Identity theft can occur so easily, and in such a variety of ways - over the Internet, through mail theft,
from information taken out of your trash can or from a stolen wallet. With nothing more than your
Social Security number, a thief can destroy your good credit by opening fraudulent credit accounts,
applying for loans or even buying a car.

Your best defense is to stay current on the ways in which identity theft is committed, and then make
modifications in your lifestyle to avoid becoming a victim. You’ll find most of these points are simple
and inexpensive to implement. And once you make them part of your routine you can rest much easier.

1. Minimize what you carry in your wallet or purse in case it is stolen. Your Social Security card
should be the first thing to go into a secure location. You don’t need it on a day-to-day basis. Receipts
for charged purchases or ATM transactions contain valuable information, and should be cleared out as often
as possible. Look through the cards you carry, and remove any that you don’t use often. If you normally
carry a checkbook, you may consider carrying only a few checks at a time.

2. Review your Texasgulf Federal Credit Union and credit card statements regularly. This is where you will
spot discrepancies that could indicate identity theft. For many people this is not routine, but once
you get in the habit, it goes quicker each month. The time you spend balancing your checking account
or reviewing your credit card statement is nothing compared to the time and expense it takes to deal
with identity theft.

3. Get a copy of your credit report annually, and review it carefully. If you spot new accounts that you don’t
remember opening, this could indicate identity theft. Check them out immediately. You may also notice
old accounts you had forgotten. Take the time to close them. Your credit report will look better in the
future should you choose to apply for additional credit.

4. Be aware that a merchant cannot require you to present a photo ID in order to complete a card
transaction. If your credit or debit card is in good condition, the expiration date is valid, the card
is signed and your signature on the sales draft matches the signature on your card, no other ID should be
required. If for some reason you are asked for an ID, do not permit the merchant to copy any of the
information from your ID onto the sales draft.

5. Install a locked mailbox at your residence for incoming mail, or get a Post Office box. An unsecured
mailbox is like a welcome mat for an identity thief. What they’re looking for are credit cards and checks
which come to you in the mail. Another hot item is credit card solicitations which thieves could try to
accept in your name. Even your bills provide account numbers that could be used to your disadvantage.

6. Place outgoing mail in a USPS drop box. Outgoing mail is just as enticing to a thief, who will commonly
steal outgoing mail looking for account numbers on your bills. Your checks can be altered and then used
for cash, and your checking account number can be used to access your account.

7. Purchase a paper shredder (they aren’t expensive). Shred all documents containing private information
before putting them in the trash. This includes pre-approved credit offers that come to you in the mail. Any
charge receipts that you are going to throw away should be shredded. Many merchants still print your
entire account number and card expiration date on the receipt. (In many states there are laws prohibiting
this, but merchants have been slow to respond.) If you need to save a receipt, be sure to mark over the
account number, or at least all but the last four digits.

8. If you shop online, check out www.bbbonline.com/consumer to locate companies that live up to the
standards of the Better Business Bureau. Or check the sites you use for the BBB OnLine Reliability
Seal, which labels a safe shopping site. Be very cautious about the information you give out online.
Protect your Social Security number by not providing it online. It should never be needed to complete
a purchase.

9. Avoid account passwords like your birth date, mother’s maiden name or any part of your Social
Security number. These are easy for someone else to obtain and therefore could compromise the
security of your account. Pick something that’s easy for you to remember, but something that’s
not easy to obtain, (perhaps a nickname, pet’s name or best friend’s birth date.)

10. Be careful about the information you disclose over the phone. Never provide personal information
unless you initiated the call, and are certain you are dealing with a reputable party. Remember
that cell phones and cordless phones are vulnerable to eavesdropping because the signals are
transmitted over radio waves.

If you’ve thought “that’s too much trouble” while reading any of these guidelines, consider
these facts: Last year alone, more than 1.5 million Americans fell victim to identity theft,
and U.S. Federal Trade Commission lists identity theft as its number one source of complaints
(42% in 2001). Chances are good that you even know someone who has experienced identity theft
firsthand. The time and money spent trying to undo identity theft can be devastating, not to
mention the feeling of invasion that can follow you around for years. It’s well worth making a
few lifestyle changes in order to avoid becoming the victim of this invasive crime.