Protect yourself against identity theft.

Skilled identity thieves have a variety of ways of stealing your personal information. It’s much easier to protect yourself than to have to clean up the mess after your identity has been stolen. Here are 3 important ways you can protect yourself:

DETER: Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information.
Shred any documents with personal information before discarding them.
Protect your Social Security number - don’t carry your card in your wallet or write your number anywhere.
Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you are certain of who you are dealing with.
Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails.
Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Keep your personal information in a secure place at home.

DETECT: Detect suspicious activity by keeping a close eye on financial accounts & billing statements.
Signs that require immediate attention:
Bills that do not arrive as expected
Unexpected credit cards or account statements
Denials of credit for no apparent reason
Calls or letters regarding purchases you didn’t make
Inspect your credit reports on a regular basis. You are entitled to one free credit report each year from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Scroll to the lower part of this page to find the contact information for these credit reporting companies. Also inspect your financial statements to look for any charges you did not make or checks you didn’t write.

DEFEND: Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect it.
Place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports through Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and review the reports carefully.
Close accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently.
File a police report to help with creditors that may want proof of the crime.
Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338).

To learn more about ID theft and how to deter, detect, and defend against it, visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft. And ask a Member Service Representative at your credit union branch for a brochure with more information.

Steps you can take to Avoid Being a Victim

ONLY use your card PIN for ATM and POS transactions.
NEVER respond to any email that directs you to update your personal information by dialing a telephone number or utilizing a website. ONLY use the customer service number on the back of your card.
REMEMBER, the credit union will NEVER ask you to send your personal information via email or telephone! You should never provide your personal information or any PIN numbers or codes in response to an unsolicited phone call, fax, letter or email.
Please report any phishing emails with suspicious phone numbers to your local federal law enforcement agency. Most agencies now have specific cyber threat units that are well-versed in investigating these claims.
Never click on the link provided in an e-mail you believe is fraudulent.
Do not open an attachment to an unsolicited e-mail unless you have verified the source.
Do not be intimidated by an e-mail or caller who suggest dire consequences if you do not immediately provide or verify information.
If you believe the contact is legitimate, go to the company's website by typing in the site address directly or using a page you have previously book marked, instead of a link provided in the e-mail.
Visit the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) website, www.onguardonline.gov. You can take quizzes about ID theft, phishing, spam and online-shopping scams. Elsewhere on the site, you can find detailed guidance on how to monitor your credit history, use effective passwords and recover from identity theft.

If you think you have been a victim, please call the Credit Union right away at 858-547-7400.

Look for the VeriSign™ logo. When you see this button, click on it and a screen will pop up with identity verification and assurance that the website is secure and encrypted.

If you think you have been scammed, please contact the credit union immediately at 858-547-7400.

Remember, the credit union will NEVER ask you to send your personal information via email. You should never provide your personal information in response to an unsolicited phone call, fax, letter or email

If you have been the victim of identity theft, contact:

1. Federal Trade Commission
FTC, Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW, Washington D.C., 20580
1-877-382-4357

2. Fraud Units at the three principal credit reporting agencies:

Equifax
1-800 525-6285
P O Box 740250
Atlanta, GA 30374-0250

Experian (formerly TRW)
1-888-397-3742
P O Box 1017
Allen, TX 75013

Trans Union
1-800-680-7289
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634

Contact the major check verification companies if checks were stolen or bank accounts were set up by an identity theft:
a. CheckRite 1-800-766-2748
b. ChexSystems 1-800-428-9623
c. CrossCheck 1-800-552-1900
d. National Processing Co (NPC) 1-800-526-5380
e. SCAN 1-800-262-7771
f. TeleCheck 1-800-710-9898