Preventing Identity Theft

If you believe that someone has stolen your identity, you should:

Contact any credit union, bank or creditor where you have an account that you think may be the subject of identity theft. Advise them of the identity theft. Request that they restrict access to your account, change your account password, or, if there is evidence that your account has been the target of criminal activity, close your existing account and open a new account. If your financial institution closes your account, ask them to issue you a new credit card, ATM card, debit card, or share drafts (checks), as appropriate.

Contact the fraud department of each of the three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs). Report the identity theft and request that the credit bureaus place a fraud alert and a victim’s statement in your credit file. The fraud alert puts creditors on notice that you have been the victim of fraud, and the victim’s statement asks them not to open additional accounts without first contacting you.

The contact information for the fraud departments of the three national CRAs:

• TransUnion Call the Fraud Victim Assistance Division: 1-800-680-7289 or write:P.O. Box 6790,Fullerton,CA92634
• Equifax Call: 1-800-525-6285 or write:P.O. Box 740256,Atlanta,GA30374-0241
• Experian Call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write:P.O. Box 9532, Allen TX 75013

You may request a free copy of your credit report.

CRAs must provide a free copy of your report if you have reason to believe the report is inaccurate because of fraud and you submit a request in writing.

Review your report.

Make sure no additional fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name or unauthorized changes made to your existing accounts. Also, check the section of your report that lists “inquiries” and request that the three major CRAs remove any inquiries from companies that opened the fraudulent accounts.

File a report with your local police department.

Occasionally, credit reporting agencies will ask for a copy of the police report to submit as proof of the crime.

Contact the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Hotline Toll-Free at 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338).

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) puts the reported information into a secure consumer fraud database and shares it with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Here are a few basic steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft and pretext calling:

Identity theft is the fraudulent use of a person’s personal identifying information. Often, identity thieves will use another person’s personal information, such as a Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, date of birth, or account number to open fraudulent new credit card accounts, charge existing credit card accounts, write share drafts, open share accounts, or obtain new loans. They may obtain this information by:

• Stealing wallets that contain personal identification information and credit cards.
• Stealing credit union statements from the mail.
• Diverting mail from its intended recipients by submitting a change of address form.
• Rummaging through trash for personal data.
• Stealing personal identification information from workplace records.
• Intercepting or otherwise obtaining information transmitted electronically.

Pretext calling is a fraudulent means of obtaining a person’s personal information. Pretext callers may contact credit union employees, posing as members, to access members’ personal account information. Information obtained from pretext calling may be sold to debt collection services, attorneys, and private investigators to use in court proceedings. Identity thieves may also engage in pretext calling to obtain personal information to create fraudulent accounts.

Do not share personal information, such as account numbers or social security numbers, over the telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet, unless you initiated the contact or know with whom you are dealing.

Store personal information in a safe place and tear up old credit card receipts, ATM receipts, old account statements, and unused credit card offers before throwing them away.

Protect your PINs and other passwords. Avoid using easily available information such as your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number, your phone number, as identity thieves can use this information to access your accounts.

Carry only the minimum amount of identifying information and number of credit cards that you need.

Pay attention to billing cycles and statements. Contact the credit union if you do not receive a monthly bill. It may mean that the bill has been diverted by an identity thief.