Identity Theft
Protect Yourself, Be Vigilant
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.
Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years - and their hard-earned money - cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit.
Lost or Stolen Visa Debit or Credit Card
If your Visa Debit Card is lost or stolen, please call (800) 383-8000 . If your Visa Credit Card is lost or stolen, please call (866) 333-4740 . We do occasionally call to alert our members of suspicious activity on your card. We will NEVER ask for your card number over the phone.
Placing a Fraud Alert on your Credit Report
You have the right to ask that nationwide consumer credit reporting companies place "fraud alerts" in your file to let potential creditors and others know that you may be a victim of identity theft. A fraud alert can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you. It also may delay your ability to obtain credit. You may place a fraud alert in your file by calling just one of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies. As soon as that agency processes your fraud alert, it will notify the other two, which then also must place fraud alerts in your file.
An initial fraud alert stays in your file for at least 90 days. An extended alert stays in your file for seven years. To place either of these alerts, a consumer credit reporting company will require you to provide appropriate proof of your identity, which may include your Social Security number. If you ask for an extended alert, you will have to provide an identity theft report. An identity theft report includes a copy of a report you have filed with a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency. For more detailed information about the identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission website.
File a Complaint with the FTC
VIDEO
By filing your incident with the Federal Trade Commission , you’re contributing to a national database of identity theft data used by law enforcement officials across the country. The FTC will refer you to additional agencies and companies based on your individual experiences. To file a complaint, call the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline toll-free: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338). You can also file a complaint online at OnGuard Online, an informative site sponsored by the FTC and the Department of Homeland Security.
Recovery Plan
IdentityTheft.gov can help you report and recover from identity theft.
Contact Other Agencies
Depending on your situation, you may need to contact other agencies. If the bad guys used your driver’s license number, you’ll want to call your DMV or Secretary of State. Same goes for your Social Security number and the Social Security Administration.
