Steps you should always follow:

1. Recommended to order and review your credit report from all three credit bureaus at least once a year. If possible, register to receive notice/phone call whenever there is a credit inquiry.
2. Do not carry anything containing your social security number, or family's social security number (i.e. social security card, insurance, etc) in your purse or wallet.
3. Keep a minimal number of credit or debit cards in your purse/wallet.
4. Never leave any PIN information anywhere it could be easiliy accessed (i.e. on the card, written in an organizer, etc).
5. Never leave your purse/wallet in the car - even for "5 minutes". A majority of the victims are people leaving their belongings in the car to "drop off their child" or while working.
6. When using an automatic teller machine, make certain no one sees you punch in your personal identification numbers.
7. Try to register accounts together with one service. This allows one phone call to cancel everything.
8. Closely monitor your telephone bills, credit card statements and other bills to make sure there is no one using them without authorization. Take advantage of on-line abilities to monitor your activity often.
9. Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection box. (even better, sign up for University Credit Union's FREE Checkfree Bill Payer service it's easy & secure). 
10. If your credit card statement does not arrive on time , call the company and ask about it.
11. Never leave receipts behind. Take them with you or tear them up. Shredding them is even better. Most companies now mask the credit/debit card number. - If your merchant isn't doing this, ask them to implement this protection.
12. Give your social security number only when it is absolutely necessary.
13. Place passwords on as many accounts as possible, avoid using date of birth, social security number or  mother's maiden name.
14. Do not give personal information to anyone contacting you by phone or email even if they are claiming to be your bank/credit card representative, advise the person you will call the company back using the phone number from the statements.
15. If you get an email that warns you, with little or no notice, that an account of yours will be shut down unless you confirm your billing information, do not reply or click on the link in the email. Instead, contact the company cited in the email using a telephone number or web site address you know to be genuine and have acquired from another reliable source.
16. Shred or destroy trash that contains personal information.
17. Install firewall and anti-virus software on home computers.
18. Don't print your social security or driver's license number on checks.

Quick Tips

• Avoid emailing personal and financial information. Before submitting financial information through a web site, look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status bar. It signals that your information is secure during transmission.
• Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to determine whether they're any unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.
• Promptly collect incoming mail, and use a locking mail box if possible.
• Do Not give account numbers or personal ID numbers to anyone over the phone or internet, unless you have initiated the call and are dealing with a legitimate business. If you are in doubt... Don't!
• Do monitor your accounts and credit reports regularly to notice any inconsistencies.
• Do deal with legitimate, well known businesses.
• Do ask questions, be aware, be vigilant.
• Do contact us if you have any concerns or question.

Sometimes an identity thief can strike even if you've been very careful about keeping your personal information to yourself. If you suspect that your personal information has been stolen and/or misappropriate to commit fraud or theft, take action immediately.

Fraud

Card Skimming

Card-skimming is the illegal copying of information from the magnetic strip of your ATM, debit or credit cards for the purpose of stealing your money from your financial institution. The scammers try to steal your details so they can access you accounts. Once scammers have skimmed your card, they can create a fake or 'cloned' card with your details on it. The scammers are then able to run up charges on,or drain funds from your account.

Card Skimming is accomplished through methods as low-tech as simply watching over your shoulder as you use the ATM or as high-tech as installing false card readers (or whole false fronts) on top of existing ATM's.

Warning Signs

• A shop assistant takes your card out of your sight in order to process you transaction.
• You are asked to swipe your card through more than one machine.
• You see the shop assistant swipe the card through a different machine than the one you used.
• You notice something suspicious about the card slot on an ATM (e.g. and attached device)
• You notice unusual or unauthorized transactions on your account or credit card statement.