Identity Theft Checklist

Personal Identity Information

• Keep all identification and financial documents in a safe and private place
• Provide personal information only when:
  1. - You know how it will be used
  2. - You are certain it won't be shared
  3. - You initiated contact and know who you're dealing with
• Request a vacation hold if you can't pick up your mail
• Deposit outgoing mail in the post office collection boxes or at your local post office
• Remove mail from your mailbox promptly
• Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work
• Memorize your Social Security Number rather than carrying your Social Security Card
• Do not have your Social Security Number or driver license number printed on your checks
• Review your Social Security Annual Statement for accuracy
• Provide your Social Security Number only when necessary and to those you absolutely trust
• Before revealing your Social Security Number, ask:
  1. - Why your number is needed?
  2. - How your number will be used?
  3. - What happens if you refuse?

Credit Card and ATM/Debit Cards

• Carry only those cards you really need
• Shred all statements and pre-approved credit card offers
• Photocopy both sides of your credit cards so you have all the account numbers, expiration dates and phone numbers and keep the copies in a safe place
• Cancel unused credit card accounts
• Be aware of people behind you at the ATM or anywhere else you swipe your card
• If you give your credit card or debit card to someone for a transaction, watch them swipe it and inspect the receipt for accuracy
• Know your billing cycles and contact creditors if bills don't arrive on time
• Examine the charges on your credit card statement every month

Checking Accounts

• Know where your checkbook is at all times
• Print firmly and use permanent ink when writing checks
• Check your account statement for fraudulent activity - With TCU Internet Banking, you can check your account whenever and as often as you like.
• Do not give your checking account number unless you know the company requesting the information and understand why the information is necessary

Computer

• Update virus protection software periodically and after every new virus alert is announced
• Do not download files or open hyperlinks sent from people you don't know
• Use a firewall program to prevent your computer from being accessible to hackers
• Use a secure browser to guard the security of your online transactions
• Enter personal and financial information only when there is a "lock" icon on the browser's status bar and look for URL to read "https" versus "http"
• If you must store personal and financial information on your computer:
  1. - Make all passwords hard to guess by using complex combinations of numbers and upper and lower case letters
  2. - Don't use an automatic log-in feature
  3. - Always log off when you're finished
• Before disposing of a computer, delete personal information using a "wipe" utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive

Credit Reports

• At least annually, check your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) for fraudulent activity
• Dispute inaccurate information immediately

Sign up for TCU eStatements

At TCU you can receive eStatements online through TCU Internet Banking. Your account statements will no longer have to sit in your mailbox waiting for you to pick them up! eStatements are safe and secure. To register for eStatements, log in to Internet Banking and click on "eStatements". Once you register for eStatements, you will no longer receive paper statements. Contact a TCU Representative for more details.

Call (800) 552-4745 for more information or to answer any questions or concerns.