How Members Can Better Protect Their Information

1. The security of your password depends on the password being kept secret. Do not write your password down, and always make sure nobody is standing behind you as you enter your password.
2. Protect all of your passwords, PINS, account numbers, and plastic cards.
3. Password composition with both upper and lower case alphabetic characters, provides stronger defense against password cracking programs.
4. Select letters that do not create a common word but instead represent the first letter of each word in a favorite phrase, poem or song.
5. After completing your Online Banking session, log off before you begin surfing other sites.
6. Do not visit other websites during your Online Banking session. Always log off first.
7. Log off unattended computers that have been used to access Online Banking, and invoke password protection within your screen savers.
8. Do not send account information through e-mail. E-mail is not encrypted and can be eavesdropped upon.
9. Review your account statements as soon as possible after receiving them. Contact us immediately if you find a discrepancy.
10. Do not give out personal information such as account numbers or credit card numbers on the phone or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact. Identity thieves could pose as a Financial Institution, Internet provider or credit card company representative. Remember: If someone has a right to this information (such as your credit union) they should already have it and shouldn’t need to request it over the phone.
11. Keep your information with Genisys current. If your address or phone number changes, please let us know as soon as possible. It is important that we have current information so we always know how to reach you. If we suspect fraudulent or unauthorized activity on your account, we will attempt to contact you immediately.
12. Report lost or stolen checks immediately, and properly store canceled checks. Examine new checks to be sure none were stolen during shipment, and store them in a safe and secure location.
13. Destroy unused offers of credit before discarding them, and tear-up other financial documents such as statements or receipts before discarding them.
14. Guard your Automated Teller Machine (ATM) PIN number. Never write your PIN number on anything you carry in your wallet. Treat your ATM receipts with care. Never leave them behind or throw them in the garbage without destroying them first.
15. Promptly remove mail when it has been delivered. Identity thieves often raid mailboxes to obtain credit card offers and financial statements.
16. Contact the major credit reporting companies at least annually to review your file. A copy of your credit report is available for a small fee. An easy way to access your report is through Members Market Place on our website, or if you prefer you can call, Experian: 800-682-7654, Equifax: 800-685-1111,TransUnion: 800-916-8800.
17. If you have been a victim of Identity theft, or know someone who has, take these steps immediately:
    • Contact Genisys® Credit Union to protect your accounts.
    • Contact your Credit Card suppliers
    • Contact the Social Security Fraud Hotline: 800-269-0271
    • Contact the FTC Identity Theft Hotline: 1-877- 438-4338
18. Protect your computer from viruses by installing Anti-Virus software and keeping your anti-virus software up to date. New malware viruses are discovered daily.
19. Be cautious when you receive email or text messages asking you to click on a link or call a phone number to initiate an action such as activating your online banking  account. Do not click on any link in an email that you don’t absolutely know and trust. Genisys® Credit Union will not send you messages of this type. If in doubt, call Genisys® Credit Union or other email senders to verify the validity of the information, using a phone number obtained from a source other than the number contained in the email in question.
20. Use caution when downloading and installing software from the Internet. If you do, be sure you are always downloading it from a reputable site you can trust. Google the name of the software before you download it. Several sites will offer reviews of the software. Read the reviews to see if other users have registered any complaints about Trojans or viruses in the software you are planning to download.
21. Use firewall protection on your computers and /or Internet Routers.
22. Please be advised when using public accessible computers(ex. library, coffee shop, etc.) these publicly accessible computers may be infected with virus and/or malicious software, such as trojans and keyloggers.

Require that the credit reporting companies place a message on your credit report that you have been the victim of Identity Theft and to call you at your work or home number to verify that it is indeed you applying for credit. You will have to provide your phone numbers.

Visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ for more information about Identity Theft.