Precautions Against Terrorism
ATM Safety
Protect Your Identity
Check 21
Obtain Your Credit Report
Bill of Rights for CU Members
 		  

Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft:

Identity theft is a growing crime expected to affect millions of people. Identity theft happens when your personal information is stolen and someone presents themselves as you. They could empty your accounts, and rack up charges in your name. You may only find out your identity has been compromised by applying for credit, and being denied because your credit report shows that you don’t pay your bills. This is a very serious issue, because you may find it difficult and time consuming to clear your good name.

Here are some steps you can take to prevent identity theft from happening to you:

  1. Never give out personal information, like account, credit card or social security numbers, unless you initiated contact with the person requesting the information.

  2. Report lost or stolen checks immediately, and keep cancelled checks in a secure location. Check to be sure new checks were not stolen during shipping, and then store them securely. Also, don’t include more information than necessary in the printing on your checks, such as social security numbers, or your date of birth.

  3. Destroy any financial solicitations before discarding them, including credit card and loan offers. Also, destroy financial statements or receipts before discarding them.

  4. Protect your ATM pin number, and either destroy your ATM receipts or keep them stored in a secure location.

  5. Keep your mailbox secure, and make sure you remove your mail promptly after delivery. Mailboxes are often vulnerable to raids by thieves looking for financial offers or statements, and other personal information.

  6. Review your credit report annually. Contact the credit bureaus for information on obtaining a credit report. The three major credit reporting agencies are:

Equifax: (800) 685-1111
Experian: (800) 682-7654
TransUnion: (800) 916-8800

 

 

Warning!
We will NEVER request any personal account information on an email!
If you receive an email requesting information, DO NOT RESPOND!


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