How to Prevent and Recover From Identity Theft

Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime. It occurs when personal information is stolen and used to assume the victim's identity. Identity thieves open banking accounts, make purchases, obtain cash and even rent apartments in the victims' name.

Preventing Identity Theft with Kasasa Care™

Kasasa Care™ provides identity protection and can help you save on prescriptions, health insurance, and Medicare.  

  • 24/7 credit monitoring

  • Access annual credit reports

  • Monthly credit score and 12-month tracker

  • Dark web monitoring

  • Lost wallet protection

  • Identity restoration

More Ways to Prevent Identity Theft

  • Do not give personal information, such as account numbers or social security numbers, over the telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet, unless you initiated the contact and know whom you are dealing with. Beware of phone scams. Never give your PIN or any other personal financial information to an unknown caller.

  • Do not disclose credit card or other financial account numbers on a website unless the site offers secure transactions. Before submitting financial information through a Web site, look for the "padlock" icon on your browser's status bar. This signals that your information is secure during transactions. To make sure you are on a secure Web server, check the beginning of the Web address in your browser's address bar. It should read https://, rather than just http://.

  • Protect your PIN and other passwords. Avoid using mother's maiden name, your birth date or the last four digits of your social security number as a password.

  • Closely guard your ATM/debit card, checks, and credit cards. Report all lost or stolen credit cards or checks immediately.

  • Shred all unwanted materials containing sensitive personal information such as credit union statements and credit card bills.

  • Switch to e-Statements instead of receiving paper statements by mail. Check all statements carefully to ensure you have authorized all charges. With ACU Online Banking you can check your activity frequently instead of waiting until month-end.

  • Take credit card receipts with you. Never toss them in a public trash container.

  • Carry only essential credit cards and identification. Don't carry your Social Security card or birth certificate. Leave them in a secure place.

  • Put outgoing mail into a secure, official postal service collection box.

  • Don't leave mail in your mailbox overnight. Credit card applications mailed to you with your personal information already filled in can easily be used by thieves to open accounts in your name.

  • Obtain a copy of your credit report at least once each year for monitoring.

Recovering from Identity Theft

  • Alert America's and any other financial institutions you do business with to flag your accounts and to inform you of any unusual activity.

  • If your America's credit card or check card are lost or stolen, report the loss immediately by calling the credit union at 214-742-6551 or 1-888-742-6551.

  • Contact the fraud departments at each of the three major credit bureaus. Let them know you're an identity theft victim and request that a "fraud alert" be placed in your file. Types of fraud alerts you can request:

    • Active Duty Military – good for 12 months. Available for your protection, whether or not you suspect theft or have been victimized.

    • Fraud Alert – good for 90 days. This is used if you suspect you are a victim of ID theft. Can be renewed after the 90 days.

    • Extended Fraud Alert – good for 7 years. Requires proof of identity and an identity theft report filed with any law enforcement agency (local, state or federal).

    • To report fraud to the credit bureaus, call:

  • File a police report with any law enforcement agency (local, state, or federal). Keep a copy for your records.

  • File a claim with the FTC at (877-438-4338)

  • Keep copies of correspondence and documents related to the theft and make note of all telephone calls, including the date and time of your call and the name and title of the person who assisted you.

  • Upon request, America's will provide account records to the identity theft victim at no charge. The identity theft victim must provide a government-issued photo ID, proof of a claim of identity theft that has been filed with any law enforcement agency, and any other personal identifying information the credit union might need.