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Take steps to protect YOUR Information
Identity theft is a more common offense than ever before. In fact, it is the most common type of consumer fraud complaint made by Americans and accounted for 42% of the claims filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last year. According to the FTC, cleaning up the mess after an identity theft has occurred costs the average consumer approximately $1,000. Obviously, prevention is a much better option. A few easy steps can prevent identity theft from happening to you.
Basic Tips:
- Unless you initiated the call and are certain of its use, do not release your social security number, checking account information or other personal financial information to anyone over the phone.
- Secure your mailbox. Remove mail promptly and don't leave bills in an unsecured mailbox for postal pickup.
- Do not write your credit card, social security or driver license numbers on your checks.
- Shred any documents that have your personal information on them. (Including credit card offers that you do not plan to respond to.)
- Monitor your credit - Check your credit report at least twice a year. Learn more about your credit union's credit monitoring system.
Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs:
- Memorize your PIN. Do not write it down anywhere on your card or carry in your purse or wallet.
- Sign the back of all cards as soon as you receive them.
- Destroy cards that you no longer use by cutting them in half and making sure the number is not recognizable.
- Keep a list of card numbers along with the phone numbers to report them lost or stolen in a safe place at home.
Online vs. Offline:
- Paying bills online may be safer than writing checks. There are federal regulations that provide consumers with substantial protection against unauthorized electronic debits to their checking accounts. These regulations do not apply to written checks.
- When shopping online, make sure you are on a secure site. (You can ensure this by looking in the bottom left hand corner of the frame for a locked padlock.)
- If using a Visa Credit Card, sign up for Verified by Visa - a free service that allows you to create a PIN to confirm your identity when shopping online.
- Before shopping online, review the company's privacy policy.
Resource List - who to contact if fraud happens to you:
Contact your local police department. Insist that they file a police report and provide you with a copy.
File a complaint online with the Federal Trade Commission, by phone at 1.877.ID.THEFT, or mail to Consumer Response Center, FTC 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580
Or, if fraud occurs by mail, contact the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Contact the Social Security Administration by email or by phone at 800.269.0271.
Contact one of the three credit bureaus:
Equifax
Order Credit Report: 1.800.685.1111
Report Fraud: 1.800.525.6285
www.equifax.com
Experian
Order Credit Report: 1.888.397.3742
Report Fraud: 1.888.397.3742
www.experian.com
Trans Union
Order Credit Report: 1.800.888.4213
Report Fraud: 1.800.680.7289
www.transunion.com
Helpful Links:
Learn about Identity Theft (Robo de Identidad) at BalanceTrack (En Espaņol)
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