Information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft, Internet fraud and check scams.

Identity theft, Internet fraud/crimes and check scams are the fastest-growing crimes in the United States. Regardless of the scam – Internet, e-mail, telephone or check – predators’ ultimate goal is to steal your identity and your hard-earned money. The more you know, the better able you'll be to guard against becoming a victim.

Click on any link below to learn more:

Identity Theft
The effect of identity theft can be devastating, costing thousands of dollars and months or years to clean up the mess that thieves make of your good name and credit record. Would you know if someone was using your name to open accounts?

Internet Fraud
Internet fraud takes many forms – from fraudulent e-mails and online shopping/auction schemes to viruses, spyware and keylogging. Learn more to protect yourself.

Check Scams
There is no legitimate reason why anyone would give you a check or money order and ask you to wire money anywhere in return. Beware of this and other check scams.

Phone Scams
Who's calling you? Criminals use the phone to commit many different types of fraud, including sweepstakes and lottery frauds, loan fraud, buying club memberships, and credit card scams. Learn ways to recognize a phone scam and protect yourself from these types of schemes.

Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. The effect of identity theft can be devastating, costing thousands of dollars and months or years to clean up the mess that thieves make of your good name and credit record. Identity theft has become an American epidemic with a reported 27.3 million victims in the last 5 years (source: Federal Trade Commission). Some victims have lost job opportunities, been refused loans for education, housing or cars, or even been arrested for crimes they didn't commit.

What can I do to prevent identity theft?

Take these precautions to protect yourself from identity theft:

• Use caution when asked for personal information over the phone or Internet such as Social Security number and account or credit card information. Don't give out this information unless you are sure with whom you are dealing.
• Protect your Social Security number and the Social Security numbers of your children and other family members by not carrying them in your wallet.
• Report lost or stolen checks, credit or debit cards immediately. NASA Federal Credit Union will block payment on the check numbers or account numbers involved.
• Store cancelled checks, new checks and account statements in a safe place.
• Notify NASA Federal Credit Union of suspicious phone inquiries such as those asking for account information to "verify a statement" or "award a prize."
• Review your credit report at least once every year. Make sure all information is up-to-date and accurate.
• Memorize your PIN (Personal Identification Number) and refrain from writing it, your Social Security number or credit card number on a check.
• Tear up or shred any confidential documents including pre-approved credit offers to which you do not respond. Thieves can use these offers to assume your identity.
• Keep mail secure. Never mail bills or sensitive information from your home or unsecured mailboxes. Retrieve and review your mail promptly. Thieves may use the personal information contained in your mail to steal your identity.
• Review all account statements promptly to ensure accuracy
• Be aware of current scam tactics such as "phishing"

What is Identity Theft Shield^TM and how will it help me prevent identity theft?

You insure your car, your home and your life...why not insure your identity? With Identity Theft Shield^TM you can insure your identity for as little as $9.95 per month! When you enroll, you'll receive:

• Credit Report, Score and Anaylsis - receive a confidential Credit Smart Score analysis and an Experian Credit Report so you know where you stand from the beginning.
• Continual Credit Monitoring - you're notified when activity occurs on your credit report. Activity includes inquiries, new account openings, negative notations, address change and bankruptcy or lien notations.
• Restoration by Licensed Investigators - trained experts restore your name and credit should you fall victim to identity theft. Restoration includes fraud alert notifications and proactive searches of applicable local and national databases on your behalf.

With Identity Theft Shield^TM, you will have the peace of mind that if you fall victim to identity theft, not only will your credit report be restored, so will your identity. There's no complicated do-it-yourself restoration kit, rather you have a team of dedicated experts working on your behalf to restore your complete identity to its former status. Enroll today!

How can NASA Federal Credit Union help me prevent identity theft?

At NASA Federal Credit Union, we're dedicated to giving you the information you need to help protect your identity and recover from identity theft if it occurs. We also offer electronic services that help protect you from falling victim to identity theft, including:

• eBranch Online Banking
- secure 24-hour access to your accounts to help you montior account activity from anywhere you have an Internet connection.
• eStatements- receive your account statements online to reduce receiving your sensitive financial information in an unsecure mailbox. Plus, save and store your eStatements on our secure network or to your own computer to reduce potentially unsafe paper statement storage.
• Online Bill Pay- pay your bills online to reduce the chance that theives can use your account information from mail they steal from mailboxes.

Additionally, you get our 100% Secure Guarantee! We are so confident that your NASA Federal Credit Union accounts are secure and protected online, we guarantee $0 liabilty for any unauthorized activity originating from eBranch, including Online Bill Pay. We use the latest technology, including backup files, virus detection and eradication software, firewalls and other computer software and hardware to protect against unauthorized access or alterations to your personal and account information.

What should I do if I suspect identity theft?

If you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft, you should take the following steps:

• Place a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting any one of the three major credit bureaus:
• TransUnion..................................1-800-525-6285
• Experian......................................1-888-397-3742
• Equifax........................................1-800-680-7289
• Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Get copies of all transactions and applications on the accounts
• File a police report and submit a copy to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.
• File your complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or call the FTC's identity theft hotline at 1-877-IDTheft (1-877-438-4338). Request and file the ID Theft Affidavit.
• Notify NASA Federal Credit Union. If you suspect that someone has had unauthorized access to your account with us, or access to personal identifying information such as your Social Security number or credit card information, please contact us immediately at 301-249-1800 or 1-888-NASA-FCU (1-888-627-2328) so we can check for unusual activity on your account and/or change any account PINs.

Where can I learn more about identity theft?

• Visit the FTC national resource for identity theft site at www.ftc.gov/idtheft.
• Download (.pdf file) an informative brochure provided by BALANCE, our partner for financial education and counseling.
• The Credit Union National Association provides ID Theft Coach, an interactive web site that coaches you on safeguarding your personal and financial information from fraud and identity theft.

Internet Fraud

Visit our online Security articles page to learn more about Internet scams and how to protect yourself.

Check Scams

Fake check scams could cost you thousands of dollars. It all starts when someone gives you a realistic-looking check or money order and asks you to wire them money in return. It's phony and so is the person's story; but that may take weeks, even months to discover. Guess what? You're ultimately responsible for the checks or money orders you deposit, even if they're counterfeit. Learn more about check scams so you don't fall victim.

Phone Scams

Telephone scammers are good at what they do. They say anything and target everyone to try to cheat people out of money. They may call you and imply that they work for a company you trust, or they may send direct mail or place ads to convince you to call them. Learn more about common phone scams and how to avoid them.

Related Links:

• FTC Money Matters Site - A comprehensive website to help you tackle money issues head-on. Topics include managing money, dealing with debt, scam information, credit card help, mortgage tips and career changes.
• FTC Identity Theft Site - The one-stop, national resource that provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.
• www.fraud.org - Home of the National Consumers League's Fraud Center