Neighborhood Credit Union - Education Center

Identity Theft Protection

AlertMe - Credit Protection Service

Keep your good name and credit with AlertMe Identity Theft Protection.Click here for more information.

Protect Yourself From Identity Theft and Fraud

Get educated on how to protect yourself from identity theft. Here are a few resources to help you avoid being a victim.

Make sure you always file your receipts and keep good records of your spending so that you can compare your records with the bills you get from your credit cards. This is especially important during the holidays when crime is more prevalent.

Check out the following Identity Theft Protection resources:

How identity thieves GET your personal information:	How identity thieves USE your personal information:
They steal wallets and purses containing your identification and credit and bank cards.	They call your credit card issuer and, pretending to be you, ask to change the mailing address on your credit card account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account.
They steal your mail, including your bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks and tax information.	They open a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth and SSN. When they use the credit card and don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported to your credit card.
They complete a "change of address form" to divert your mail to another location.	They establish phone and wireless service in your name.
They rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses, for personal data in a practice known as "dumpster diving".	They open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.
They fraudulently obtain your credit report by posing as a landlord, employer or someone else who may have a legitimate need for, and legal right to, the information.	They file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they've incurred under your name, or to avoid eviction.
They find personal information in your home.	They counterfeit checks or debit cards, and drain your bank account.
They scam you, often through email, by posing as legitimate companies or government agencies you do business with.	They buy cars by taking out auto loans in your name.
They get your information from the workplace in a practice known as "business record theft" by: stealing files out of offices where you're a customer, employee, patient or student; bribing an employee who has access to your files; or "hacking" into electronic files.	They give your name to the police during an arrest. If they're released from police custody, but don't show up for their court date, an arrest warrant is issued in your name.

AlertMe

Keep your good name and credit with AlertMe Identity Theft Protection!

Identity theft remains one of the fastest growing crimes in the country today. A recent study* reported that one in every 23 consumers was a victim of identity theft last year. Neighborhood Credit Union is pleased to offer AlertMe - a program that helps members protect themselves against identity theft.

AlertMe is a credit monitoring tool designed to provide you with early warning of potentially unauthorized credit activity. The service monitors your credit bureau files daily for activities such as new accounts, address changes, or reported delinquencies. Email notification of the activities gives you the opportunity to take corrective action, if needed. AlertMe also includes optional online access to credit reports and a yearly reminder to order a free credit report.

Enroll now! The enrollment process is very simple and easy. You can choose from either a monthly, quarterly or annual payment plan for this valuable service. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are available to answer any additional questions you may have.

Don't wait until thieves have your social security number and establish credit in your name. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years and thousands of dollars cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of a good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims of identity theft may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing, or cars, and even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit. AlertMe has you covered - enroll today!

Can You Pass the Test? FTC Challenges Consumer to Test Their Knowledge of ID Theft

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as nine million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods, from dumpster diving to phishing and/or skimming. Your best defense against identity theft, says the FTC, is awareness. Not only awareness of how information is stolen and what you can do to protect yours, but also awareness of the need to monitor your personal information to uncover any problems quickly, and awareness of what to do when you suspect your identity has been stolen.

Armed with the knowledge of how to protect yourself and take action, the FTC says you can make identity thieves' jobs much more difficult. The FTC challenges consumers to test their knowledge about identity theft by taking its OnGuard online quiz.

This short quiz allows consumers to choose between four different characters - Kristen, Jim, Eric or Alexis. When the quiz begins, the character you select is missing its facial features. With each question you answer correctly, you get to add a facial feature (i.e. eyes, nose, ears, etc.) The quiz tests your knowledge on such things as, "do you understand what identity theft is, how to protect yourself against identity theft, who to contact if you are a victim of identity theft, etc." At the end of the quiz, OnGuard refers consumers to www.onguardonline.gov, where they can obtain helpful tips on not only how to protect their personal information, but also how to guard against Internet fraud and secure their computer. The site offers information in English and Spanish.