Identity Theft

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft: Tips and Best Practices

In today’s digital world, it’s super important to watch out for scams so you can keep your accounts and your personal information safe. Below are some tips to help you.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is scams people use to trick people into giving out important information like passwords, credit card info, bank account information and social security numbers. Scammers use fake emails, texts or websites that look real to steal this information from you.

Here are some essential tips and best practices to guard against identity theft:

Monitor Your Accounts Regularly: Use caution when you receive emails requesting personal information or wanting you to take immediate action on something. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
Secure Your Personal Information: Before providing any personal information online, check that you are interacting with a trusted and legit website. Look for secure connections (https://) and check that the sender’s email address is valid.
Use Strong and Unique Passwords: Create complex passwords that include a combination of letters, numbers and special characters. Do not use the same password for all of your online accounts. If one account with that password gets hacked, any of your online accounts with that password can be hacked.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Whenever possible, enable MFA for your online accounts. MFA requires a password and one more way to login to an account – like emailing or texting you a code. A scammer would need both pieces of information to access your account.
Don’t give in to urgency: Scammer often use urgency to trick you into making quick decisions. If you receive an unexpected request for personal information or a payment, and the sender wants it now, contact the company that is supposedly making that request to see if it’s legit. If the scammer calls you, hang up and Google the phone number to contact that company directly.
Shred Sensitive Documents: Before discarding documents containing personal information, such as bank statements or credit card offers, ensure they are properly shredded. This prevents dumpster divers from gaining access to your sensitive data.
Regularly Check Your Credit Reports: Obtain and review your credit reports from the major credit bureaus annually. Look for any errors, unauthorized accounts, or suspicious activity. Promptly report any discrepancies to the credit bureau and your credit union.
Educate Yourself: Stay informed about the latest identity theft techniques and scams. Be aware of common tactics used by identity thieves, such as phishing, pretexting, or social engineering. Regularly visit our website and resources for updated information on protecting your identity.
Protect Your Devices: Regularly update your operating system, web browsers and antivirus software so you have the latest security patches and enhancements. This will help protect you against known weaknesses or glitches by phishers.
Report Suspicious Activity Immediately: If you suspect any unauthorized access to your accounts or become a victim of identity theft, contact your credit union right away. The sooner you act, the faster steps can be taken to minimize potential damage and protect your identity.