Workers Credit Union

Six Ways to Safeguard Your Identity

1. Before revealing personal identifying information, find out how it will be used and if it will be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice about the use of your information: Can you choose to have it kept confidential?
2. Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if bills do not arrive on time.
3. Give your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identification when possible.
4. Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry to what you actually need. If your ID or credit cards are lost or stolen, notify the creditors by phone immediately, and call the credit bureaus to ask that a "fraud alert" be placed
   in your file.
5. Order a copy of your credit report from the three credit reporting agencies every year. Make sure your information is accurate and includes only those activities you've authorized.
6. Keep items with personal information in a safe place; tear them up when you don't need them anymore. Make sure charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, checks and statements, expired charge cards and credit offers you get in the mail are disposed of appropriately.

Don't Let Mistakes Spoil Your Plans

A 1999 study by the Public Research Interest Group found that 70% of credit reports contained at least one mistake. Many errors are minor and likely wouldn't affect your creditworthiness. However, it's best to make sure your credit report is accurate before you apply for a loan.

You may want to check credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus:
Equifax - www.equifax.com or 1-800-685-1111
Experian - www.experian.com or 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion - www.transunion.com or 1-800-888-4213

Each report costs $8.50 or less, depending on where you live. If you've been denied credit within the past 60 days, you may be eligible for a free report. If you find inaccurate or incomplete information, you can correct it by sending the credit bureau a detailed explanation of what you believe is wrong, along with any supporting documentation you have.

Protecting Your Privacy on the Internet

While attempted Internet scams are not an uncommon occurrence, a basic awareness of the most common scams can thwart attempts to collect sensitive information from your end users. The purpose of this article is to promote your awareness of common email-related scams that are currently in circulation.

One of the more common scams is a spam campaign that targets a broad range of recipients. The message sent usually requests sensitive information from the end user, such as user ID and password. The emails attempt to justify the request as a verification of account credentials, or make reference to other security-related motives. Others scammers reference an online service that might sound familiar to some recipients, such as an account transfer, or receipt of funds. The directions in the email usually prompt the recipient to:

• Respond to the scammer via email, providing sensitive information, or
• Complete an online form that is embedded in the email, providing sensitive information, or
• Click on a link in the email, which leads to a sometimes authentic-looking site that collects sensitive information.

Unfortunately, these types of scams are not difficult to arrange, and some of the emails are very authentic looking. Although most end users understand that sensitive information should never be supplied in this manner, those end users that contact you with questions should be educated on several key points:

1. Never supply sensitive information (such as user id and password, etc.) via email.
2. Links that are contained in an email received from an unknown source should not be trusted, since they could lead an end user to an unsafe site that looks genuine, but is used as a way to collect sensitive information.
3. Accessing an Internet Banking account by typing the URL into the browser's address bar (or by using a previously established bookmark) is the safest way to gain access, and prevents scammers from redirecting the end user to an unsafe site.
4. End users with questions about email that is purportedly sent by their financial institution should be encouraged to contact the financial institution for assistance.

ATM Safety Tips

• We care about making banking convenient for you. We also care about making it safe. So, please keep the following tips in mind each time you use an ATM.
• Use your head. Common sense is your best safety guide. Trust your eyes, ears, and instincts and use ATMs only where you feel safe and comfortable.
• Bring a friend if you use an ATM at night. And, choose an ATM that is well lit and monitored with a surveillance camera.
• Have your card ready. Also, fill out your deposit slip and put your cash and checks in a sealed deposit envelope before you reach the ATM. After a withdrawal, be sure to put away your money, receipt, card, and wallet before leaving the ATM. Wait until you are at home or in secure surrounding to count your cash.
• Memorize your PIN and keep it a secret. Never write it on your card or leave it in your wallet. When entering your PIN, stand between the machine and the person behind you to keep it private. If you feel someone is looking over your shoulder, cancel the transaction and leave immediately.
• Guard your card. If it is lost or stolen-or if any suspicious or unauthorized ATM transactions appear on your monthly statements-notify us as soon as possible.
• Be aware of your surroundings. When you are in a vestibule, close the entry door completely upon entering and exiting-and don't offer entry to strangers. At a drive-up, keep your engine running, lock all your doors, and open only the driver's window. If you're walking to an ATM, stay alert and don't linger at the machine.

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