Protect Your Identity Now

Lockheed Federal Credit Union Hosts Identity Theft Prevention Seminar

Burbank, Calif. (June 13, 2007) – Lockheed Federal Credit Union (LFCU), one of the largest credit unions in the nation, will host a free Identity Theft Prevention Seminar from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, at the Burbank office, 2340 Hollywood Way. The public is invited to learn how to protect their identity, and how to resolve identity theft issues. Identity theft has become a critical national issue. In fact, more than 8.9 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2006.^*

“Understanding how to protect our personal information and detect identity theft are the first steps to avoiding fraud,” said Kathy Baker, Director of Security, Safety and Fraud Prevention at LFCU. “We want the community to know how to protect their personal information and safeguard against identity theft.”

Key speaker Jerry Rossler, a law enforcement and financial institution security expert, will review these prevention tips:

1. Don’t take the bait. If you receive an email or phone call requesting you to confirm your Social Security number, PIN, credit card CVV code or other personal information, do not respond.

Fraudsters frequently send “phishing” messages that look like legitimate messages from e-Bay^®, the Internal Revenue Service, and other organizations. Your financial institution will never ask you for your PIN or credit card number over the phone or via email.  If you have doubts, confirm the request by calling the organization with a phone number you know is valid.

2. Check your credit. You can order a free credit report from each of the three largest credit reporting agencies once each year. This benefit makes it possible to review your report for free every four months (simply choose a different credit reporting agency each time). Call (877) 322-8228 or visit www.annualcreditreport.com.

3. Go paperless. Replace paper statements, invoices and checks with the electronic version to eliminate the risk of mail fraud.

4. Leave home without it. Keep your Social Security card and unused credit cards in a safe place at home. Do not keep them in your wallet.

5. Watch the mail. Don’t leave outgoing mail in your mailbox - it’s a tempting invitation for thieves who can alter the payee name on checks you’ve written to pay bills. Drop your mail in a secure post office box instead.

6. Monitor your accounts. If something seems irregular, contact your financial institution immediately. For added protection, LFCU members can set up email alerts to send notification when their balance drops below a specified level, a check clears and more. Members can set up theirs by choosing “alerts” with LFCU’s Online Banking service at www.lfcu.com.

“We understand how identity theft affects our members,” said David Thatcher, Vice President of E-Commerce & Technology at LFCU. “That’s why we have multiple layers of security, which include firewalls, intrusion detection systems and risk-based authentication.”

To register for the Identity Theft Prevention Seminar, call (818) 565-2445. More information can be found on LFCU’s online Fraud Prevention Center at:

http://www.lockheedfcu.org/Info_Advice/Fraud_Prevention

Each attendee will receive a complimentary copy of an identity theft prevention guide.

^*Source: Javelin Strategy and Research, in partnership with the Better Business Bureau

ABOUT LOCKHEED FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Lockheed Federal Credit Union (LFCU) is one of the nation’s largest and strongest credit unions, with more than 100,000 members and $2.5 billion in assets. Chartered in 1937, LFCU offers members preferred rates on savings and loan accounts, 25,000 ATMs, and access to a network of proprietary and shared branches nationwide. Today, LFCU is the largest financial institution headquartered in the San Fernando Valley and has recently earned a perfect score for financial strength from independent rating company, IDC Financial Publishing. Membership at LFCU is open to employees of sponsor companies and residents of Southern California. LFCU is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.