10 easy ways to reduce risk?

When it comes to identity theft, you can't entirely control whether you will become a victim. But there are certain steps you can take to minimize your risk.

1. Monitor your credit report.  (Link)

2. Place passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

3. Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your home.
4. Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you've initiated the contact.

5. Deposit your outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox.

6. To thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards that you're discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail.

7. Don't carry your Social Security number card; leave it in a secure place.

8. Carry only the identification information and the credit and debit cards that you'll actually need when you go out.

9. Be cautious when responding to promotions. Identity thieves may create phony promotional offers to get you to give them your personal information.

10. Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work; do the same with copies of administrative forms that have your sensitive personal information.

     ID Theft Victim's First Steps

      Resolve Specific Problems

      Filing an FTC complaint

      ID Theft: What It's All About

      Fighting Back

      ID Theft Affidavit

      Dealing with ID Theft

      Your Rights as a Victim

If you believe you are a victim of ID Theft, please contact the CU @ 1-888-619-1711 ext 1.  Our Call Center staff can assist in your crisis.