Protect your information!
Think before you share! Before you put your personal information online, be wise about Wi-Fi, what you post and who you share with. Shred personal information and pay close attention to your surroundings. After all, you’re protecting something important, your identity.
Click the link below for an interactive timeline of major data breaches that have created enormous Identity Theft concerns for each and every one of us.
http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/worlds-biggest-data-breaches-hacks/
Stay up-to-date on potential scam alerts. The more you know, the more precautions you can take.
- Newsletter 1 – Disposing Of Your Mobile Device
- Newsletter 2 – Phishers Send Fake Invoices
- Newsletter 3 – Asked To Pay By Gift Card? Don’t.
Take Control! Click here for additional tips to safeguard your identity
Be consistent and create a regular routine to be sure your identity is secure. Watch your bank account statements, credit cards statements and be sure to check your accounts online. Some of the signs of identity theft can be:
- Withdrawals from your bank account that you can’t explain - You don’t get your regular bills or statements.
- Debt collectors call you about debts that aren’t yours - You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report.
- Medical providers bill you for services you didn’t use.
- Medical providers bill you for services you didn’t use. A health plan won’t cover you because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.
- The IRS notifies you that more than one tax return was filed in your name, or that you have income from an employer you don’t work for.
- You get notice that your information was compromised by a data breach at a company where you do business or have an account.
Disposing Of Your Mobile Device
Your mobile device probably holds sensitive information like addresses and phone numbers, passwords, account numbers, email, voicemail, and text message logs. When getting rid of your old device, it’s important to take steps to help ensure this information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
First, try to use the factory reset. Many devices allow you to “wipe” your device and clear nearly all the information in its memory. Sometimes, this is called a “hard reset,” or “factory reset.” You may be able to save or transfer the information to your new device before you delete it from your old one. For detailed instructions on how to “wipe” your device, read your owner’s manual or check the website of your mobile provider or the device manufacturer.
Second, remove or erase SIM and SD cards. Many mobile devices store information on a SIM card or an external SD card as well as in the device’s internal memory. If you’re keeping your phone number, ask your mobile provider about transferring your SIM card to your new device. SD cards often contain photos and other sensitive information. Even when you “wipe” your device, your SIM card or SD cards may retain information about you. Remove them from your device or delete the data that’s stored on them.
CHECK TWICE - After you’ve deleted your personal information, it’s good to double-check to make sure it’s gone. Check your:
- phone book
- logs for both dialed and received calls
- voicemails
- sent and received emails and text messages
- downloads and other folders
- search histories
- personal photos
If you stored apps on your device, remove them and the data associated with them.
DISCARD WITH CARE - Once you have a “clean” phone, it’s up to you to decide what to do next. Recycling it is one option. Another option is to donate your device. Many organizations collect used mobile devices for charitable purposes. You also might decide to trade in your device for a credit toward a new one; resell it to a person or an organization; or just dispose of it altogether. If that’s your choice, keep the environment in mind.
Identity theft is a crime. As a member, you have access to Restoration Rescue®* - your Identity Theft Restoration Service. A theft of your identity, credit or personal information can be devastating. If it happens to you, your Identity Theft Restoration Team will work one-on-one with you providing comprehensive restoration service. Activate today*!
Source: www.ftc.gov
*Activation is required for your complimentary coverage. Please visit the Identity Theft Restoration Service section for complete Terms and Conditions. This information should not be used in lieu of legal advice. Not all plans available in all areas.
Phishers Send Fake Invoices
The FTC has recently heard that scammers are recycling an old phishing attempt. In this version, scammers, posing as a well-known tech company, email a phony invoice showing that you’ve recently bought music or apps from them. The email tells you to click on a link if you did not authorize the purchase. Stop – do not click on the link. That’s the new twist on an old scam.
More precisely, you just experienced a phishing attempt – that is, when a scammer uses fraudulent emails or texts, or copycat websites to get you to share valuable personal information. The scammers then use that information to commit fraud or identity theft.
Scammers also use phishing emails to get access to your computer or network – then they install programs like ransomware that can lock you out of important files on your computer.
Here are some tips to help keep your information secure:
Be suspicious if a business, government agency, or organization asks you to click on a link that then asks for your username or password or other personal data. Instead, type in the web address for the organization or call them. The link in the email may look right, but if you click it you may go to a copycat website run by a scammer.
Be cautious about opening attachments. A scammer could even pretend to be a friend or family member, sending messages with malware from a spoofed account.
Set your security software to update automatically, and back up your files to an external hard drive or cloud storage. Back up your files regularly and use security software you trust to protect your data.
Identity theft is a crime. As a member, you have access to Restoration Rescue®* - your Identity Theft Restoration Service. A theft of your identity, credit or personal information can be devastating. If it happens to you, your Identity Theft Restoration Team will work one-on-one with you providing comprehensive restoration service. Activate today*!
Source: www.ftc.gov
*Activation is required for your complimentary coverage. Please visit the Identity Theft Restoration Service section for complete Terms and Conditions. This information should not be used in lieu of legal advice. Not all plans available in all areas.
Asked To Pay By Gift Card? Don’t.
Has someone asked you to go get a gift card to pay for something? Lots of people have said they’ve been asked to pay with gift cards – by a caller claiming to be with the IRS, or tech support, or a so-called family member in need. If you’ve gotten a call like this, you know that the caller will then demand the gift card numbers and PIN. And, poof, your money is gone.
Scammers are good at convincing people there really is an emergency, so lots of people have made the trip to the Walmart or Target or CVS to buy gift cards to send these callers. And scammers love gift cards –it’s one of their favorite ways to get your money. These cards are like giving cash – and nearly untraceable, unless you act almost immediately.
Here’s the most important thing for you to know: anyone who demands payment by gift card is always, always, always a scammer. Try this gift card buying exercise out at home – especially when anyone asks you to pay with a gift card:
Q: Should I buy an iTunes, Google Play, Steam, Kroger, Walgreens, BestBuy, Amazon, CVS, Rite Aid or ANY OTHER gift card for someone who demands payment? For any reason?
A: NO.
Gift cards are for gifts, not payments. If you’ve bought a gift card and lost money to someone who might be a scammer, tell the company who issued the card. (The contact info might be on the card, but might require some research.)
Call or email iTunes or Amazon or whoever it was. Tell them their card was used in a scam. If you act quickly enough, they might be able to get your money back. But – either way –it’s important that they know what happened to you. And then please tell the FTC about your loss. Your report helps them try to shut the scammers down.
Identity theft is a crime. As a member, you have access to Restoration Rescue®* - your Identity Theft Restoration Service. A theft of your identity, credit or personal information can be devastating. If it happens to you, your Identity Theft Restoration Team will work one-on-one with you providing comprehensive restoration service. Activate today*!
Source: www.ftc.gov
*You are required to activate your complimentary coverage. Please visit the Identity Theft Restoration Service section and click to activate. This information should not be used in lieu of legal advice. Not all Financial Institutions offer this program. This program is only available to Financial Institution members who have selected this as an added benefit.