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| Identity
Theft
River City Federal Credit Union
will never
ask you to verify your
account information via e-mail. |
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Today's scammers
don't have to go dumpster-diving to get your personal information,
as they have found a more sophisticated way to lure unsuspecting
victims - they go 'phishing.' Phishing is a high-tech scam that
uses spam or pop-up messages to deceive unsuspecting consumers into
disclosing their credit card numbers, bank account information,
Social Security number, passwords, and other sensitive information.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), phishers send an
email or pop-up message that claims to be from a legitimate business
or organization, and the message usually asks that the recipient
"update" or "validate" his/her account information.
The FTC, the nation's
consumer protection agency, suggests these tips to help consumers
avoid being hooked by a phishing scam:
- Don't respond
to email or pop-up messages that asks for personal or financial
information, as legitimate companies don't ask for this information
via email.
- Never e-mail personal
or financial information because e-mail is not a secure method
of transmitting personal information. If you initiate a transaction
and want to provide your personal or financial information through
an organization's Web site, look for indicators that the site
is secure.
- Be sure to review
credit card and account statements as soon as you receive them
to determine whether there are any unauthorized charges.
- Use anti-virus
software and keep it up to date.
- Be cautious about
opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you
receive, regardless of who sent them.
Consumers should
immediately report suspicious activity to the FTC. If a consumer
receives a spam that is phishing for information, they should forward
it to spam@uce.gov. Consumers
who suspect they've been scammed, should file a complaint at www.ftc.gov,
and then visit the FTC's Identity Theft Web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft
to learn how to minimize the risk of damage from ID theft.
In addition, you
can help us and your fellow River City Federal Credit Union members
by forwarding suspicious and fraudulent emails to abuse@rivercityfcu.org.
More information
on how to prevent Identity Theft...
- Order a copy of your credit report from each of three major
credit reporting agencies every year.
- Use a shredder to dispose of all important financial
paperwork.
- Do not carry unneeded identification cards in your wallet
such as Social Security card.
- Examine your checkbook periodically to make sure no
one has stolen any checks.
- Put all important identification papers, including Social
Security cards, passbooks, old bank statements, mortgage papers,
and copies of old tax returns, in a safe box.
- Guard your Social Security number, driver's license
number and other personal information carefully and find out how
it will be used before revealing it to anyone.
What to do if you're a victim...
- Contact the fraud departments of each one of the three
major credit bureaus: Equifax (800-525-6285), Experian (888-397-3742),
and TransUnion (800-680-7289). Ask that a 'fraud alert' be placed
on your file and that no new credit be granted without your approval.
- Contact the creditors for any accounts that have been
accessed or opened fraudulently. Close these accounts.
- File a report with your local police or the police where
the identify theft took place. Get a copy of the report in case
the credit union, credit card company or others need proof of
the crime.
ID Theft Hot Lines...
- Federal Trade Commission: (877) 438-4338
- Social Security Administration: (800) 269-0271
- Reduce the number credit card offers you receive: (888)
5OPT OUT (they will ask for your Social Security number)
Source: 'ID Theft: When Bad Things
Happen to Your Good Name,' Federal Trade Commission, San
Antonio Police Department and Texas Credit Union League
More Info on the Internet...
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