ID Theft Center
What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is when someone uses your name, social or other identifying information without your permission.
With a scam, the individuals are attempting to gain your personal information from you to later commit identity theft. There are many different ways to attempt this:
How Do Identity Thieves Get My Information?
Phishers/Smishers and Spoofers, Oh My : These folks create a replica of an existing webpage, text message or email to fool you into submitting your personal, financial or password data. With phishing, you receive an e-mail that appears to originate from Hopewell Federal. It may even appear urgent and ask for your immediate attention by clicking on a link within the email or text message.
Pharming : This is where you are redirected to an illegitimate website instead of the website that you want.
Vishing: This is short for voice phishing. In this scam, consumers receive a phone call or e-mail, directing them to call a phone number and they are asked to verify sensitive information.
Spamming: Spammers send unsolicited emails to huge mailing lists and they may contain viruses or hackers and advertisements. These include those you just won the Canadian Lottery scams.
Good Ol' Fashioned Dumpster Diving : Thieves continue to dig through your trash and steal mail from your mailbox to steal your identity.
New Scams Happen Daily : Let's face it, in this day and age; someone is always coming up with a new cyber technique to steal your information. They use new ways to attempt to con you into opening messages and entering your information.
Hopewell Federal will never send you e-mails saying we need you to update your information to keep your account or debit/credit cards from being blocked. Please, please never reply to e-mail from a link, sent to you by e-mail. If you receive an e-mail and you think it may be legitimate and want to ensure services are not stopped, by all means, call us or e-mail us from the phone number you usually use.
Hopewell Federal Resources:
- www.hopewellfcu.org
- info@hopewellfcu.org
- 740-522-8311
What Do I Do If I'm a Victim of Identity Theft?
If a thief has used your personal information such as your name, social security number, date of birth, address and/or identifying information to commit fraud such as opening a credit card, obtaining a loan, gaining access to your established financial accounts, obtain a cell phone service or commit a crime, we recommend you take the following four steps as soon as possible. Plus, keep records of everything you do and everyone you talk to.
- Place a FRAUD alert on your credit report and review your credit reports. Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to contact ONE of the three credit bureaus, to place it on all three, as they are required to report alerts to each other.
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 www.equifax.com
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 - Experian: 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TV 75013 - TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 www.transunion.com
Fraud Victim Assistance Division
P.O.Box 6790
Fullerton, VA 92834-6790
What Is a Fraud Alert?
There are two types of fraud alerts: an initial alert and an extended alert.
- An Initial Alert stays on your credit report for 90 days. You may ask that an initial fraud alert be placed on your credit report if you suspect you have been or are about to be a victim of identity theft.
- An Extended Alert stays on your credit report for seven years. You can have an extended alert placed on your credit report if you've been a victim of identity theft and you provide the credit bureau with an identity theft report. When a business sees the alert on your credit report, they MUST verify your identity before issuing the new credit. Remember to keep all contact information in your alerts current so that you can be reached for verification.
What Is an Identity Theft Report?
An Identity Theft Report may have two parts:
- Part One is a copy of a report filed with a local, state or federal law enforcement agency, like the local police department, the State Attorney General, the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, The FTC, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
- Part Two of an identity theft report depends on the policies of the business that sent the information to the credit bureau. They might require you to fill out paperwork with them such as an affidavit of fraud.
- Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company. Follow up in writing and include copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. It's important to notify credit card companies and financial institutions in writing. Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when. Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures.
- File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Then get a copy of the police report or at the very least, the number of the report. It can help you deal with creditors who need proof of the crime.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation, track down identity thieves and stop them. The FTC can refer victims' complaints to other government agencies and companies for further action as well as investigate companies for violations of laws the agency enforces. You can file a complain with the FTC using the online complaint form found on their website, https://ftccompalintassistant.gov/ or call the FTC's identity theft hotline toll-free: 1-877-ID THEFT (438-4338) TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.