Identity Theft

How to Protect Yourself when Someone Steals your Identity. 

 

Identity Theft

Identity theft is when someone steals your personal information, such as your name, Social Security number, bank account numbers, or credit card data to commit fraud or other criminal activities. Such stolen personal information is typically used to make unauthorized purchases, open new accounts, apply for loans, or file fraudulent tax returns. Identity theft can damage your credit status and cost you time and money. 

We recommend that you regularly review statements from your accounts and periodically check your credit report. You may obtain a free copy of your credit report online at www.annualcreditreport.com, by calling toll free 1-877-322-8228, or by mailing an Annual Credit Request Service, P.O. Box 105281 Atlanta Georgia 30348-5281.

You can also obtain by using WESLA Federal Credit Union's Credit Sense through the Online Banking portal or Mobile Banking App. Credit Sense is a free service that helps you understand your current credit score, gives you access to your full credit report, provides credit monitoring alerts, shows you how you can improve it and see ways you can save money on new and existing loans. Login now to Enroll. 

You should remain vigilant for incidents of fraud or identity theft by reviewing account statements and monitoring your free credit report. Look for accounts or creditor inquiries that you did not initiate or do not recognize. Look for information such as, home address and Social Security number that is not accurate. If you see anything you do not understand you should call the credit reporting agency at the telephone number on the report. You should also call local police department and file a report of identity theft. Finally, you should make sure to keep a copy of the police report in case you need to provide it to creditors or credit reporting agencies when accessing or disputing inaccurate information. 

You have rights under the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which governs the collections and use of  information about you by consumer reporting agencies. For more information about your rights under the FCRA, please visit www.ftc.gov

Credit Freeze

Credit freezes and fraud alerts can protect you from identity theft or prevent further misuse of your personal information if it was stolen. 

Who can place one: Anyone can freeze their credit report, even if their identity has not been stolen.

What it does: A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, which means you — or others — won’t be able to open a new credit account while the freeze is in place. You can temporarily lift the credit freeze if you need to apply for new credit. When the freeze is in place, you will still be able to do things like apply for a job, rent an apartment, or buy insurance without lifting or removing it.

Duration: A credit freeze lasts until you remove it.

Cost: Free

How to place: Contact each of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.


Fraud Alerts

Fraud alerts are available in different situations and have different benefits.

Who can place one: Anyone who suspects fraud can place a fraud alert on their credit report.

What it does: A fraud alert will make it harder for someone to open a new credit account in your name. A business must verify your identity before it issues new credit in your name. When you place a fraud alert on your credit report, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus.

Duration: A fraud alert lasts one year. After a year, you can renew it.

Cost: Free

How to place: Contact any one of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You don’t have to contact all three. The credit bureau you contact must tell the other two to place a fraud alert on your credit report.

Extended fraud alert

Who can place one: An extended fraud alert is only available to people who have had their identity stolen and completed an FTC identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov or filed a police report.

What it does: Like a fraud alert, an extended fraud alert will make it harder for someone to open a new credit account in your name. A business must contact you before it issues new credit in your name.

When you place an extended fraud alert on your credit report, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus twice within one year from when you place the alert, which means you could review your credit report six times in a year.

In addition, the credit bureaus will take you off their marketing lists for unsolicited credit and insurance offers for five years, unless you ask them not to.

Duration: An extended fraud alert lasts seven years.

Cost: Free

How to place: Contact any one of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You don’t have to contact all three. The credit bureau you contact must tell the other two to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.

Active duty alert

Who can place one: Active duty service members can place an active duty fraud alert.

What it does: An active duty fraud alert will make it harder for someone to open a new credit account in your name. A business must verify your identity before it issues new credit in your name.

In addition, the credit bureaus will take you off their marketing lists for unsolicited credit and insurance offers for two years, unless you ask them not to.

Duration: An active duty fraud alert lasts one year. After a year, you can renew it for the length of your deployment.

Cost: Free

How to place: Contact any one of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You don’t have to contact all three. The credit bureau you contact must tell the other two to place an active duty fraud alert on your credit report.

Important Contacts

Experian

Equifax

TransUnion

For more information about fraud alerts, security freezes, and steps for avoiding identity theft, or if you believe you are the victim of identity theft or have a reason to believe your personal information has been misused, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at: FTC Consumer Response center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington D.C. 20580, by phone at 1-877-438-4338, or by visiting www.consumer.ftc.gov. You should also report incidents of suspected identity theft to local law enforcement and the Attorney Generals office in your home state and file a police report. 

Back to Top