Protecting Your Identity

KNOWLEDGE PREVENTION PROTECTION & RESOURCES SMFCU Privacy Statement   SMFCU Security Statement

What to do if it Happens to You  -  Knowledge  -  Prevention & Protection  -  Resources  -  Minimize Your Risk      

WHAT IS IDENTITY THEFT? Identity theft is the unauthorized use of someone’s personal information for unlawful purposes. Personal Information – Your Name – Social Security Number – Credit/Debit Card Number – Credit Union Account Number – Mother’s Maiden Name – Other Identifying Information KNOWLEDGE The knowledge of how fast identity theft is growing will probably be your most valuable weapon. With over 10 million victims last year alone and more than 3000 occurrences daily across the US, identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. Victims are normally not wealthy, but average income earners like you and me. A large percentage are victimized by family or friends. If you believe it will never happen to you and don’t take the necessary precautions towards protection and prevention, it very likely will happen to you. What methods do identity thieves employ? Among the currently favored methods: w"Dumpster diving" in trash bins for credit card statements, loan applications, and other documents containing names, addresses, account information and social security numbers wStealing mail from unlocked mailboxes to get preapproved credit offers and newly issued credit cards, utility bills, bank and credit card statements, investment reports insurance statements, benefits documents, or tax information wFraudulently accessing credit files by posing as a loan officer, employer, or landlord wGetting names, addresses, birthdates, and SSNs from personnel or customer files in the workplace w"Shoulder surfing" at ATM machines and phone booths to capture PIN numbers wGathering personal data from online sources, such as public records and fee-based information sites PREVENTION & PROTECTION Prevent and protect by monitoring your vital personal information «MONITOR «WATCH «OBSERVE «EXAMINE «CHECK «KEEP AN EYE ON But it doesn’t end there, or that easily… Studies indicate that the average theft is $17,000 and may be a done deal in less than two days. Most victims don’t learn about the crime until 12 months after the occurrence, and victims have reported that they have spent an average of 175 hours actively trying to clear their names. The average victim lost $1200, with 20% of those losing over $5000 per case for an annual loss of over $5 billion. Taking precautionary prevention measures is an absolute must! RESOURCES What You Can Do wGuard your Social Security number. It is the key to your credit report and banking accounts and is the prime target of criminals. wMonitor your credit report. It contains your SSN, present and prior employers, a listing of all account numbers, including those that have been closed, and your overall credit score. Receive a free credit report annually – online or by phone - call toll free 877-322-8228 or www.annualcreditreport.com. wNever give your personal information over the phone unless you have initiated the call and trust that business. wPlace the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Copy both sides of your license and credit cards so you have all the account numbers, expiration dates and phone numbers if your wallet or purse is stolen. MINIMIZE YOUR RISK Mail • Always use a locking mailbox for incoming mail. Contact your local Postmaster for regulations and specifications regarding locking mailboxes. •Don’t have blank checks delivered to your home address. Instead, have them held at the credit union branch until you can pick them up personally. •Don’t have mail delivered while you’re out of town. •Reduce the number of credit card offers sent to you by mail. Contact the 3 major credit agencies and have your credit report marked "no solicitation". •Make sure you’re informed when sensitive mail has been sent to you, and follow up quickly if it doesn’t arrive as expected. •Do not mail bill payments and checks from home. They can be stolen from your mailbox and washed clean in chemicals. Take them to the post office. •Don’t leave mail in your mailbox overnight on weekends; promptly remove it from your mailbox after delivery. Internet/Email •Don’t respond to email requests that ask you to verify personal information such as username, password, credit card number or Social Securtiy number. •Be suspicious of any email with urgent requests for personal financial information. •Don’t click on the Web links within an email message if you suspect a scam. If you suspect the message might not be authentic instead, call the company on the telephone, or log onto the website directly by typing in the Web address in your browser. •Look for "https" or padlock icon to ensure that you’re using a secure website when submitting credit card or other sensitive information via the Web. •Keep record of your transactions. •Shop with merchants you know and trust. •Always report "phishing" or "spoofed" emails to the following groups: reportphishing@antiphishing.com or the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. WHAT TO DO IF IT HAPPENS TO YOU! In dealing with the authorities and financial institutions, keep a log of all conversations, including dates, names, and phone numbers. Note time spent and any expenses incurred, in case you are able to request restitution in a later judgment or conviction against the thief. Confirm conversations in writing. Send correspondence by certified mail, return receipt requested. Keep copies of all letters and documents. Contact the Police to file a report. When you talk to the police, make sure you get the police report number and information on how to reach the investigator. Give this information to all the companies you contact in getting your credit cleared up after the crime. Contact the credit bureaus and have them flag the accounts with a "fraud alert."  EQUIFAX PO Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30348 Report Fraud: (800)525-6285 http://www.equifax.com/home/ EXPERIAN PO Box 9530 Allen, TX 75013 Report fraud: (888)397-3742 www.experian.com TRANS UNION PO Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92834 Report fraud: (800)680-7289 www.transunion.com Contact any credit card companies where your accounts may be at risk. Close any affected accounts so that they are registered as "closed at customer request." Inform your credit union so we can cancel your checking and savings accounts, ATM/Debit cards and open new ones. Place stop payments on outstanding checks and set up a secret password for your account. Also, report check fraud to: TeleCheck: (800) 710-9898 CheckRite: (800) 766-2748 Chexsystems: (800) 428-9623 CrossCheck: (800) 843-0760 Equifax: (800) 437-8120 SCAN: (800) 262-7771 International Check Services: (800) 526-5380 Notify the local Postal Inspector if you suspect an identity thief has filed a change of address with the post office or has used the mail to commit fraud. You may also want to talk with your mail carrier. Contact the Government authorities, the Federal Trade Commission runs the ID Theft Hotline and the ID Theft Data Clearinghouse:  FTC Identity Theft Hot Line: (877)IDTHEFT (438-4338) ftc.gov/idtheft    Social Security Fraud Hot Line: (800) 269-0271 www.ssa.gov   US Postal Inspectors: (800) 372-8347 http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/  Don’t give in. Do not pay any bill or portion of a bill that is a result of identity theft. Do not cover any checks that were written and/or cashed fraudulently. Do not file for bankruptcy and don’t allow yourself to be forced into paying fraudulent bills. Report such attempts to government regulators immediately.

Saginaw Medical FCU
P.O. Box 6160
Saginaw, Michigan 48608
989.791.7070
Fax: 989.790.6910
memberservices@smfcu.com