Fraud Alerts
Simple Steps to Identity Protection.
It's likely that you have heard a lot about identity theft lately, and for good reason; it hit one in 50 people during the last year. The Federal Trade Commission reported that identity theft was its number one source of consumer complaints and cost the average victim more than $1,000 to cope with the damage from it.
What is identity theft?
How can I prevent identity theft?
What should I do if I am a victim of identity theft?
What are some fraudulent activities I should know about?
What are the latest scams and where can I learn more?
Links to helpful sites
What is identity theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, address, Social Security number, bank or credit card account number, or other identifying information without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft.
How can I prevent identity theft?
Here are some tips to help protect you from identity thieves:
- Review your credit report once a year through one of the major credit reporting agencies:
- Equifax: 1-800-685-1111
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742
- TransUnion: 1-800-888-4213
- You can have access to one free credit report every 12 months from these credit-reporting agencies by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.
- Do not carry important documents like your Social Security card, birth certificate, and passport in your purse or wallet unless necessary.
- Shred all personal or financial information before throwing it in the garbage.
- Do not put your Social Security Number on checks or use it as your driver's license number.
- Don't leave outgoing mail in your mailbox.
- If your mailbox doesn't lock, consider investing in one that does, or rent a post office box. At the very least, become familiar with the billing/statement cycles of your bills, accounts, etc.
- When possible, opt to receive bills and statements electronically.
- Don't give personal information to anyone over the phone, unless you initiated the call and are familiar with the company and its practices.
- When shopping online with a trusted company, make sure the page where you provide your credit card is located on a secure server (look for the lock icon in the lower right-hand corner of your screen).
- When shopping, carry just the credit cards, cash, and checkbooks you need.
- Try to keep your credit card in sight at all times when presenting it for payment while shopping. If you dine at a restaurant where you pay at the table, you may want to pay with cash rather than a credit card.
- If you don't use a credit card very often, consider canceling your account since you may not notice if it's missing.
- Carefully review monthly credit card statements for unauthorized purchases.
- Next time you visit an South Carolina Federal branch, ask to have your ID scanned. This image will be indexed to your account. Each time you make a transaction, branch staff can verify that it's actually you.
What should I do if I am a victim of identity theft?
The Federal Trade Commission recommends:
Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.
TransUnion
1-800- 680-7289/ TDD 1-877- 553-7803
Fraud Victim Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634-6790
www.transunion.com
Experian
1-888- 397-3742/ TDD 1-800-972-0322
P.O. Box 9530
Allen, TX 75013
www.experian.com
Equifax
1-800-525-6285/ TDD 1-800-255-0056
(ask the operator to call the Auto Disclosure Line at
1-800-685-1111 to obtain a copy of your report)
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
www.equifax.com
Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.
File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.
File your complaint with the Federal Trade Commission on their website using the ID Theft Complaint Input Form. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps them learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so they can better assist you.
Take action immediately and keep detailed records of your phone calls (follow up on these in writing within 30 days) and correspondence. Also, keep track of the amount of money and time it takes to deal with the issues related to your identity theft.
What are some fraudulent activities I should know about and what should I be looking for?
Telemarketing Scams
These type of scams have been around for years, but the recent arrests of more than 135 people in cases involving more than 5 million victims remind us of the widespread damage they can cause, especially to the elderly. The Associated Press reported that this particular case caused victims to lose $1 billion and included such schemes as bogus lotteries, fake sweepstakes and credit cards, offers of nonexistent investments and tax fraud. Some cases involved so-called "recovery rooms" in which people posing as law enforcement officials offer to help victims recover losses for a fee. Review tip #9 above to help prevent losses due to a telemarketing scam.
Email Scams
There are several email scams in circulation. Some rely on victims' compassion in order to rob them of money. Others promise a large amount of money in return for an initial "fee" or "investment." A good rule to keep in mind when someone approaches you for money is, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably isn't true."
Phishing
This type of e-mail scam is growing in popularity. Phishing is when you receive an unsolicited e-mail that appears to come from a legitimate company you may do business with. It provides a link to a fake website and asks you to input personal information that can be used to support fraudulent activity. Because the website appears to be legitimate, many consumers are falling prey to this scam. If you receive this type of e-mail, contact the company directly by phone (look up the number in a directory) to verify whether or not it's legitimate. For more information, you can view the NCUA's brochure on phishing.
Skimming
Another activity of concern is "skimming." Skimming occurs when you present your credit or debit card for payment. The payment is made, and then the person making the transaction runs it through a small device that stores your card's information. It is likely to happen in an environment where your credit or debit card is not in your sight at all times (like at a restaurant where you pay at the table). In instances like these, you may want to consider using cash instead.
General questions to ask yourself when depositing a check into your account or making a transaction:
- Are the check proceeds for an item you sold on the Internet such as a car, boat, or jewelry?
- Is the amount of the check more than the selling price of the item?
- Is the check from an individual you have communicated with via e-mail?
- Was the request to do business with you unsolicited (i.e. did you place an ad)?
- Is the check drawn on a business or individual different from the person buying your item or product?
- Have you been asked to assist in the distribution of money from another country?
- Have you been instructed to wire funds out of the country as soon as possible?
- Have you been informed that you were the winner in a lottery that you did not enter?
If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions, please contact South Carolina Federal. Remember, you are responsible for the checks you deposit. If you have any doubts about a check, contact South Carolina Federal prior to depositing it. You can also keep up with the latest scams by viewing the web sites listed below.
What are the latest scams and where can I learn more?
Text Message Phishing Scam Attempt (March 11, 2010)
We were notified of a recent Text Messaging Phishing scam. This is a fraudulent attempt to capture member data with an automated text message.
A member informed us that he received a text message from SC State Credit Union and that his account was locked. The message also requested him to call 1-866-200-1368 to unlock the account.
If a member informs us of a telephone, text message or email phishing scam, please remind them NEVER to provide any of the following:
· Account Number
· Social security number
· Three digit security number on back of credit card
· Private information
South Carolina Federal Credit Union or any of our business partners acting on our behalf would never call, text, or email our members requesting such information.
Text Message Phishing Scam Attempt (February 17, 2010)
We were notified of a recent Text Messaging Phishing scam. This is a fraudulent attempt to capture member data with an automated text message.
A member informed us that they received text message inquiring about their South Carolina Federal Credit Union Account. The text message provided the following phone number 1-803-233-1804.
If a member informs us of a telephone, text message or email phishing scam, please remind them NEVER to provide any of the following:
- Account Number
- Social security number
- Three digit security number on back of credit card
- Private information
South Carolina Federal Credit Union or any of our business partners acting on our behalf would never call, text, or email our members requesting such information.
Vishing Scam Attempt (February 11, 2010)
We were informed of a possible vishing scam from a Member. The member was unable to capture the telephone number the fraudster was calling from.
A member received a telephone call from an unidentified gentleman stating there was a problem with his checks and that we (South Carolina Federal Credit Union) were changing all the information on everyone’s checks.
The fraudster asked the member to provide all the information on his checks. The member refused to disclose any personal information to the fraudster; then the call was disconnected.
If a member informs us of a telephone or e-mail phishing scam, please remind them NEVER to provide any of the following:
- Account number
- Social security number
- Three digit security number on back of credit card
- Private information
South Carolina Federal Credit Union or any of our business partners acting on our behalf would never call or e-mail our members requesting such information.
Vishing Scam Attempt (February 8, 2010)
We were informed of a possible vishing scam from a Member. The telephone number captured on the member’s caller ID was 888-555-1234 and the fraudster had a foreign accent.
The fraudster informed the member that he was with the National Investigating Committee and told the member his account information was broadcasted over the internet.
The fraudster proceeded to tell the member in order to get this cleared up he must provide his routing and account number. Once this is cleared up the fraudster stated he would send the member a copy of the investigation report along with a $300.00 voucher for gas.
The member would not disclose any personal information to the fraudster; then the call was disconnected.
If a member informs us of a telephone or e-mail phishing scam, please remind them NEVER to provide any of the following:
- Account number
- Social security number
- Three digit security number on back of credit card
- Private information
South Carolina Federal Credit Union or any of our business partners acting on our behalf would never call or e-mail our members requesting such information.
Vishing Scam Attempt (February 7, 2010)
We were informed of a possible vishing scam from a Member. The member was able to capture three different phone numbers: 876-584-4844, 876-456-7159, and 876-855-8999.
A member received a telephone call from a gentleman calling himself Mr. Ashley. The fraudster informed the member that there would be $20k deposited into her account and provided her instructions to wire the money to Jamaica.
Please beware of these types of vishing attempts to educate and protect our members!
If a member informs us of a telephone or e-mail phishing scam, please remind them NEVER to provide any of the following:
- Account number
- Social security number
- Three digit security number on back of credit card
- Private information
South Carolina Federal Credit Union or any of our business partners acting on our behalf would never call or e-mail our members requesting such information.
Here are links to some helpful sites:
Consumer Sentinel http://www.consumer.gov/sentinel/
Deter, Detect, and Defend ID Theft Prevention Kit http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
Department of Justice http://www.usdoj.gov/
eConsumer.gov http://www.eConsumer.gov/
Federal Trade Commission http://www.ftc.gov
Federal Bureau of Investigation http://www.fbi.gov/
Federal Bureau of Investigation http://www.fbi.gov/
U.S. Department of Homeland Security http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/
U.S. Department of State http://www.state.gov/
U.S. Secret Service http://www.secretservice.gov/index.shtml
South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs http://www.state.sc.us/consumer/
