Identity Theft: Lower Your Risk

Every year, thousands of people are victims of identity theft. The FBI reports identity theft as one of the fastest growing white-collar crimes today. Just think about your everyday transactions that can reveal bits of your personal information such as bank and credit card account numbers, date of birth, Social Security number, or name, address and phone numbers. An identity thief obtains some piece of your sensitive information and uses it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft.

People whose identities have been stolen, can spend months or years cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their good name and credit report. Some victims have lost job opportunities, been refused loans for education, housing or cars, or even been arrested for crimes they did not commit.

Here are some ways to lower your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft:

1. Be careful about sharing personal information. Don't give out financial information, such as checking and credit card numbers, or your Social Security number, unless you know the person or organization you're dealing with.
2. Report lost or stolen checks immediately. San Diego County Credit Union will block payment on the check numbers involved. Also, review deliveries of checks to make sure none have been stolen in transit.
3. Notify San Diego County Credit Union of suspicious phone inquiries such as those asking for account information to "verify a statement".
4. Be careful what you throw out. Shred personal financial information such as Credit Union statements, credit card offers, receipts, insurance forms, etc. before disposing of them.
5. Closely guard your ATM Personal Identification Number.
6. Put outgoing mail into a secure, official postal service collection box.
7. If regular bills fail to reach you, call the company to find out why.
8. If your bills include questionable items, don't ignore them. Instead, investigate immediately to avoid any possible fraud.
9. Order a free credit report once a year from all three credit reporting agencies and review your file to ensure it's accurate and doesn't include debts or activities you haven't authorized or incurred.