You also should get a copy of the Federal Trade Commission publication.
Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports. Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You need to contact only 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.
Equifax: 1.800.525.6285
www.equifax.com
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian: 1.888.397.3742
www.experian.com
P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion: 1.800.680.7289
www.transunion.com
Fraud Victim Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
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 SSN will appear on your credit reports. Once you get your credit reports, review them carefully. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain. Check that information like your SSN, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct. If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, contact the consumer reporting companies to get it removed. Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
Safeguarding your account is our top priority
No matter how careful you are with your financial records, criminals still find ways to access your card information to make unauthorized purchases.
To combat this threat, we use a leading fraud protection service to monitor your accounts and detect suspicious activity.
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Protecting your money and your peace of mind
How it Works
- The service analyzes information about fraud that has occurred for other cardholders and learns your normal spending patterns
- Based on a combination of this information, each transaction you make is evaluated for potential fraud. If the transaction is considered risky, a fraud specialist will contact you to verify if you authorized the transaction
- f you confirm the transaction is legitimate, there is no impact
- If you confirm that you did not authorize the transaction, that card is immediately blocked to stop more fraud from occurring
- If the fraud specialist cannot reach you, a message will be left and your card may be temporarily blocked until you return the call
How you can help
- Protect your card and card information
- Regularly monitor your statements for any unusual activity
- If you are contacted by a fraud specialist, please return the call as soon as possible
- You will not be asked for any personal information if a fraud specialist initiates the call
- To protect your account, you will be required to verify your identity when making any calls to the fraud call center
- Make certain that the phone number you have on file with the credit union is current so you can be easily contacted if any questionable activity is detected on your account
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