Member Benefits
Identity Theft: Fighting Back the Pro-Active 3-D WayAlmost 10 Million Americans Victimized Every Year
Identify Theft doesn’t just happen to someone else. Just ask any of the 10 million Americans hit by it last year.
ID thieves have tried-and-true methods like picking pockets, rummaging through dumpsters and stealing files from work, and clever ploys like changing your address with the post office, copying your credit card number when you use it or sending you a phony online breach-of-security warning that solicits personal data from you.
3-D action—as recommended by the Federal Trade Commission—is the way to foil and minimize the damage caused by ID thieves: Deter, Detect, Defend = 3-D Action.
Deter
Stop it before it happens:
• Shred financial documents and papers with personal information.
• Don’t carry your Social Security card or write your Social Security number on checks.
• Don’t give out personal information on the phone, online or through the mail unless
you know with whom you are dealing.
• Don’t use your birth date, mother’s maiden name or the last four digits of your Social Security number as a password.
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails and maximize security with up-to date firewalls, anti-spy ware and virus software. For more information, visit OnGuardOnline.gov
Detect
Routinely monitor your accounts, billing statements and credit reports for suspicious activity. Watch out for:
• Bills that do not arrive as expected
• Unsolicited credit cards or account statements
• Denial of credit for no apparent reason
• Calls or letters about purchases you did not make or charges on credit card bills and other statements that you did not authorize
Monitor your credit report. The law requires the major nationwide reporting companies —Equifax, Experian and TransUnion—to give each of your members a free copy of their credit report each year if they ask for it. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228 to order your free reports.
Defend
- As soon as you suspect identity theft, act quickly.
- Place a “Fraud Alert” with the three reporting companies, by calling one of them. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before opening new accounts or making changes to existing ones.
- Equifax 1-800-525-6285
- Experian 1-800-397-3742
- TransUnion 1-800-680-7289
- Close any fraudulent or tampered-with accounts, notify the company fraud departments and ask for written verification. Keep copies of everything.
- Use the FTC’s ID Theft Affidavit found at ftc.gov/idtheft to support your written statement.
- File reports with your local police and with the FTC, at 1-877-IDTHEFT or online at ftc.gov/idtheft.
You can order brochures on identity theft by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT or at ftc.gov/idtheft.
Also, remember that the Union Plus Credit Card UnionPlusCard.com comes with 100 percent protection against fraud and zero liability to the cardholder.
You can also check out other related Union Plus programs:
- Free credit counseling - information at UnionPlus.org/CreditCounseling or call 1-877-833-1745 - available 24/7
- Consumer Education - details at UnionPlusCreditEducation.com
- Find out why getting your credit score also is important and get a discount at UnionPlus.org/CreditScore
Write reply
This item is closed, it's not possible to add new comments to it or to vote on it
Comments must be approved before being published.
