When someone gets possession of your name, Social Security or credit card number and pretends to be you, it’s called identity theft. Armed with your personal data, a thief can:

• take over your existing accounts
• open new accounts and take out loans
• obtain credit cards, driver’s licenses and a passport in your name
• change your mailing address, diverting bank and credit card statements to another address

Limit your chance of becoming a victim

• Enroll your credit cards in a password protection program, such as Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode.
• Limit the amount of I.D. and credit cards you carry.
• Cancel unused credit cards.
• Order only from secure Web sites. Look for the “lock” icon.
• Deposit outgoing mail only in U.S. Postal Service collection boxes.
• Check your financial statements as soon as you receive them.
• Review your credit bureau report at least once a year.

A few “Don’ts”

• Don’t carry your Social Security (SSN) card in your wallet.
• Don’t give out your SSN and credit card numbers over the phone unless you initiated the call.
• Don’t use your SSN for your driver’s license number or have it printed on your checks.
• Don’t leave your incoming mail in an unlocked mailbox overnight or on weekends.
• Don’t give your Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) to anyone.

Notify the correct authorities
If you feel you have been a victim of identity theft:

• Contact the three credit bureaus and report the incident. Follow up the phone contact with written notification.

  Trans-Union
  PO Box 390
  Springfield, PA 19064-0390
  1-800-680-7289; (610) 690-4909 for overseas members

  Equifax
  PO Box 740241
  Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
  1-800-525-6285; (404) 885-8000

  Experian
  PO Box 949
  Allen, TX 75013-0919
  1-888-397-3748

• Get new account numbers and PINS. Have a code word placed on your accounts.

• File a report with local law enforcement and get a report number for future reference.

• Report the fraudulent use of your Social Security Number to the Social Security Administration at 1-800-269-0271.

• Advise your state’s motor vehicle office of the incident and obtain a new operator’s license.

For more information on identity theft and to download forms for reporting identity fraud, go to www.consumer.gov/idtheft, call their hotline toll-free 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338), or write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.

For information on Navy Federal Credit Union’s products and services, visit navyfcu.org.