Identity Theft Protection
What is Identity Theft?
Identity thieves use another person's personal identification information -- name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, etc. -- to open new credit card accounts, take over existing accounts, or obtain loans in the victim's name.
Thieves can easily obtain the identifying information they need to impersonate you by going through your trash, stealing your mail or purchasing information about you from an information broker. That's why it is very important for you to protect your personal information.
Your Social Security number is the key to identity theft. Thieves can use it to access your medical, financial, credit, and educational records.
According to the FTC, it takes on average 12 months for a person to realize their identity has been stolen. While you cannot prevent identity theft, you can minimize your risk.
Fraud Alert: Don't Get Hooked!
"Phishing" is the online scam that hopes you'll bite and give out personal information that can be used to steal your identity. Emails claim to be from companies that you trust like PayPal, Visa, Internet Service Providers, the IRS, and other financial institutions. Currently, there are two common Internet "phishing" schemes:
- An email instructs you to provide personal account information online. You are linked to a false web site that resembles that of the real company and you are told to verify certain information.
- An email instructs you to call a special phone number. Once you call, an automated system asks you to verify your identity by punching in your credit card number and PIN.
The fake email may have one of these messages:
- "We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your account. To ensure that your account is not compromised, please click the link below and confirm your identity."
- "During our regular verification of accounts, we couldn't verify your information. Please click on the link or call the toll-free number to update and verify your information."
Main Street Financial Federal Credit Union (formerly LA DOTD Federal Credit Union) will NEVER ask you for your account information through email, texts, or a phone call. However, if you initiate the call, we will ask for some identifying information before we disclose any information on your accounts. This also protects you from thieves who call us trying to access your accounts.
If you receive any emails or texts that appear to be from Main Street Financial Federal Credit Union requesting you to verify your confidential information you should:
- Treat the email/text with suspicion and do not reply to it or open any attachments.
- Do not dial any phone number contained in the email/text or click on a link within the message.
- Call Main Street Financial FCU at 225.387.5646 or 800.436.8328.
