Identity Theft
With the growth of technology, protecting your personal information has never been more important.
Fraudsters use a variety of techniques to acquire a victim’s card number. Some of the ways include using high-tech devices known as skimmers to swipe the card so as to collect the pertinent information from the magnetic strip or by using low-tech methods such as copying or obtaining discarded receipts. To protect yourself, consider a few common sense tips:
- Shred all mail that has your personal information, especially credit card offers.
- Never store debit/credit card PINs with the card. Commit them to memory.
- Shred all receipts.
- Check your bank and credit card statements regularly for any unauthorized purchases.
- Never share your online account passwords.
- Change your passwords often and use complex passwords, with a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols.
If you have been a victim of Identity Theft, take the following steps immediately:
- Call the Fraud Departments of the three major credit bureaus.
Experian (TRW): 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 - Contact the card issuer.
-Report the fraud immediately by phone and in writing.
-Close all of the affected accounts.
-Complete an affidavit indicating fraud has occurred.
-Keep detailed logs of all contacts you have made. - Notify your local police department and obtain copies of all police reports.
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