Prevent
ID
Theft
You've worked hard for your creditworthiness… and that makes
you a target for identity thieves, who will steal your name, social
security number, credit card number or other vital financial information
for fraudulent use. Thieves get your information by:
- Stealing
wallets, credit cards and ATM
cards
- Stealing
financial statements from the
mail
- Diverting
mail by submitting "change
of address" forms
- Rummaging
through trash
- Stealing
personal information from workplace
records
- Intercepting
information sent through non-encrypted
online activity
The U.S. Treasury
has released a new DVD that provides information on how to
recognize identity theft, how to protect yourself from it,
and what you should do if you fall victim.
Credit union members can order their free DVD: Identity
Theft: Outsmarting the Crooks online at www.pueblo.gsa.gov
(item #635N), or by telephone: 1.888.8.PUEBLO, or in writing
to: FCIC – 06A, P.O. Box 100, Pueblo, Colorado, 81002.
|
You're Not Always Caught in the Web…
Surprisingly, the Internet is not the usual avenue for identity
theft. E-Commerce Times reports that dumpster diving and workplace
record retrieval remain the most common methods of identity theft.
Even so, MCCU recommends shopping only with online merchants who
encrypt your personal financial information for secure online transmission.
Prevention
Tips:
- Never carry all your identifying information with you. Don't
carry your social security number and birth certificate unless
absolutely necessary.
- Keep a list of your credit cards, account numbers and expiration
dates in a secure place - NOT your wallet or purse.
- Memorize your personal identification number (PIN) for your
ATM card. NEVER write it down on the card or carry it with you.
- Don't give your credit card number or other personal information
over the phone unless you initiate the call.
- Shred all financial documents before discarding them.
- Verify your credit report regularly with the three major credit-reporting
bureaus. If you find errors, notify them immediately.
In an attempt to address the rising cyber crime threat, the FTC
(Federal Trade Commission ) has unveiled an online tool designed
to help consumers avoid becoming victims of Internet scams.
At the website - www.onguardonline.gov
- consumers can take interactive quizzes designed to enlighten them
about identity theft, phishing, spam and online-shopping scams.
If the user selects a wrong answer, the program explains why that
particular misconception about Internet security can lead to trouble.
Elsewhere on the site, consumers can find detailed guidance on
how to monitor their credit histories, use effective passwords and
recover from identity theft.
Phishing
MCCU will NEVER solicit personal information (PIN numbers, social
security numbers) from you via e-mail or phone. If you receive
a suspicious e-mail asking for your personal information from MCCU,
please notify us immediately. Please be aware that phishing
e-mails are going out, purportedly from a few local credit unions,
that look like they are from the credit union. Some even mention
a credit union employee. These are fraudulent e-mails - please do
not ever respond to them if you should receive one. Notify the financial
institution first to find out if it is a legitimate e-mail.
If you have a MasterMoney Check Card with us, at times you may
get a phone call to verify transactions on your account in an effort
to prevent possible fraud. If you are unsure about who is calling,
please call the credit union and speak to a representative. The
correct phone number that they will have you call should they leave
a message is 1-800-890-5097. If someone calls you and leaves any
other phone number, please do not call and notify us immediately.
If you are on a third-party site that links to our website, we
suggest you type in our URL - www.matadors.org - rather than click
on the link.
There's a new type of Internet piracy called "phishing."
It's pronounced "fishing," and that's exactly what these
thieves are doing: fishing for your personal financial information.
What they want are account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers,
and other confidential information that they can use to loot your
checking account or run up bills on your credit cards.
Here's how it
works:
In
a typical case, you'll receive
an e-mail that appears to come
from a reputable company that
you recognize and do business
with, such as your financial
institution. In some cases, the
e-mail may appear to come from
a government agency, including
one of the federal financial
institution regulatory agencies.
The
e-mail will probably warn you
of a serious problem that requires
your immediate attention. It
will then encourage you to click
on a button to go to the institution's
website.
In
a phishing scam, you could be
redirected to a phony website
that may look exactly like the
real thing. Sometimes, in fact,
it may be the company's actual
website. In those cases, a pop-up
window will quickly appear for
the purpose of harvesting your
financial information.
In
either case, you may be asked
to update your personal information
or to provide information for
verification purposes. If
you provide the requested information,
you may find yourself the victim
of identity theft.
To
protect yourself:
- Never provide your personal information in response to an unsolicited
request.
- If you believe the contact may be legitimate, contact the financial
institution yourself.
- Never provide your password over the phone or in response to
an unsolicited Internet request.
- Review account statements regularly to ensure all charges are
correct.
- Update and run your anti-virus software frequently.
For more information on phishing, visit www.antiphishing.org
or the Federal
Trade Commission.
Forward spam that is phishing for information to spam@uce.gov
and to the organization or financial institution impersonated in
the phishing e-mail.
top |
