Credit unions in the Finger Lakes Chapter recently hosted an identity theft prevention and recovery workshop in Corning. More than 50 individuals attended the event, which allowed the credit unions to share best practices with the public and raise awareness in the area.

The presenters included Nancy Williamson, CEO of ServU FCU; Ted Minner, fraud mitigation and EFT services supervisor at Corning FCU; and Kyle Hanlon, Corning FCU information security analyst.

Williamson provided the attendees with an overview of the recent Equifax data breach and offered advice to those who were affected. She recommended opening and reviewing all financial statements as soon as they arrive, reviewing free credit reports, signing up for a credit monitoring service, filing taxes as early as possible, ensuring anti-virus software and all other programs are up-to-date, and placing fraud alerts or freezes on accounts if necessary.

Minner then explained the steps individuals should take if identity theft is suspected, suggesting to attendees that they should place fraud alerts and monitor their credit reports. He also told the group they should report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission and consider filing a report with the local police department.

Hanlon concluded the event by providing tips on how consumers can secure their online identities. He offered a number of resources and tools to help credit union members stay safe online, and he urged them to use strong passphrases and two-factor authentication wherever available.