Odds And Ends

TAKE CHARGE - FIGHTING BACK AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT

The Federal Trade Commission's comprehensive guide for victims of identity theft to find out how you can prevent yourself and your loved ones from falling victim to these crimes

Click Here if you think you are a victim of Identity Theft

A one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.

These articles were written for consumer awareness by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They are provided with permission from the FTC. More information on Consumer Protection is available on their website at www.ftc.gov

You Are Entitled To Three Free Credit Reports Per Year

FTC Free Credit Report Facts

PreScreened Credit Offers

Recognizing Counterfeit Check Scams

Recognizing Foreclosure Rescue Scams

Emergency Preparedness: Protecting Documents

Deceptive Mortgage Ads

New Program Protects Military From Fraud

Protecting Your Organization From Fraud

Protecting Yourself From Fundraising Frauds

Social Networking Advice For Teens & Tweens

Be Safe Online

Fight Identity Theft

Parents Guide To Social Networking

Your Computer: Part Of The Zombie Army

Tips For Protecting Laptops From Thieves

Never send your personal information via e-mail: E-mail is not a secure medium and should not be trusted to protect your personal information. Personal information may include: full name, address, account numbers, passwords, date of birth, and Social Security number.
Please contact 1st Community Credit Union directly in person or by phone at 608-269-8121, 608-786-2420, or 1-888-706-1228 if you have questions about your credit union account, debit card, credit card, etc.
If you receive an e-mail or phone call from a business or an individual claiming to be affiliated with 1st Community Credit Union, do not give out any personal information.
1st Community Credit Union will never ask you to verify your personal information through e-mail.
Question any suspicious or "official-looking" emails; be especially alert to those requesting personal information to "claim a prize" or "verify information", and those that offer cash for completing a survey. Never enter any of your Credit Union account numbers in response to an e-mail you receive.
Be cautious when clicking links inside e-mails. Unsolicited may include links to fake websites that have been set up to look like a legitimate website, but that contain harmful programs used to "capture" keystrokes when you enter user names, account numbers, and passwords.
Never respond to job offers via e-mail: This is one of the most prevalent scams in the past couple of years. The scammers send you fraudulent checks along with an "assignment" to cash the check, keep a small portion of the funds, and wire the remainder to a third party (the assignment may also include additional instructions to make it appear to be a legitimate employment opportunity). Since the check is completely fraudulent, you will end up paying back the full amount of the check to your financial institution and the third party that receives the wire (the scammer's alias) gets to keep the money free and clear. If something sounds too good to be true, it is probably a scam.
If you receive an unsolicited check in the mail, bring it directly to 1st CCU, along with a copy of any correspondance that accompanies the check. We will help you determine if the check is fraudulent.