Identity Theft Protection

Protecting our members' privacy and educating them about Identity Theft is a top priority at NHCCU. Read below for information on how best to protect yourself against Identity Theft.

******FRAUD ALERT******

We have recently discovered an e-mail fraud attempt known as "phishing" that was sent via an e-mail to credit union members that also included some New Horizons members. This fraudulent e-mail appeared to be from the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and asks the recipient to update their account information via a Web link contained within the e-mail. If the recipient clicks on the link, they are directed to a false NCUA website and asked for non-public personal information such as a social security number, credit card number and ATM PIN code, along with other sensitive and secure information.

The e-mail that was sent out can be viewed here: Fraudulent E-Mail.

If you receive this e-mail please note that your personal account information from New Horizons has not been compromised, nor has it been provided to anyone for this purpose.

If you receive an e-mail that appears to be from NHCCU or NCUA and asks for personal account information, consider this request a fraudulent attempt to obtain your personal account information for an illegal purpose and you should not follow the instructions in the e-mail message.

If you have received such an e-mail and responded with any of your personal account information, please notify NHCCU immediately at 303-744-3535, x1102 as well as fill out and submit the Identity Theft Affidavit available below.

******FRAUD ALERT******

If you have been a victim of Identity Theft, click on Identity Theft Affidavit* to begin taking the steps necessary to protect yourself.

Please be advised: New Horizons will NEVER contact you via e-mail soliciting personal information or confirmation. If you do receive an e-mail asking for personal information, do not reply and do not use the link provided regardless if the link leads to a website that resembles the NHCCU website. Read below for further information on this Identity Theft concern.

Tips for Protecting Yourself Online

NHCCU along with our HomeBanking provider have developed and installed multiple layers of security to protect your account information while you are banking online. The following are steps you can take to protect yourself and your computer while using DataNET HomeBanking as well as the Internet in general.

Never reveal your DataNET HomeBanking PIN number

Your PIN number is the key to accessing your account information. Protect this number and never reveal it to anyone you do not wish to have access to your account. New Horizons Member Service Representatives DO NOT have access to your password.

For added security it is a good practice to change your PIN number periodically. To change your PIN number:

• Login to DataNET HomeBanking
• Click on "Options" on the Main Menu on the left
• Click on "Change PIN"

Always use "Logout" to end your DataNET HomeBanking session

When you are finished using DataNET, always click "Logout" on the HomeBanking main menu on the left side of your screen. This will return you to the NHCCU homepage. Never use the back key or click on a favorite/bookmark to surf to another website without first clicking on "Logout." Doing so may allow another user to access your account information.

Utilize Anti-Virus software

New computer viruses are surfacing daily. Some are created for the sole purpose of stealing account information. To protect yourself, it is highly recommended that you install anti-virus software on your computer. Your system should be scanned at the very least on a weekly basis and your virus definitions should be kept up to date. Many of the most popular anti-virus software can be purchased online or at your local software store.

The most common are:

• Norton AntiVirus (Symantec)
• McAfee Anti-Virus (Network Associates, Inc.)
• PC-Cillin (Trend Micro)

Update your Internet Browser and Operating System regularly

Software manufactures release new versions and updates to their browsers and operating systems regularly. It is not only in your best interests to load these new versions for the additional features but more importantly for the added security. As security holes are discovered, they are fixed and software patches are released.

To download updates to your browser or operating system, visit your software manufacturer's website.

Avoid Online Scams (Phishing)

Countless Internet users have been tricked into giving personal information to potential thieves through a process known as "phishing." In this scheme, the thief sends an e-mail designed to look like it came from a financial institution or government agency.

The message attempts to get consumers to provide confidential information such as account numbers, social security numbers, and passwords by asking them to confirm this information in a reply or by clicking on a link provided in the message. Typically, the message will contain an urgent tone or claim there will be problems with your account unless you respond immediately.

Consumers that click on the link in the message will be sent to a website that looks like the legitmate site but instead is controlled by the identity thief. It will then allow them to capture any information typed by the user.

If you receive an e-mail such as one described above, use these two guidelines:

• NHCCU (or any financial institution or federal agency) will NEVER use e-mail to request personal information or confirmation. If you do receive an e-mail asking for this type of information, do not reply and do not use the link provided.
• Call or E-mail NHCCU using an e-mail or telephone number you know to be legitimate, so that we can take the steps necessary to protect the rest of our membership.

For more information about how to protect yourself from identity theft and Phishing scams, click here.

Sign-up for E-Statements

A simple step you can take right now to protect yourself against Identity Theft is to sign-up for Electronic Statments with NHCCU. The process is simple and eliminates the possibility of your statement being stolen from your mailbox or captured by an identity thief when disposed of improperly.

Your electronic statment is stored in a secure online archive that can store up to 7 years of your statments online. For more of the benefits as well as information on how to sign-up now, click here.

Shred your confidential/personal documents regularly

Get in the practice of shredding your statements, bills, and other personal financial documents on a regular basis. The identity thief will target your trash for access to information that can help them steal your identity.

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