Focus One CCU :: Member Resources - Identity Theft Prevention

Identity Theft Prevention

What is Identity Theft?
How do I protect myself?
What to do if you become a victim
Useful links and telephone numbers

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What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft occurs when a criminal uses another person’s personal information to take on that person’s identity. It involves obtaining important pieces of someone’s identifying information such as name, birth date, social security number and mother’s maiden name, in order to impersonate them. This information is used to commit numerous forms of fraud which include but are not limited to applying for credit, taking over the victim’s financial accounts, opening new bank accounts, obtaining cell phones, renting apartments, and even purchasing automobiles.

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How do I protect myself?

Get a locking mailbox, and always remove mail from your mailbox after delivery.
Place outgoing mail inside your local post office. Do not leave it in unsecured mail receptacles or in sidewalk drop boxes overnight.
Never give personal information over the telephone, unless you initiated the phone call. Protect your personal information and release it only when absolutely necessary.
Shred all personal information headed for the trash such as pre-approved credit card applications, credit card receipts, bills and other financial information.
Remove your extra credit cards from your wallet, and maintain a list of the ones you do use.
Order your credit report at least once a year from the three credit bureaus to check for fraudulent activity or other discrepancies.
Never leave receipts at ATM machines, trash receptacles, or at gasoline pumps. When you no longer need your receipts, destroy them.
Do not carry your social security card. Memorize your social security number an all of your passwords. Do not record your passwords on your cards or on anything in your wallet.
Sign all new credit cards upon receipt.
Save all credit card receipts and match them against your monthly bill.
Notify your credit card companies and financial institutions in advance of any change of address or phone number.
Never loan your credit cards to anyone.
Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
Beware of mail or telephone solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards designed solely to obtain your personal information or credit card numbers.

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What to do if you become a victim

Keep a record of all the details relating to this crime, set-up a file folder.
Keep a log of all your contacts and make copies of all documents.
Contact all creditors by phone and in writing to inform them of the problem.
Notify the US Postal Inspector if your mail has been stolen or tampered.
Contact the Federal Trade Commission to report the problem.
Call one of the three credit bureaus’ fraud units (they all cross report) to report identify theft. Ask to have a “Fraud Alert/Victim Impact” statement placed in your credit file asking that the creditors call you before opening any new accounts.
Request that a copy of your credit report be sent to you.
Alert your financial institutions to flag your accounts and contact you to confirm any unusual activity. Request a change of PIN and a new password.
Contact the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
Contact the state office of the Department of Motor Vehicles to see if another license was issued in your name. If so, request a new license number and fill out the DMV’s complaint form to begin the fraud investigation process.

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Useful links and telephone numbers
For more information regarding identity theft we have provided some useful links to help you protect yourself against this growing crime.

Identity Theft
Federal Trade Commission	1-877-ID-THEFT www.consumer.gov/idtheft
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse	1-619-298-3396 www.privacyrights.org
Identity Theft Resource Center	1-858-693-7935 www.idtheftcenter.org
California Dept. of Motor Vehicles	1-866-658-5758
Credit Reporting Bureaus
Equifax - Report Fraud	1-800-290-8749 www.equifax.com
Experian - Report Fraud	1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com
Trans Union - Report Fraud	1-800-680-7289 www.tuc.com
Fraud Reporting/Information
Social Security - Report Fraud	1-800-269-0271 www.ssa.gov
Federal Trade Commission/Consumer Complaints	1-877-FTC-HELP www.ftc.gov
Department of Justice Criminal Division - Fraud Section	www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud
Internet Fraud Complaint Center	www.ifccfbi.gov
National Fraud Information Center	1-800-876-7060 www.fraud.org
Other Helpful Links
United States Postal Service	www.usps.gov
We Tip - The Anonymous Line Against Crime	1-800-78-CRIME www.wetip.com/wetip/index.htm
International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators	www.iafci.org
California Department of Consumer Affairs	www.dca.ca.gov
Fraudulent Use of Checks
Check Rite	1-800-766-2748
Cross Check	1-800-552-1900
ChexSystems	1-800-428-9623
Equifax	1-800-437-5120
International Check Services (ICS)	1-800-631-9656
Shared Check Authorization Network (SCAN)	1-800-262-7771
Telecheck	1-800-710-9898
National Processing Company	1-800-526-5380
To Remove Your Name from Mail & Phone Lists
Direct Marketing Association	Mail Preference Service PO Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735
	Telephone Preference Service PO Box 9014 Farmingdale, NY 11735
Pre-approved credit offers (shared by all 3 credit bureaus)	1-888-5-OPTOUT

Disclaimer: Focus One Community Credit Union is not responsible for the privacy practice or the content of web sites to which we may provide a link. While all efforts are made to ensure accuracy of information presented on the Focus One Community Credit Union web site, we cannot guarantee that all information is current.

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