Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in our country. An identity thief could drain your accounts, make purchases with your credit cards, use your insurance, or ruin your credit.

To help you keep your identity safe and secure, pay close attention to the following signs:

• Credit card and checking account statements that don't arrive when they should for no apparent reason
• Bills for purchases you never made
• Collection agencies attempting to collect on debts that you didn't incur
• Bills from credit accounts you did not open
• Unauthorized charges on your phone or checking account statements
• Credit reports showing new, unauthorized accounts

We also recommend our members review their personal credit report on a regular basis to help prevent identity-related fraud. By federal law, you have the right to obtain a free copy of your credit report. To get a free copy of your credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com.

Phishing is a common type of spam that can lead to theft of your personal details such as credit card numbers or online banking passwords. Phishing attacks work by the scam artist sending "spoofed" emails that appear to come from a legitimate website that you have online dealings with such as a credit union, bank or credit card company — any site which requires users to have a personal identity or account.

Steps to protect yourself:

• Never respond to emails that request personal financial information
• Visit the websites by typing the URL into the address bar
• Keep a regular check on your accounts
• Check the website you are visiting is secure
• Be cautious with emails and personal data

Some phishing emails or other spam may contain software that can record information on your internet activities (spyware). Installing anti-virus software and keeping it up to date will help detect and disable malicious software. It is also important, particularly for users with a broadband connection, to setup a firewall. This will help keep the information on your computer secure while blocking communication from unwanted sources.

Members may be receiving phone calls and text messages claiming to be our fraud department. Please contact us directly at (404) 325-3270 if you receive such a message. Additionally, spoofing emails from cdcfederalcreditunion@customercenter.net have been circulating. Do not respond, reply, or open any attachment from this sender.

The examples above are known as spoofing. Spoofing, as it pertains to cybersecurity, is when someone or something pretends to be something else in an attempt to gain our confidence, get access to our systems, steal data, steal money, or spread malware. There are several kinds of spoofing, including email spoofing, text message spoofing, caller ID spoofing, and URL spoofing. Essentially, if there's a form of online communication, spoofers are trying to scam their way into it—and into your identity and your assets.

Spoofing can lead you to disclose personal and financial information, send money, and download malware, which can lead to infected computers, financial fraud, and identity theft. But, there are several ways to protect yourself from would-be spoofing scammers:

• Turn on your email's spam filter. This will prevent many spoofed emails from ever landing in your inbox.
• Don't click on links or open attachments in emails from unknown senders. If there's a chance that the email is legitimate, reach out directly to the sender to confirm that it's real.
• If you get a suspicious email or text asking you to log into your account for some reason, don't click on the provided link. Instead, open a new tab or window (or the dedicated app on your phone) and log in directly to your account.
• Invest in reputable cybersecurity software. Good software will alert you about potential threats, stop downloads, and prevent malware from taking over. Keep in mind that the software only works if you keep it updated and use it regularly.
• If you get an inquiry seeking personal information, don't provide it. Hang up (or log off) and then look up the phone number or customer service email address from the entity purportedly contacting you for your personal information.

Spam text messages, also known as phishing texts, trick consumers into providing personal data to criminals who pose as a familiar business, organization, or family member.

Criminals use phishing text messages to attain usernames and passwords, social security numbers, credit card numbers and PINs to commit fraud or identity theft. Other attacks focus on downloading viruses or malware, which can give thieves access to your bank accounts.

Common phishing texts can include messages related to:

• Winning an unexpected prize
• Government agencies, such as the IRS, trying to contact you
• Popular businesses, such as Walmart or Amazon, sending you a refund
• Financial institutions attempting to verify your information
• Delivery companies, such as FedEx or UPS, asking for package preferences
• Verifying technology accounts, such as Apple IDs
• Free bitcoins or other cryptocurrencies
• Family members needing immediate financial help

Here are some best practices to help you handle spam texts appropriately.

• Do not respond. If you suspect a text is from a scammer, do not reply. Replying confirms your phone number is active, which guarantees more texts.
• Block numbers on your phone. Scammers often send texts using different names and numbers, but blocking annoying or spammy texts can slow them down.
• Do not click links in a text. Clicking suspicious links in an unsolicited text message may infect your phone or mobile device with malware that copies your stored personal or financial information.

Always use your best judgment and exercise caution before responding to requests for information.

As a result of the events on September 11, 2001, the USA Patriot Act was signed into law.

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

What does this mean for you? When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver's license or other identifying documents.