Tag Archives: Preventing Identity Theft

Warning: Phony Sweepstakes Scam Using FTC’s Name

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iWarning“Hi, I’m calling from the Federal Trade Commission to tell you that you have won $250,000…”

If you receive a phone call like this, you are most likely being targeted as a potential victim of a scam. Reports of someone claiming to be from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have surfaced, so be aware not to fall victim.  The scammers in this situation pretend to be from the Federal Trade Commission, possibly even using the name of an actual FTC employee, and ask you to pay “taxes” or “insurance” in order to claim your prize, either by wiring money or sending a check.

TelemarketedIf you receive any sort of calls like this, DO NOT send any money, and report the incident to the FTC at ftccomplaintassistant.gov.  The FTC is the nation’s consumer protection agency and they investigate fraud and provide free information.  The FTC will never ask you to send them money, and neither will a legitimate sweepstakes company.

Take the following precautions to prevent yourself from falling victim to any type of sweepstakes scam:

Don’t pay to collect winnings.  If a company makes you pay to collect your sweepstakes winnings, you aren’t dealing with a legitimate company and may end up never seeing that money again.  Legitimate sweepstakes companies will never ask you to pay “taxes,” “insurance,” or “shipping and handling” on your winnings.

Hold on to your money.  When scammers act, they will try to pressure you into wiring money through commercial money wiring companies such as Western Union.  Wiring money is essentially the same as sending cash, so if you do fall victim, there is very little chance of recovering your money.  Also don’t mail a check or money order, especially by way of any sort of high speed shipping.  This allows the scammers to receive the money before you realize the scam.

Beware of look-alikes.  It is illegal for anyone to lie about an affiliation with or endorsement by a government agency or other well known organization.  Sometimes scammers may use a similar name to trick you into trusting them, but remember, insurance companies will never insure delivery of sweepstakes winnings.

Phone numbers can be deceptive.  Internet technology exists that allows con artists to disguise their area code.  Although it may appear that your caller is contacting you from Washington DC, they could in fact be calling you from anywhere in the world.

Alert the FTC! If somebody tries to impersonate a government agency to try and take your money, be sure to file a complaint at ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.  When you do this make sure you provide as many details as possible. Your complaint is more helpful if it includes information such as the time of the call, the phone number, name of the person or organization who called, which FTC employee name(s) were used, requested amount and method of money to be sent, or any other details.

We urge you to constantly be on the lookout for scammers and to always protect your personal and account information. Do not hesitate to call our Member Service Center at 732.312.1500 or stop into one of our branches if you suspect any fraudulent activity on your First Financial accounts.

 

Identity Theft Seminar Summary

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We recently held an Identity Theft seminar where attendees were taught what identity theft is, how it happens, and how to deter, detect, and defend themselves against it.

b4_3d_pig_with_calculator_03-resized-600Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information such as your credit card or social security number, and uses it fraudulently.  Once the thieves have your information, they can charge large amounts with your credit card, open new accounts using your social security number, or even give your name to the police if they get arrested.  All of this will likely cost you time and money, as well as it can potentially ruin your credit and good name.  Identity thieves can obtain this information in many different ways, such as computer hacking, “dumpster diving” into your trash, or simply stealing your wallet or purse.

Although there is no guarantee you’ll never fall victim to identity theft, you can minimize your risk by following the “3 D’s” of identity protection:  Deter, Detect, and Defend.  By safeguarding your information, you can deter identity thieves from stealing your identity:

  • Shred financial documents
  • Protect your social security number
  • Don’t use obvious passwords
  • Avoid giving out personal information unless you’re sure who you are dealing with.

The importance of being proactive in protecting your identity was stressed, as knowing your identity makes it a lot more difficult for thieves to steal it. The next step in avoiding identity theft is to detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.  Always be alert for mail or bills that don’t arrive and denials of credit for no reason.  Also, contrary to the myth, you are not punished for inspecting your credit report.  In fact, the law entitles you to a free credit report each year from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.  These three companies urge you to review your annual free credit report at  http://www.annualcreditreport.com/, which is the only authorized site to view your credit report for free each year.

The final step of the “3 D’s” is to defend against identity theft as soon as you suspect a problem.  You will want to close faulty accounts, file a police report, contact the Federal Trade Commission, and even place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports by calling one of the three credit reporting bureaus.

If you’d like more tips or advice on identity theft, be sure to check the Federal Trade Commission’s website at http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft for helpful tips, documents, and videos.  First Financial also posts important articles in protecting yourself from online fraud on our website.

Is Your Identity Safe? Tips for Preventing Identity Theft

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Identity Theft is very common in this day and age. There are many ways in which it can occur or you could be contacted in a fraudulent manner such as through cell phones, email, text messages, etc. Recently, National Association of Credit Unions (NAFCU) published a blog post on Identity Theft that included tips on ways to prevent it.

Here are NAFCU’s Tips for Preventing Identity Theft:

1. Check your credit card statements regularly.

2. Get used to shredding documents.

3. Protect your computer.

4. Destroy all sensitive data on your hard drive.

5. Create strong passwords.

6. Don’t take the bait. Beware of phishing scams.

7. Regularly monitor your accounts online.

8. Be cautious about opening emails from unknown senders.

9. Always send or receive mail only through secure and locked mail boxes.

10. Always type in and visit the website directly.

11. On all credit cards, in addition to signing your name, write “Please ask for ID!”

12. Never give out your Social Security Number, Driver’s License Number or Date of Birth.

If you believe you have been a victim of Identity Theft, contact the Federal Trade Commission.