ALERT - ACCOUNT FRAUD - RISK - IDENTITY THEFT- ATM FRAUD - CREDIT CARD FRAUD - ELECTRONIC ACCOUNT FRAUD - EMAIL FRAUD - SCAMS - CONS - "VISHING" - VICTIM - FAKE CHECK SCAMS- "PHISHING"
Many other buzz words and phrases are used to get our attention to take precautions and protect your personal, account and identity information. Scams and Fraud activity is a fast and very devastating crime which is growing rapidly in the nation. It is up to everyone to be aware and minimize your risks to prevent any type of FRAUD against yourself, your family and business.
We suggest you view your credit report annually. You can obtain a free credit report through www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-9228 or www.flc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/freereports.pdf
Here is the contact information of the three credit agencies if you need to contact them.
- Trans Union- www.transunion.com To place a fraud alert call 1-800-680-7289. Order a credit report 1-877-322-8228
- Equifax- www.experian.com To place a fraud alert call 1-888-766-0008. Order a credit report 1-800-685-1111
- Experian- www.experian.com To place a fraud alert call 1-888-397-3742. Order a credit report 1-888-397-3742
The breech of security that occurred during the summer of 2007 withe stolen back up tape was just one issue many of our members here at the SHPFCU have been faced with along with the numerous other possible risks we deal with every day. The State of Ohio offered a solution to handle some issues that could creep up by allowing the free year subscription to "DEBIX". We understand that the free offer will be ending toward the end of 2008. We at the SHPFCU have looked into some vendors that offer help to SAFEGUARD YOUR IDENTITY. After careful review we have made an alliance with Majestic Security, LLC a partner of Identity Safeguard, in hopes of helping our membership face this growing problem of being prepared and able to have a partner in the task of being alert and aware of the risk of keeping your personal information safe and secure. The SHPFCU wanted to have a solution available to our membership ongoing because the risk is real and ecalating we feel this company has a caring and affordable solution. Please see the following article written by Jim DeGeromino, Sr., of Majestic Security, LLC a partner of Identity Safeguard.
Please Click on the link below to read more about Majestic Security and Identity Safeguard and/or to enroll in the service.
Crime of the Century
Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in America! The Federal Trade Commission now estimates that one out of every four Americans will have their identity compromised in some way this year alone. In the last 36 months 220 million records containing sensitive personal data have been lost or stolen. Was you information in those records? How can you protect yourself?
Let's face facts. Every day, without giving it much thought, we perform our daily rituals: we write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets for a show or a ball game, rent a car, apply for a loan or new credit card. Most of us don't give these everyday transactions a second thought. But lurking in the shadows is someone else who is after the information we so readily give out.
Information about us is gathered and disseminated from the time we're born until the day we pass away. Computers, networks and the Internet have increased the amount of personal information about us that reside in hundreds of databases. They make it quick and easy to spread our personal information globally. What happens to our information remains very much unregulated.
In spite of the epidemic proportions of this crime, it remains mostly misunderstood. Di you know that there are many different forms of Identity Theft? Any one of which can be financially and personally devastating.
- Financial: When most people think of Identity Theft, they think of someone using their information to open new accounts, gain access to existing accounts or make purchaseses in their name. Unfortunately it goes far beyond that. Financial ID Theft makes up only 30% of all reported thefts.
- Social Security: Thieves use your SSN Identity to gain employment or to report income under your name. The IRS then comes looking for you and the tax liability.
- Medical: Thieves use your information for insurance benefits, prescriptions, Medicare and Medicaid benefits or most serious of all medical test and medical procedures. Unfortunately, this is the fastest growing area of ID theft.
- Drivers License: Thieves use your information to acquire a driver's license in your name and claim to be your during a traffic stop. You don't show up for the court and a warrant is issued...for you!!
- Character/Criminal: Thieves mask their criminal activities behind your identity. A simple traffic stop can result in your arrest.
What about the law enforcement? The sad fact is that there are just too many identity theft cases for law enforcement to handle. They just don't have the personnel or time to treat them as a priority. In addition, the thief may be in a different state or even a different country.
When discussing the identity theft crisis, and trying to educate the public, the mainstream media tends to focus on your credit identity. That's all well and good, but in spite of what they would have us believe, credit related identity theft is not the biggest part of the problem. It's not even close. More than 70 percent of identity theft occurrences are non-credit related. If you find yourself arrested in the middle of the night for a crime that someone has committed in your name, don't call your bank or credit card company. Not to critical of your bank or credit card companies that offer valuable credit monitoring services. They do address part of the problem. But there are many other areas of concern.
Withe the scope of this crime widening, the time, energy and dollars required to recover from the crime is increasing. We are now looking at a crime that is happening to 1 in 4 Americans and is escalating every year in severity and consequences for its victims. At its current rate of growth, in the next five years, identity theft will not be a matter of "if"; it will be a mater of "when", as everyone will become a victim to some degree.
So, when someone finds himself or herself the victim of identity theft, they will need professional help. What they won't need are brochures and manuals on "how to" do this for themselves. The risk is too great and the problem too large. It takes the average individual over 600 hours and many hundreds of dollars to restore their identity back to normal on their own.
Think of it, you just found out your identity has been stolen. What's the first thing you do? Who is the first person your call? Do you know? Most people don't have a clue.
That's why the Credit Union has teamed up with Majestic Security and and Identity Safeguards. They offer the most complete program of identity theft protection available and in the event of an Identity theft, have a 100% track record of success in restoring victims back to pre-event status. We encourage your to visit their website and sign up for this valuable protection.
www.majesticsecurityidsafe.com Or call their toll free number: 1-888-331-2332.
In the time it took you to read this article 25 more people have become a victim!
Free Personal Finance Workshops
Provided at No Cost by Your Local Credit Unions
|
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
|
Time for a Mortgage Check-up |
Ohio Credit Union League, 5815 Wall St, Dublin |
| Tuesday, April 29, 2008 |
Make the Most of Your Paycheck: Budgeting and Saving
|
Credit Union of Ohio, 5500 Britton Pkwy, Hilliard |
| Tuesday, May 27, 2008 |
Taking the Mystery Out of Credit: Reports, Scores and I.D. Theft |
Midstate Educators Credit Union, 399 E Livingston Ave, Columbus |
| Tuesday, June 24, 2008 |
Getting a Grip on Credit and Debt |
Consumer Credit Counseling Services, 4500 E Broad St, Columbus |
Additional CCCS workshops will be held monthly from July through December 2008. Topics and locations are pending and a schedule for those classes will be available in June.
All classes held from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Registration is required. Call 1-800-355-2227 to register.
