Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, address, Social Security number (SSN), bank or credit card account number, or other identifying information without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes.

How Does it Occur?

Identity thieves may use a variety of low- and high-tech methods to gain access to your personally identifying information. For example:

• They get information from businesses by stealing records or hacking into the organization's computers.
• They rummage through your trash, the trash of businesses, or dumps in a practice known as "dumpster diving."
• They steal credit and debit card account numbers as your card is processed by using a special information storage device in a practice known as "skimming."
• They steal wallets and purses containing identification and credit and bank cards.
• They steal mail, including bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks, or tax information.
• They complete a "change of address form" to divert mail to another location.
• They steal personal information from your home.
• They scam information from you, often through email, by posing as a legitimate business person or government official.

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Ways to Prevent Identity Theft

Although no one is completely immune, you can take action to avoid having your identity stolen. The following are a few suggestions on how to best protect your name and your good credit:

• Carefully guard your personal information and be selective with whom you share it. Personal information includes such things as your name, address, phone number, driver's license number, social security number, credit card numbers, birth date, and mother's maiden name.
• Carry as few credit cards and forms of ID as possible. Typically, there's no reason to carry your social security card in your wallet.
• Keep a list or photocopies of all information you carry in your wallet or purse. Store this information in a secure location.
• Shred documents that contain your personal information and account numbers before you throw them away. This includes unsolicited credit card applications.
• Don't print your driver's license or social security number on your checks.
• Examine your credit report from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies at least once a year.
• Never give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know who you're dealing with.
• Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help or are having service work done in your home.
• Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If you're planning to be away from home and can't pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 to request a vacation hold. The Postal Service will hold your mail at your local post office until you can pick it up or are home to receive it.
• Place passwords on your credit card, credit union and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers. When opening new accounts, you may find that many businesses still have a line on their applications for your mother's maiden name. Use a password instead.
• Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.
• Be wary of promotional scams. Identity thieves may use phony offers to get you to give them your personal information.
• When ordering new checks, pick them up at the Credit Union, rather than having them sent to your home mailbox.

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What to do if You Are a Victim of Identity Theft

If you suspect that your personal information has been used to commit fraud or theft, take the following steps right away:

• Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus below and tell them you have been a victim of identity theft. Ask them to place a “fraud alert” in your file, as well as a “victim statement.”
  • Equifax – 1-800-525-6285
  • Experian – 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
  • TransUnion – 1-800-680-7289
• Contact Northwest Resource, any other financial institutions you use, and your creditors to protect your accounts and close them if necessary. You may want to report stolen checks to the following agencies:
  • National Scan Check Fraud Service: 1-843-571-2143
  • SCAN: 800-710-262-7771
  • TeleCheck: 800-710-9898
  • CrossCheck: 707-685-0551
  • Equifax Check Systems: 800-437-5120
  • International Check Services: 800-526-5380
  • ChexSystems: 800-428-9623
  • CheckRite: 800-766-2748
  • Privacy Council: 202-829-3660
• File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Keep a copy of the report because you may need it to validate your claims to creditors.
• File a complaint with the FTC online at the FTC identity theft site or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4388).
• Report stolen mail to your local postal inspector at 503-279-2060.
• Report your incident to the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271.

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Fraud Alerts

Craig's List Ads Targeting Credit Union Members

(1/6/2010) An advertisement on Craig’s List is seeking to recruit current members of credit unions. The ad wants current credit union members to contact the owner of the advertisement and allow ineligible people to join the credit unions through the current member. The owner of the ad is offering up to $500. See a sample of the posting.

This is a scam! Do not ever give (sell) your name and account number to a stranger.

SMiSing (text message) Scam

(7/14/2009) Some members have reported that they are receiving text messages on their cell phone to call 888-852-2613. When the number is called a pre-recorded, computerized voice indicates that the caller has reached the Credit Union Consumer Alert Banking and Security Center. The message goes on to say that phishing alerts are increasing and as a general rule consumers should be careful.

As the message continues, it indicates that as a security measure we need to make sure you are in possession of your credit cards and that your credit union account is not compromised. The message states that the caller is required to run a brief verification process and failure to do so will result in financial penalties or suspension of account. It further states that deliberate wrong inputs will be indicted and prosecuted.

This is a scam. Do not give out your personal and private information. If you receive one of these messages, please call us immediately at 503-220-2592.

SMiShing Attack

(2/09) Three Oregon credit unions have reported an identical SMiShing* scam in which their members and nonmembers are receiving text messages purportedly from the credit union. The text has the name of the credit unions and indicates it is URGENT and states CALL TOLL FREE 888-767-7682.

The following is some language from the machine after calling the provided 800 number:
“Welcome to general protection department (Female electronic voice). We will be asking you to provide 3 pieces of information. You will use phone keypad for entire process
16 digit number followed by pound key including credit card number and 3 additional digits”

The 800 number has been disabled, but please watch out for this type of fraud.

* SMiShing is a phishing attack sent by Short Message Service (SMS). SMS is a service that allows the transmission of short messages (AKA text messages) between mobile phones and handheld devices.

VISA Phone Scams

Thieves may attempt to trick you into releasing sensitive information via phone. The scammer may speak quickly or attempt to confuse you. It is important to remember that businesses will never request information that they should already have, and that personal information should never be provided by phone or email.

Often phone scammers will pose as a VISA security representative, calling to verify unusual charges. The scammer will request that you provide card information, including the card number, expiration date, and security code for verification.

Our VISA fraud department may call to verify recent purchases but will never ask for any card information as they already have it. If you are concerned that you are not speaking with an actual VISA representative, hang up and call us at 503-220-2592.

Scammers may also pose as VISA representatives soliciting cardholders because they have won a reward or prize. The caller will request card information for verification. VISA and NRFCU do not solicit cardholders.

Fraudulent Inheritance Scheme Email Claims to be from United States Department of State

(12/14/07) Criminals have added posing as the United States Department of State to their array of frauds. Fraudulent emails are being distributed claiming to have verified an inheritance from another country belonging to the victim. To make these emails appear legitimate, they contain information taken from the Department of State's web site.

The email contains a lengthy explanation of how the Department of State has verified that there is nothing fraudulent about the inheritance and names numerous international organizations which are involved in monitoring the transaction to prevent fraud. After using false assurances to gain a victim's confidence that this fraud scheme is actually a legitimate inheritance, the criminals send a request for a payment which the criminals claim is required due to a discrepancy in the currency conversion or for taxes. This email purports to be from a foreign governmental agency. The criminals go so far as to follow up by advising the victim not to contact law enforcement or governmental authorities but to continue to communicate with the criminals' email accounts.

THIS EMAIL IS A FRAUD.

Be cautious when responding to requests or special offers delivered through unsolicited email:

• The Department of State does not make unsolicited contact with individuals regarding matters such as inheritances.
• The email addresses used in these frauds are spoofed versions of a Department of State email address.
• Cyber criminals will use the names of various government agencies or companies in their emails to attempt to secure new victims using the same scheme.
• Cyber criminals use the name of a government agency or law firm or use the identity of a government official, business person or reputable attorney to add an air of legitimacy to a scam.
• Cyber criminals claim that government agencies such as the FBI or the IRS will prosecute or investigate people who do not participate in their scheme as a form of intimidation.
  

Email scam posing as CUNA

(11/5/07) CUNA (The Credit Union National Association) is aware of new phishing emails that are circulating. These emails request consumers to call a phone number or click a link due to a compromise of a credit card account. You should not respond to this message. CUNA is the trade association for credit unions in the U.S. CUNA does not maintain any type of customer/member financial information. Additionally, your financial institution would never request personal identification information over the phone via an email solicitation. If you did respond to this email, you should contact your financial institution directly using the local phone number provided by your financial institution.

Fake Check Scams

Fake check scams are clever ploys to steal your money. You can avoid becoming a victim by recognizing how the scam works and understanding your responsibility for the checks that you deposit in your account. Learn more about fake check scams at www.fraud.org.

International Lottery Scams

"Congratulations!
You may receive a certified check for up to $400,000 U.S. CASH!
One Lump sum! Tax free! Your odds to WIN are 1-6."

"Hundreds of U.S. citizens win every week using our secret system!
You can win as much as you want!"

Sound great? It's a fraud.

Scam operators — often based in Canada — are using the telephone and direct mail to entice U.S. consumers to buy chances in high-stakes foreign lotteries from as far away as Australia and Europe. These lottery solicitations violate U.S. law, which prohibits the cross-border sale or purchase of lottery tickets by phone or mail.

Still, federal law enforcement authorities are intercepting and destroying millions of foreign lottery mailings sent or delivered by the truckload into the U.S. And consumers, lured by prospects of instant wealth, are responding to the solicitations that do get through — to the tune of $120 million a year, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The Federal Trade Commission says most promotions for foreign lotteries are likely to be phony. Many scam operators don't even buy the promised lottery tickets. Others buy some tickets, but keep the "winnings" for themselves. In addition, lottery hustlers use victims' bank account numbers to make unauthorized withdrawals or their credit card numbers to run up additional charges.

The FTC has these words of caution for consumers who are thinking about responding to a foreign lottery:

• If you play a foreign lottery — through the mail or over the telephone — you're violating federal law.
• There are no secret systems for winning foreign lotteries. Your chances of winning more than the cost of your tickets are slim to none.
• If you purchase one foreign lottery ticket, expect many more bogus offers for lottery or investment "opportunities." Your name will be placed on "sucker lists" that fraudulent telemarketers buy and sell.
• Keep your credit card and bank account numbers to yourself. Scam artists often ask for them during an unsolicited sales pitch.

The bottom line, according to the FTC: Ignore all mail and phone solicitations for foreign lottery promotions. If you receive what looks like lottery material from a foreign country, give it to your local postmaster.

To report telemarketing fraud of any kind, contact your state Attorney General.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

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• BALANCE Financial Fitness