Bill Pay

ID Protection

Identity fraud occurs when an impostor steals your personal information - such as your name, payment card, Social Security, and driver's license numbers - and uses it to assume your identity. These thieves can use your identity to open banking accounts, make purchases, obtain cash, or even get an apartment in your name.

If You're Already A Victim

• Contact the police to file a report. When talking 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.
• Cancel checking and savings accounts and open new ones.
• Inform UCCU if your wallet or purse was stolen or lost. Tell us what account information, including account numbers, ATM cards, or checks it contained.
• Document your actions, such as the time and money you spend on straightening out your identity theft.
• Stop payments on outstanding checks.
• Contact the credit bureaus and have them flag the accounts with a "fraud alert." Then contact any credit card companies where your accounts may be at risk.
• Keep copies of correspondence and documents related to the theft and make note of all telephone calls, including the date and time of your call and the name and title of the person who assisted you.
• Contact government authorities (the Federal Trade Commission runs the ID Theft Hotline and ID Theft Data Clearinghouse).

Phishing

Internet "phishing" involves a bogus email message that uses legitimate materials, like the look and feel of another company's logo, and tries to entice you to provide personal financial details, such as account information, credit card, and Social Security numbers. Remember, UCCU will never contact you through email and request your personal account information.

Precautions

• Never respond to an unsolicited email that asks for personal financial information.
• Report anything suspicious to the proper authorities.
• Contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov if you think you have received a phishing email.
• Closely read your emails before responding with any information and contact the organization if you are in doubt.

If you've Been a Victim of Phishing

• Immediately contact those organizations for which you provided the information.
• Contact the three major credit bureaus and request that a fraud alert be placed on your credit report. (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or (877) 382-4357.
• UCCU has multiple safeguards in place to protect you from credit card and e-mail fraud schemes. But new scams are constantly surfacing and you need to be alert to questionable requests for personal account information, particularly over the Internet.

Resources

• FTC Identity Theft Hot Line: (877) 438-4338
• Social Security Fraud Hot Line: (800) 269-0271
• US Postal Inspectors (800) 372-8347
• Equifax
• Experian
• Transunion
• Federal Trade Commission

Equifax, Experian, and Transunion, the three largest credit reporting agencies, have set up a special site where consumers can request, view, and print their free report. That site is annualcreditreport.com and is the only authorized site to request your free report(s).