Protecting Your Identity

What is Identity Theft? ID Theft—as it is usually called—is a crime where someone uses your name, personal information, and credit to steal products and services.

How big a problem is Identity Theft? According to the FTC's 200 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, it continues to be the top consumer complaint. Hundreds of thousands of consumers are affected each year by various forms of ID Theft costing consumers billions of dollars. This doesn't include the time and money it takes for consumers to clear their names.

Having one's personal identity stolen can be costly and frustrating. While you can't prevent ID Theft, you can take steps to reduce your risk. The following articles and sites describe ID Theft in more detail, provide tips on how to reduce your risk, and what steps to take if you become a victim.

StreetWise's Privacy Protection and Fraud Prevention section has numerous articles on protecting your identity and keeping your financial information secure.

The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has numerous resources and links to other resources. Read the How's Your Identity Theft IQ article to get an idea of what you are currently doing right and where you need to improve.

Deter. Detect. Defend. Avoid ID Theft is a one-stop national resource to learn about ID Theft from the Federal Trade Commission.

Identity Theft is a brochure from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Don't Be an On-line Victim: How to Guard Against Internet Thieves and Electronic Scams is a multimedia presentation (requires Macromedia Flash Player) from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

When a Criminal's Cover is Your Identity is also from the FDIC

Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number is from the Social Security Administration

You Have the Power to Stop Identity Theft from the National Credit Union Administration

Identity Theft Resource Center has resources for victims and consumers. It also has information about ID Theft in the workplace.

LooksTooGoodToBeTrue.com has tips for avoiding ID Theft as well as other frauds.

A note about third-party links – By selecting links on this page, you will leave DCU's web site and enter a web site hosted by an organization separate from DCU. We encourage you to read and evaluate the privacy policy of any site you visit when you enter the site. While we strive to only link you to companies and organizations that we feel offer useful information, DCU does not directly support nor guarantee claims made by these sites.

To beginning of page

Digital Federal Credit Union
220 Donald Lynch Boulevard
PO Box 9130
Marlborough, MA 01752-9130
508.263.6700 • 800.328.8797

Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency. Select for more information.