Hopefully you never become a victim of identity theft – but if you do, the damage can be minimized if you catch it early and act quickly. Be alert for these clues that someone has stolen your personal information:
• Withdrawals from your bank account you don’t recognize
• Bills or other mail aren’t being delivered
• Merchants refuse your checks
• Debt collectors call about debts that aren’t yours
• Unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report
• Bills from medical providers for services you didn’t use
• Health records show you reached your benefit limit when you haven’t
• Rejected from a health plan for a medical condition that you don’t have
• IRS notification that more than one tax return was filed in your name or you have income from an employer you don’t work for
• Notification from a company where you do business or have an account saying there was a data breach
To stop additional fraud if your identity has been compromised, take these steps right away:
1. Call the companies where fraud occurred – ex. your bank, credit card company, insurance company, etc.
2. Place a fraud alert on your credit by contacting one of the three credit bureaus. That company will alert the other two.
3. Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission by visiting www.IdentityTheft.gov.
4. You may choose to file a report with your local police department.
If your Heritage Financial Credit Union accounts or cards are compromised, please call us at 845.561.5607.