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Your Complete Defense Against Identity Theft Early detection with continuous credit monitoring by Experian. Reimbursement protection with up to $25,000 for any covered expenses you incur while resolving an identity theft problem (no deductible). Enhanced restoration services by licensed fraud investigators through Kroll Background America, Inc. Affordable pricing for you, your spouse and dependent children ages 18-24.

If you receive an e-mail from EPCU requesting financial information or any other personal or sensitive data:

• Treat the e-mail with suspicion.
• Do not reply to the e-mail or respond by clicking on a link within the e-mail message. EPCU will never ask you to provide any kind of confidential or financial details via an e-mail request.

Phishing scams trick people into divulging confidential information such as Social Security numbers and credit card numbers by posing as legitimate business sites.  The majority of phishing attacks over the past year have imitated companies such a PayPal, Citibank, eBay, Wells Fargo, AOL and even the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.  By hijacking the trusted brands of well-known financial institutions, online retailers and credit card companies, phishers are able to convince many recipients to provide personal and financial information. 

The latest phishing scam has a new twist – it prompts you to fill out an online survey in exchange for a gift card or spending spree with a major retailer.  Gift cards are popular this holiday season, but when it comes to these online surveys, don’t bite, or you could be the victim of identity theft. 

The online survey scam is enticing.  The value of the gift card reward can be up to $500, but the cost to you is much higher if you give the name of your financial institution, your e-mail address, and passwords. 

Industry experts advise Web users to keep personal information under wraps.  Never give out information in response to an unsolicited e-mail.  Consumers are advised not to click on links within e-mail messages you were not expecting; instead go directly to the Web site of the company to see if the offer or request is genuine.  Avoid e-mailing personal and financial information, and review all statements for unauthorized charges. 

Report suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.

Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information, credit cards, checks or driver’s license and then obtains credit or merchandise in your name.

Despite your best efforts to manage the flow of your personal information, skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to gain access to your data. Some of these methods include stealing wallets and purses, as well as changing the address on credit accounts to divert mail to another location. They also steal mail from mailboxes or rummage through garbage looking for personal data.

Contact your local police department immediately. Most fraudulent use of cards or checks takes place within days of the items being lost or stolen. File a police report and make note of the case number assigned to your report for future reference. Contact the fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus and request that a "fraud alert" be placed on your name and social security number. Retailers and financial institutions use these three major bureaus in lending decisions. The fraud alert may thwart someone from using your identity to get credit.

Trans Union Fraud Alert: 1-800-680-7289
This is an automated system. The system also reports to Equifax and Experian. A note will be added to your credit report that your ID has been stolen.

File an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This can be done by calling the Identity Theft Hotline, or online at the FTC’s ID Theft Web site. The ID Theft Web site offers useful information.

FTC ID Theft Hotline: 1-877-438-4338
ID Theft web site: www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Contact your local US Postal Inspector if your mail has been stolen. Stolen mail can be used to obtain new credit cards, bank or credit card statements, pre-screened credit offers or tax information. It may also be used to falsify change of address forms, or to obtain your personal information through a fraud conducted by mail. The number for the inspector in your area can be found in a telephone directory, or you may call your local post office.

Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) Fraud Hotline if your Social Security Number has been used fraudulently.

SSA Fraud Hotline 1-800-269-0271

Contact the United States Department of State (USDS) if your passport is lost, stolen or is being used fraudulently. The USDS can be contacted through their web site or you can contact the local field office. Local field offices are listed in the Blue Pages of your telephone directory.

USDS web site: www.travel.state.gov

• Don’t carry your Social Security card, passport, or birth certificate with you except when necessary.
• Carry only necessary credit cards and identification information.
• Don’t give out your Social Security Number, mother’s maiden name or account information over the phone unless you are sure the caller is legitimate or you initiated the call.
• Don’t place paid bills in your mailbox for pickup, and have your mail held by the post office if you will be away from home.
• Shred all credit card receipts, solicitations, cancelled checks and other financial documents before throwing them away.
• Have your name removed from mailing and solicitation lists. (Note: Credit Union policy prevents us from providing your personal information to non-affiliated parties.)
• To opt out of receiving pre-screened credit card offers, call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688)
• To have your name removed from many direct mailing lists, write to:
  
  DMA Mail Preference Service
  P.O. Box 9014
  Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014  

WASHINGTON (8/16/04)--To better handle the high volume of spam reported by disgruntled computer users, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently unveiled a new e-mail address: spam@uce.gov. The old e-mail address (uce@ftc.gov) will be phased out (Federal Trade Commission July 28).

When forwarding deceptive spam to the new e-mail address, include the full e-mail header.

The FTC receives about 300,000 samples of deceptive spam each day and stores it in a database. The FTC and law enforcement partners use information in the database to generate cases against spammers who spread false or misleading information about their products or services. Examples include pyramid schemes, moneymaking chain letters, credit card scams, credit repair scams, bogus weight-loss plans, and fraudulent business opportunities.

Consumers who think they've been taken advantage of by a spam scam are urged to file a complaint with the FTC online at www.ftc.gov. You can find tips on how to avoid spam scams and reduce clutter in your in-box at www.ftc.gov/spam.
 

Fraud Alert Fake Check Scams

Based on complaints to the National Consumers League (NCL) since last December, fake check scams are the now the sixth most common Internet fraud, with the average loss at $5,000.00. 

NCL’s database tracks consumer complaints, and there are many variations on the fake check scam.  The common thread is a stranger proposing to send the victim a check and have the victim wire money in return.  In many cases, the contact is initiated by e-mail. 

Based on these complaints, consumers are advised against wiring money to unfamiliar individuals.  Cautions include: 

• There is no legitimate reason for someone who is giving you money to ask you to wire money back.
• Just because you can withdraw the money doesn’t mean the check is good, even if it’s a cashier’s check.
• If a stranger wants to pay you for something, insist on a cashier’s check for the exact amount, preferably from a credit union, a local financial institution, or one with a branch in your area.  Although not foolproof, cashier’s checks are still preferred over other checks.

Another growing area of fraud is unauthorized payments from checking accounts.  The following is a list of steps consumers can take to help prevent unauthorized payments from their checking accounts: 

• Never give your checking account information to telemarketers or to callers claiming to need to confirm or verify your account information.
• Don’t carry your checkbook around with you unnecessarily.
• Don’t leave bill payments or other checks in your mailbox.
• Always review your monthly account statement, or go to your financial institution’s web site to view your account activity more frequently.  Report any unauthorized transactions or suspicious activity to your financial institution immediately.
• Tear or shred any old checks or account statements before throwing them away.
• If you believe your checking account information has been stolen, contact your financial institution immediately.
• Consider using electronic alternatives to paying by check when making purchases or paying bills.  This substantially reduces, or even eliminates, the number of people that see the personal and account information that is printed on your checks, and provides better protection under Federal regulation.

In the past VISA cardholders have been receiving an email titled “Attention! Several VISA Credit Card bases have been LOST!” The email states that it is from VISA Service. Emails of this type should never be responded to.  

• VISA will never ask a cardholder for information.