Member Alerts - Aventa Credit Union

SHRED: Unless needed for tax purposes, destroy old canceled checks, account statements, deposit tickets, ATM receipts (they also frequently have your account number and worse yet, your account balance). The personal information on it may help someone impersonate you and take money from your account. The safest way to destroy documents is to shred them. Aventa can shred documents for you if you don't have a shredder at home.

My wallet was stolen. What do I do now?!

Steps to take immediately:

Police report: Report the crime/loss to your local law enforcement agency. Give them a list of the items it contained. Request a copy of the report. Get the business card or name of the officer who took the report, the report number and a phone number to call if you have additional questions.
Credit or Fraud Alerts: Contact the three major credit reporting agencies by telephone. Use the “Report Fraud” numbers for each. You will reach an automated system that allows you to provide your phone number. Ask for a fraud alert and your free report as a potential victim of id theft. They are required to provide you with a complimentary credit report when you place a fraud alert. This report gives you the opportunity to check for any pending credit applications and to verify that all the current information is correct. It becomes an accurate baseline for the fraud alert and may alert you to suspicious activity.
If your Driver’s license or vehicle registration was taken, contact the state agency that issues driver’s licenses. Place a stolen/lost card warning on your file. At this time, request a replacement.
If you are missing credit cards or copies of bills contact the card issuers that issued the stolen/lostcard(s). Request replacement cards with new account numbers. Federal law, FCRA Section 609e, requires credit grantors to furnish copies of any fraudulent transactions for that account. Monitor your mail for collection notices, missing statements or bills. Check bills for evidence of new fraudulent activity. Report problems immediately to credit grantors.
If you have lost checking account numbers, savings account numbers, checks, ATM cards, or debit cards: Contact the credit union immediately and close the account. Open a new account with a new number. Add a password on the account. It sometimes helps to go directly to the local branch and speak face-to-face with a Manager or fraud investigator.
Military ID cards: Notify the personnel support detachment (PSD) and your immediate chain of command up to the commanding officer. Apply for a new ID card.
Green Card or immigration papers: Contact the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), as well as your country’s embassy.
Passports: In the case of a lost or stolen passport, it is important to notify the U.S. Department of State immediately, and fill out Form DS-64. In the event the passport was issued by another country, notify the issuing country's embassy.
If your Social Security Card was lost or stolen: The following year in June (you have to wait till after that year's taxes are filed), contact the Social Security Administration and ask for a copy your Personal Earnings and Benefits Estimate Statement. To report Social Security fraud: call 800.269.0271 or E-mail: . Refer also to the Social Security Administration’s website: www.ssa.gov.

Do as soon as possible:

Health insurance: Notify the medical insurance carrier immediately. You don’t want someone using your information for any kind of medical purpose. Request a replacement policy number.
Auto insurance/AAA: Notify the insurance company immediately. You don’t want someone using your information in the event of an accident. Request a replacement policy number.
Library and video store cards: Contact the issuing company/agency. Ask for that account to be closed and another opened with a replacement number. You may also want to add a password to the new account.
All other cards with a membership or identification number printed on the card (SSN or another number): Contact the issuing company, school, or employer. Notify them of the loss and request a replacement card with a new account number. In the event that the SSN was the membership number, request that an alternate number be used or that a letter be added to the membership number. This will help to separate your usage from that of the thief.
Renewable long distance calling cards: Contact the company. Request that they transfer any remaining minutes to another card with a new account number. Close the account to the card.

Tips for dealing with the authorities and financial institutions:

Keep a log of all conversations, receipts for expenses, and other pertinent items.
Request a written verification that accounts have been closed (including time and date), and/or a confirmation number.
Send correspondence by certified mail, return receipt requested.
Keep copies of all letters and documents that you send and receive.
Whenever possible, speak with a fraud investigator and not a customer-service representative. If you are not satisfied with the answers given, request to speak with a supervisor. Keep going up the chain of command until you reach a decision-maker.
Add passwords to credit union, utility and credit accounts. A password should not be a mother’s maiden name. If the credit union insists on a mother’s maiden name then make one up. A strong password should be more than 8 characters in length, and contain both capital letters and at least one numeric or other non alphabetical character. Use of non-dictionary words is also advised.

Tips for dealing with the authorities and financial institutions:

Photocopy the front and back of all important cards you carry including credit cards. Keep original documents in a locked box.
PDAs: Use password protection so that if your PDA is turned on by an unauthorized user only a log-in screen will appear. Add instructions on how to contact you to return the device. You should also keep a backup of the data on your PDA to use as a starting inventory should it be lost.
Close credit card accounts you don’t use any longer. If you haven’t used a card for at least 6 months, you probably don’t need it. Only carry one or two cards on a daily basis.
Purses with shoulder straps should be tucked under an arm. Make sure that your purse is in your line of vision. Book bags and carry-alls that hang over your back, out of sight, are easy targets.
For men and women: Use a fanny pack to store your wallet and valuables when you know you will be in large crowds. Place the pack so that it is in front of your body and always in your line of vision. Any fanny pack used should have a cable in the strap and reinforced bottom to prevent slicing, plus additional inside zippers to keep things compartmentalized.
- September 2009, Identity Theft Resource Center®

Security Tip:

E-Statements help prevent mail fraud. Sign up today on aventa.com. Your statements are available the first day of the month, and there is NO FEE.

Have you tried Internet Bill Pay? I-Pay helps prevent mail fraud. I-Pay helps prevent identity theft because people do not see your checks, account number, or your signature. Save money on stamps. I-Pay can even REMIND you to pay your routine bills. To sign up for I-Pay and other convenience services, go to the I-Branch log-in on the left side of any page of aventa.com.

If you have questions about any contact you receive from a financial representative, please get in touch with the Aventa Contact Center at 719.482.7600.

Aventa Credit Union will never ask you for your account information or other personal identifying information in communications which you did not originate.

If you have already given out any personal account information, please contact us immediately at our phone numbers: 800.555.6665 or 719.482.7600, or email us at contactus@aventa.com.