Identity Theft and Fraud Prevention

• After someone steals your wallet, purse or mail.
• By stealing personnel records from employers.
• By pretending to be financial institutions or businesses and sending spam email (called phishing) or pop-up messages in an attempt to get you to reveal your personal information.
• Identity thieves will also rummage through the trash at your home or workplace looking for bills or other documents with your personal information on it.

• Review your credit reports. You can do this for free annually! Visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228, which were established to handle consumer requests by the consumer reporting companies Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
• Carefully guard your personal information and be selective about 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. 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.

• If your bank accounts have been compromised, immediately notify those Financial Institution(s). Make a note for your file of what Institution was contacted, who you talked to and the date/time your call was made.
• Place a verbal password on your accounts to prevent thieves from calling in and finding out more about your financial transactions.
• Close or transfer those accounts that have been compromised or tampered with to a new account number.
• Request that any account that was fraudulently opened in your name be closed immediately.
• Place a Fraud Alert on your Credit Report. You can do this by contacting the Credit Bureaus - please see important contact numbers listed on this page.
• Request a copy of your Credit Reports and review them carefully. Question any unknown activity and report disputes in writing.
• File a police report and maintain a copy in your file for future reference.
• File a report with the Federal Trade Commission. You can do this online via ftc.gov
• Keep an eye out for future attempts. Identity Thieves often will lay low for months and then strike again, hoping to catch you off guard.

 

Skimmers at the Pump

Summer break has many of us traveling in, out, and around the state for vacation or day trips to one of Arkansas’ many lakes. In order to get to around, we spend a lot of time at the gas station filling up our vehicle for the trip. Gas stations are exceptionally busy this time of year, and that means thieves are at work to get your card information.

A skimmer is a magnetic device that attaches to the outside of a gas pump or ATM that allows the thief to obtain your card information. All the thief has to do is come back to the terminal and pick up the skimmer containing a file of all the stolen card information. Then cloned cards can be created to steal your money.

Even with an EMV chip card, this can still happen. Since most gas terminals are not EMV enabled, your card still uses the magnetic strip data.

The Federal Trade Commission published a scam alert June 22, 2017 on how to avoid being a victim of skimmers. You can read the full article here Scam Alert regarding skimmers of gas pumps.

Inspect BEFORE you pump!

Look at the gas pump before you insert your card. If the panel has been opened, the label will show void.
Look at the card reader and even wiggle it before putting your card in. If it moves, report it to the attendant immediately and use a different pump.
Telcoe urges all members to closely monitor all financial accounts and be observant and aware of anywhere you insert your card.