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AMERICA’S FASTEST-GROWING TYPE OF ROBBERY involves neither ski masks nor snub-nosed revolvers — your name, Social Security number, checking account or credit card number should do the trick. There is an ever-expanding number of ways that people can steal from you today, sight unseen. Many or most of these fall into the general category of identity theft, an enormous problem digging deeper and deeper into consumer pockets. Individuals lost some $5 billion within the past year due to such fraud, with an additional $48 billion in losses reported by businesses and financial institutions. If they’re not stealing your identity outright, well, there’s a lot that can be accomplished by a skilled thief with just your checking account or Social Security number. HOW DOES A TOTAL STRANGER GET ACCESS TO YOUR MONEY? Identity theft starts with the misuse of personal data such as name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information. Today’s bandits may use a variety of methods to capture your information (read = “your money”), including: Dumpster Diving: rummaging through trash for bills, bank records, credit applications or other paperwork containing personal info; “Shoulder Surfing”: snooping at the ATM machine, phone booth or retail card processor to get your PIN code; Skimming: obtaining credit/debit card numbers by using special data encoding & storage devices while processing your card transaction; Pretexting: using false pretenses–like posing as a loan officer or customer service rep–to obtain your personal data from financial institutions, credit reporting agencies, telephone companies, and other sources; Changing Your Address: diverting your billing statements, for example, to another location by completing a change of address form; Internet & Email Fraud: gaining access to personal and financial info through your computer, by such intrusive means as spoofing, phishing, spyware and spamming. Cons & Scams: gaining access to your financial account information or your actual cash via get-rich-quick schemes, investment schemes, check writing and money advancement schemes and other fraudulent offers which usually “sound too good to be true” — and are. Good Old-Fashioned Theft: from stealing your wallet to stealing your tax or personnel records (or bribing someone who can provide access to such) to stealing mail right out of your mailbox. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR IDENTITY HAS BEEN STOLEN? One of the worst things about identity theft is that it may take a long time before you realize you’re a victim. But if you get turned down for credit or a loan because of a bad credit rating and you’re surprised by this because you know you’ve paid your bills, you may have cause for concern. You may also find out if bill collection agencies contact you for overdue debts you’re sure you never incurred. Or if you get phone calls or mail about a job you never held, a residence you never lived in or an item you never purchased. The best way to find out is to carefully monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report regularly–at least once a year. In taking these steps you have a good chance to limit any damage caused by identity theft. FIGHTING BACK AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT AFTRA-SAG FCU is committed to doing everything we can to help protect members from fraudulent activities. However, members may be exposed to acts of fraud that are beyond the Credit Union’s control and it is ultimately up to you to protect yourself from identity theft or other fraud. Never give personal or financial data over the phone, in an e-mail or on a website if you haven’t initiated the contact. AFTRA-SAG FCU and other legitimate financial organizations will never ask for personal information in an unsolicited communication. A healthy dose of skepticism is always your best first line of defense. As for your computer system, consider running firewall software to create a protective barrier between your computer and the Internet, essentially making your Web connection and activity invisible to hackers. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IN CASE OF IDENTITY FRAUD? If you are (or believe you are) the victim of identity theft, contact AFTRASAG FCU immediately by calling (818) 562-3400 or (800) 826-6946 (toll free), or emailing help@aftrasagfcu.org. Other quick steps to reduce fraud and restore your good name include filing a police report, notifying creditors (merchants and credit card companies) and credit-reporting agencies and disputing any unauthorized transactions. For more information, visit the Security Resources page at aftrasagfcu.org. WHAT DO THIEVES DO WITH A STOLEN IDENTITY? Once they have your personal data, identity thieves can use it in a wide variety of ways – all of which involve misuse of your funds that you may or may not ever recover. In addition, you often become the unsuspecting victim of damaged credit or even a source of attention for legal authorities investigating criminal activities. Peggy Miley Burbank, CA MEMBER SINCE 1992 Peggy Miley began acting in her home town of New York City playing roles Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway while also playing five times daily to a demanding audience of high school students right out of the Rikers Island drug rehab programs. As her acting career progressed, Peggy moved on to be an adjunct professor at Hunter College to pay the rent. She got her SAG card after her first commercial selling toilet paper to the nation; and her first big film was Woody Allen’s Alice in which she played Dorothy’s (Mia Farrow) maid. Other character roles included a baglady on Ryan’s Hope and a recurring role as an Irish housekeeper on Guiding Light. Since coming to Los Angeles in the mid-nineties, Peggy has guest starred in over two dozen TV episodics including Murphy Brown, Frasier, 3rd Rock From the Sun, NYPD Blue, E.R., Six Feet Under, The Shield, and Monk. She has played diverse characters in over a dozen films including the poker-playing Millie in The Odd Couple II with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau; an alien, Regent Cuzar, in Star Trek: The Resurrection with Patrick Stewart; and Mildred Kronenberg, a tough little bank manager in Bandits who wouldn’t let Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett rob HER bank. She has also played diverse characters in many commercials such as the Cheerios Grandma and the Identity Theft Lady who acquires a motorcycle at someone else’s expense. Interestingly, Peggy was a real-life victim of identity theft around the time of this commercial airing. Peggy currently serves on the Hollywood Board of Directors of Screen Actors Guild and is awaiting the release of San Saba, an independent film, in which she plays a curmudgeonly Gal Friday to a down-at-the-heels detective. She is also writing a screenplay and developing a one woman show based on Mother Jones, the prominent American labor and community organizer. You can learn more about Peggy at www.peggymiley.com. In Peggy’s Words: “The Credit Union is my primary financial partner and it has helped me keep my career going in lean times and fruitful times. Ironically, after doing a commercial for fraud and identity theft, it was the Credit Union that helped me get everything cleared up. I will always appreciate the personal attention given to me whenever I call on them and I encourage everyone in this business to take advantage of everything the Credit Union offers, including a sympathetic view of the unique financial life of folks in our business.” Do I really need to review my account statement every month? ___________ (A) ___________ It is important to look at your monthly statement to make sure all the checks, debits, automatic payments, and other withdrawals are ones you authorized. Even better, log on to your account at our Virtual Branch website and you don’t have to wait until your statement comes—you can check your transactions at any time. If you see a transaction you did not authorize, notify the Credit Union immediately. I got a letter saying I’d won a foreign lottery and all I had to do was wire them some money to claim my prize. Is this legit? ___________ (A) ___________ Every day, consumers receive notices by regular mail, phone, fax, or email saying they’ve won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes, but that’s impossible unless you traveled to that country to enter because it is illegal to buy or sell tickets across the U.S. border. Or maybe you got a check or money order as an “advance” and were asked to send money to get the rest. That’s not how legitimate contest promoters or law firms operate. Education, good judgment, and a healthy dose of skepticism are the best defenses against becoming a victim. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is! What should I do if I sell something and am sent a postal money order for more than my asking price? ___________ (A) ___________ Legitimate buyers will be happy to send the exact amount you’re owed. In a typical swindle, though, a seller is sent counterfeit postal money orders in excess of the cost of the item being purchased and then asked to ship back the balance in cash, along with the merchandise. You should always be skeptical of anyone asking this and you should never wire funds to anyone unless you’re sure the money order or check they gave you was cleared by the Credit Union or another bank and the funds released. CONSUMER & REAL ESTATE LOAN RATES Loan Type Signature Credit Card Home Equity Line of Credit VEHICLE LOAN RATES New and Used Automobiles, Motorcycles, Boats and Recreational Vehicles; Dealership and private party sales, lease buyouts and refinances of loans from other lenders are welcome. We do not finance salvage title vehicles. Annual Percentage Rate* As low as 9.4% APR As low as Prime + .99%. Limits up to $25,000 O.A.C. Variable rates as low as Prime minus 0.5%. Credit limits to $400,000–1st lien, and $250,000–second lien. No points, origination or application fees. Call the AFTRA-SAG FCU Mortgage Center at 1-888-3AFTRASAG (1-888-323-8727) for info. on First Trust Deed refinances and purchases. Term up to 60 mos. revolving revolving Model Yrs. 2003-2008 2002 and older Max. Term up to 72 mos. up to 60 mos.** 80% Financing as low as 5.95% APR as low as 6.95% APR 100% Financing* as low as 6.45% APR as low as 7.45% APR Mortgage Loans New Loan Types! MOTORCYCLE LOANS Model Yrs. 2003- 2008 2002 and older Max. Term up to 72 mos. up to 60 mos.** 90% Financing as low as 7.95% APR as low as 8.45% APR *Rates subject to change without notice DIVIDENDS PAID For month ending November 30, 2007 BOAT LOANS Model Yrs. 2003 - 2008 Max. Term up to 72 mos. up to 60 mos.** 90% Financing as low as 8.95% APR as low as 9.45% APR Share Savings $50–$999.99 $1,000+ Dividend Rate .50% 1.00% APY .50% 1.04% 2002 and older RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (RV) LOANS Model Yrs. 2003 - 2008 2002 and older Max. Term up to 72 mos. up to 60 mos.** 90% Financing as low as 8.95% APR as low as 9.45% APR Share Draft Checking All balances Dividend Rate .25% APY .25% APY = Annual Percentage Yield Dividends are posted to your account the last day of each month. 84-Month Loan Terms now being offered for vehicles $40,000+ First time car buyer program available – call for details FINANCIALS As of November 30, 2007 *100% financing is based on the lesser of purchase price or book value plus extended warranties, gap insurance, tax and license. **Up to 60 months for loan amounts over $20,000, otherwise 48 months Members 32,255 Shares $205,694,346 Loans $119,274,918 Assets $226,694,346 “As Low As” rates are our best fixed rates on approved credit; your rate may be higher and a down payment may be required depending on your creditworthiness and other underwriting factors. Not all applicants will qualify for the best rate or 100% financing. Call your local branch for details. Rates subject to change without notice. For faster processing, send all deposits, payments and correspondence to: P.O. Box 11419, Burbank, CA 91510 Branch Office Hours Mon-Thurs: 9am to 4:30pm / Friday: 9am to 6pm Burbank Branch 4100 Riverside Drive, Suite A Burbank, CA 91505 p) 818.562.3400 f) 818.562.3463 Sherman Oaks Branch 14118 Magnolia Boulevard Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 p) 818.562.3400 f) 818.562.3490 Los Angeles Branch 5757 Wilshire Boulevard #925 Los Angeles, CA 90036 p) 818.562.3400 f) 323.937.9135 Virtual Branch INTERNET BANKING Member Service Center p) 818.562.3400 p) 800.826.6946 (toll-free) Mon-Thurs: 8am to 5 pm Friday: 8am to 6pm Administrative Offices 134 N. Kenwood Street Burbank, CA 91505 p) 818.562.3400 f) 818.843.7291 www.aftrasagfcu.org TELEPHONE BANKING p) 818.260.0609 p) 800.392.9321 (toll-free)