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VSECU’s Top 12 Ways to Protect Yourself from Fraud, Scams and ID Theft

  1. First rule of thumb: If it’s good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Be watchful — even suspicious! Thieves are always devising new ways to steal your money. Keep your eyes and ears open to fraud alerts and warnings.

  2. Never give out your personal information to anyone unless you have initiated the contact. Please note: VSECU will never contact you to ask for your account number or other personal information.

  3. If possible, do not carry with you personal information, such as your social security card or credit cards you rarely use. Store documents with personal information in a safe deposit box or locked away in a secure place.

  4. Report lost or stolen checks, debit cards or credit cards to   your financial institution or card issuer immediately.

  5. Shred anything bearing personal information before disposal. This includes unused credit card or account applications.

  6. Do not respond to a notice that you’ve won a lottery or contest that you’ve never entered. (Refer to Rule #1)

  7. Read your account statements thoroughly and monitor    your VSECU accounts and credit card accounts online. Report suspicious activity immediately.

  8. Check your free credit report from all three credit bureaus at  www.annualcreditreport.com. Report any errors or suspicious activity immediately.

  9. Watch your mailbox! Retrieve your mail as soon after delivery as possible, and mail bill payments that contain   checks and account numbers from a U.S. Postal Service collection box.
      
  10. Be aware of the people who surround you when you use the ATM or  a computer in a public place or pay at a retailer or restaurant with a debit or credit card. They could be noting passwords, PINs, account numbers, and other personal information.

  11. Never share your passwords that give access to your accounts or other personal information. Try to memorize your passwords, but if you must write them down, store them in a protected place (NOT on your computer).

  12. Know that clever internet thieves will send  fake e-mails or instant messages to direct you to web sites that resemble legitimate web sites, tricking you into giving your personal information. This is called “phishing.” Don’t take the bait!