|
Account Fraud and Identity Theft are among the fastest growing crimes effecting millions of people each year. Monitoring your accounts and credit while safe guarding your personal information can help prevent it from happening to you.
If you are a victim, reclaiming your good name can take years and be very expensive. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the average consumer spends more than $1,000 to clean up the damages done by identity thieves opening new accounts. An ID thief often strikes by stealing mail, stealing sales receipts, stealing account numbers, stealing credit card statements or simply watching you at an ATM. All the worlds technology just expands the opportunities.
Thieves are also creating replicas of existing web sites to fool users into submitting personal, financial or password information. So be sure the web sites you are using are secure. Look for a padlock near the bottom of your browser window or the web connection starts with a https or s-http to ensure you are using a secure site.
Preventing Identity Theft:
- Before giving out your personal information learn about the company you are dealing with and also how your information will be used and if shared with others.
- Only give out your social security number (SSN) when it is absolutely necessary.
- Don't carry your social security number in your purse or wallet.
- Keep items with personal information in a safe place.
- Shred all items containing personal information. Cities offers free Shred Weeks twice a year.
- Order a copy of your credit report from each credit reporting agency every year. Click here to order your free annual credit report.
- Look over your bank statements and credit card statements every month.
- Make photocopies front and back of everything you carry in your purse or wallet and store in a safe place. This way if they are stolen you know exactly what companies to contact immediately.
- Contact the U.S. Postal Service if you are suspicious of missing mail.
What To Do If You Are A Victim
- Contact all creditors, utilities, and your financial institutions about any fraudulent activity.
- Close any accounts that you are suspicious of and open new ones immediately.
- Change all your passwords and PINs. Be sure not to use recognizable passwords such as the last four digits of your SSN, your birth date, address, etc.
- File a report with your local police as well as the area where the crime took place. Be sure to get a copy of all police reports.
- Contact the FTC at the Identity Theft hotline at 877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338)
- Contact the three major credit reports fraud units
Experian: 888-397-3742
Equifax: 800-525-6284
TransUnion: 800-680-7289
- Contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 to file a fraud alert.
Is Your Cities Debit or Credit Card Lost Or Stolen? Report it immediately:
Debit Card: 651-426-3773 (during credit union business hours)
Debit Card: 800-554-8969 (after credit union business hours)
VISA Credit Card: 800-808-7230
When Your SSN Is Required:
- Income Tax Records
- Medical Records
- Credit Bureau Reports
- College Records
- Loan Applications
- Vehicle Registration
- Employment
Don't Use Your SSN On:
- Driver's License
- Personal Checks
- Over the Phone
- Club Memberships
- Address Labels
- As Identification
Useful Links:
|
