Beware of Phishing Scam Phone Calls

Date: February 10th, 2007 - Author: University Credit Union

Recently a UCU member received a phone call from someone claiming to be calling from University Credit Union inquiring about a withdrawal from the member's account and needing to confirm information about the withdrawal.

The member reported that they left a toll free phone number, however, the member chose to use the number always dialed when contacting UCU. It turned out the original phone call was a scam.

Unfortunately, these incidents happen all to often to people all around the world. It's important to protect your financial information. Below are some tips to prevent identity theft:

• Before revealing personal financial information, find out whom you're dealing with, how the information will be used, and if it will be shared with others. Remember, University Credit Union will never contact you via email asking for your personal account information.

• Only give your SSN when it's absolutely necessary. Ask if you can use another identifier, such as a driver's license, instead. And don't carry your social security card in your wallet unless you it that day.

• Keep items with personal information in a safe place and either shred them or tear them up when you don't need them anymore. Dispose of checking copies and statements, receipts with a credit card imprint, insurance forms, expired credit cards, savings and investment account statements, and credit card offers the same way.

• Order a copy of your credit report from each credit-reporting agency every year; there may be a fee. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act) of 2003, requires credit bureaus to provide a free report annually to consumers who request a copy.

• Verify that your credit report is accurate and that it includes only activities that you've authorized.

• Look over your credit card and credit union statements each month for unauthorized charges or suspicious activity.

• Photocopy financial cards and insurance cards you carry in your wallet (front and back) and keep copies in a safe place; if your wallet is lost or stolen, you can promptly and accurately report the loss.

• Consider the information your supplying on entries to win a car, shopping spree, and so on. To win, information such as your age or income range is usually not necessary.

• Contact the U.S. Postal Service if you don't receive mail for a few days. You want to confirm your mail - with, say all those credit card offers - hasn't been diverted by a thief filling out a change of address form in your name.

Useful Resources:

FTC Brochure - ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name

FTC identity theft website

Identity Theft Resource Center

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