What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft (ID theft) occurs when someone uses your personal information to commit fraud or other crimes. It may also involve computer fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, and financial institution fraud.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of e-mail fraud in which ID thieves pose as legitimate companies or government agencies to request personal information via an e-mail. If you receive an e-mail with a link for you to enter your account numbers, Social Security Number or other confidential information, DO NOT CLICK on the link. To check into an offer or a possible problem, go directly to the company’s Web site through your browser so that you type in their address yourself or call the company by telephone.

Phishing Examples

For real-life examples of phishing, click here to the access the Internet site Anti-Phishing Working Group.

How do I protect my identity?
The first step to combat ID theft is educating yourself and your family to help you avoid becoming a victim. SACU can provide access to information you can use regardless of how much you know or what your needs are.

BALANCE^SM , the financial fitness Web site to which SACU provides access for all members, offers a complete information guide called Identity Theft Solutions you can download in a PDF format and print from your computer. You can also follow the links below to learn about a specific topic. If you find that you are a victim of ID theft, we can provide information to help you recover.

Click on the links below if you want to:

• Educate yourself about the issues in general concerning ID theft.

• Consumer rights that you have include protection under the Fair Credit Reporting ACT (FCRA) and FACT Act.  Know your rights under these laws.

• Perform a risk assessment to see whether you are doing all you can do to protect yourself.

• Ways to protect yourself from becoming a victim of ID theft.

• I think I’m a victim of ID theft.

• Contact the three credit bureaus and other agencies that combat fraud.

• Obtain a copy of your credit reports FREE every year. You are entitled to request a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus.
   

  Tip:	Create your own credit monitoring file by setting up a schedule to get one credit report every 4 months. E.g.  Each year order your FREE report from Equifax in January, from Trans Union Corporation in May, and from Experian in September to be sure everything on your report is correct.