Hamilton Horizons Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative. This page provides our members with some information about identity theft.

Information about Identity Theft

Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft

An identity thief is someone who steals one or more key pieces of your personal information, uses that information to establish credit in your name, then spends as much money in as short a time as possible. For a comprehensive listing of ID Theft scams, laws and studies, visit the ID Theft Resource Center at www.idtheftcenter.org.

While the law limits your liability for such fraudulent expenditures, restoring your credit rating after your identity has been stolen is typically a long and difficult process. For this reason, and because incidents of identity theft have skyrocketed in recent years, it pays to take these basic, precautionary measures:

  • Carry less information with you. Take out of your wallet credit cards you don’t use, your Social Security card, passport, account numbers – anything you don’t really need to carry and which an identity thief could use against you.

  • Make photocopies of yourcredit cards. This is so that you will have the phone and account numbers you’l need to contact your customer service representatives in the event of a problem. Be sure to keep them in a secure place (and not in your wallet).

  • Protect your Social Security number. Very often, your Social Security number is an identity thief’s key to the rest of your personal information. Don’t give it to anyone unless it’s absolutely necessary.

  • Be careful with your access codes. When choosing a Personal Identification Number or access code, never use your birth date, Social Security number or any other obvious code – they’re the first numbers an identity thief will try.

  • Watch your mail. Some identity thieves steal financial statements and credit card offers out of their victims’ mailboxes, or out of the trash after they’ve been thrown away. Protect yourself by removing mail from your mailbox promptly, and by shredding statements and applications before you discard them. For best protection, use a cross-cut shredder.

  • Be careful with transactions online. When conducting transactions online, be sure to logout – and ensure there are proper security features before you provide any financial information.

  • Monitor your credit report. Check your credit report for any irregular activity at least once a year. You can order a copy of your credit report free online from creditkarma.com. Hamilton Horizons can also provide you with a copy of your report and give you a lender’s perspective on your score and credit factors.

VITAL CONTACTS & LINKS Vital Contacts & Links.

Hamilton Horizons Federal Credit Union offers access to TruStage Insurance Services.  For more information, please call 609-631-4300 or toll-free 800-449-3221.

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