CES Credit Union, Inc. - Identity Theft Guide

Identity Theft Guide

To report lost or stolen CES Credit Union cards:
To report lost or stolen cards when CES Credit Union is not open, please call these numbers: For ATM and debit cards, including the MasterMoney Check Card, please call 1-800-523-4175.For CES Credit Union issued VISA cards that are lost or stolen, please call 1-866-604-0381 or 1-727-570-4881. In any case, also call CES Credit Union the next day we are open and report your loss again.

Fraud Alert: Phone and Text Scam

CES Credit Union and other financial institutions have occasionally received reports of members and non-members receiving a message (either by text & land-line) asking the recipient to call a phone number regarding their CES Credit Union card. The message says their accounts with CES Credit Union are suspended until the cardholder contacts a number not related to CES Credit Union. Then the cardholder is asked to enter the card 16 digit number into an automated system. This is an illegal phishing scam and do not reply even if you have an account with our credit union. (If you do contact them and give your account information, please contact CES Credit Union immediately. Otherwise, don't call. The scammers then know they have a possible future victim at your phone number.)

The calls appear to be random. No data breach has occurred. These scammers blanket an area randomly hoping to find one or two victims that fall for the scheme. Most people getting these calls are not CES Credit Union members (some as far away as Marysville), and the credit union has no records for any of these numbers.

No reputable financial institution will ever call you and ask you for your account number. If you are concerned, call your financial institution only by numbers listed in the phone book and not by numbers given by the message or the e-mail.

FBI has scam awareness resource for members FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) maintains a list on its Web site of today’s common fraud schemes, along with tips for detecting and avoiding the scams. The site includes information about telemarketing fraud, the Nigerian Letter scam, identity fraud, advance fee schemes, health insurance fraud, and more. See the FBI’s Fraud Schemes Web site at the link below.
http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.htm

FBI warns of new jury scam (July 20, 2006)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warns of a new scam involving jury service to obtain people’s personal information. Individuals identifying themselves as U.S. court employees have been contacting citizens by phone and advising them that they have been selected for jury duty. These individuals ask citizens to verify names and social security numbers and then ask for their credit card numbers. If the request is refused, citizens are threatened with fines. The U.S. judicial system does not contact people via telephone and ask for personal information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or credit card numbers. Citizens are warned to not provide any personal or confidential information to individuals making such calls. Recipients of such calls should contact their local FBI field office. For more information about this scam and to find your local FBI office, visit the link below.
http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel05/092805.htm

Don't Pay for Your Credit Report...
Use the AnnualCreditReport.com website
This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com . Other advertised websites often charge for a credit monitoring service to get your "free" credit report.

Commonly Asked Questions About Your Credit
From the AnnualCreditReport.com website
This website answers many common questions about your credit report, safety, fraud and correcting your report. You can go to the AnnualCreditReport.com website and click "Frequently Asked Questions" or go to this site: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq

How do I request a "fraud alert" be placed on my file?

You have the right to ask that nationwide consumer credit reporting companies place "fraud alerts" in your file to let potential creditors and others know that you may be a victim of identity theft. A fraud alert can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you. It also may delay your ability to obtain credit. You may place a fraud alert in your file by calling just one of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies. As soon as that agency processes your fraud alert, it will notify the other two, which then also must place fraud alerts in your file.

Equifax: 1-877-576-5734; www.alerts.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com/fraud
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com

An initial fraud alert stays in your file for at least 90 days. An extended alert stays in your file for seven years. To place either of these alerts, a consumer credit reporting company will require you to provide appropriate proof of your identity, which may include your Social Security number. If you ask for an extended alert, you will have to provide an identity theft report. An identity theft report includes a copy of a report you have filed with a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency. For more detailed information about the identity theft report, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Tips to Help Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
If you applied for a credit card and didn't receive it when expected, call the financial institution.
Sign new credit cards immediately--before someone else does.
Memorize your Social Security number and passwords. Don't use your date of birth as your password and don't record passwords on papers you carry with you.
Never leave transaction receipts at ATM machines, on counters at financial institutions, or at gasoline pumps.
Don't carry your Social Security card or birth certificate--leave them in a secure location.
Don't disclose credit card or other financial account numbers on a Web site unless the site offers a secure transaction. Click this site to find out what is a secure transaction... http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/securetrans.htm
- Closely monitor the expiration dates on your credit cards and contact the issuer if you don't receive a replacement prior to the expiration date.
Beware of mail or telephone solicitations that offer prizes or awards--especially if the offeror asks you for personal information or financial account numbers. Whatever you do, don't click the links provided in an unsolicited email requesting personal information!
Match your credit card receipts against your monthly bills and check your monthly financial statements for accuracy.
Watch for your monthly financial statements and bills. If you don't get them when expected, contact the sender.

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, this website offers many helpful links... http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/ifvictim.htm

Other Good Resources:

California Attorney General website: http://caag.state.ca.us/idtheft/tips.htm

Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm

Workshops and Classes for the Community
We have several workshop and class topics to bring to your school, organization or workplace. Our no-cost programs have been well-received and have presented to hundreds across our market area.
Consider these topics...

Preventing Fraud & identity Theft
Buying a Used Car
Your Credit Score & How to Improve Your Rating
Checkbook Basics (including balancing a checkbook)
The Importance of Savings
Or we can customize a class to your specific needs...

Call us at (740) 397-1136 ext 108 or email us at for more information.

Avoid Credit Offers on the Phone
The National Do-Not-Call registry can help prevent unwanted solicitor calls. Register your home, business and cell phones at www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222