Association of Military Banks of America

It’s Military Consumer Protection Month – What Information Will Help You as a Member of the Military Community?

mcpd_250x250-buttonThis month, July 2016, is Military Consumer Protection month.  A month dedicated to sharing information, tools and resources with the military community to help protect against identity theft.  Also, during this month, several local, state and federal agencies are coming together to help military consumers not only protect against identity theft but also provide the step-by-step directions to take if you find yourself a victim of identity theft.

On July 13, @StopFraudCo, the Consumer Protection Section of the Colorado Attorney General’s office, @FTC, the Federal Trade Commission, and @MilConsumer, the education team at FTC all came together to host a twitter chat.  The hour-long discussion online provided many tips and a plethora of information.  Below are some tips that we wanted to share with you from the chat.

Don’t miss the next chat – where you can participate on July 26, 2016!  Stay tuned to the AMBA blog for more information before the next #milchat!

What steps should service members or military families take if they find themselves victim of identity theft?

  • Step 1: Call the companies where you know fraud occurred.
  • Step 2: Place a free 90-day fraud alert and get your credit reports.
  • Step 3: Report the identity theft to the FTC: online form or call 1-877-438-4338 with details.
  • Step 4: File a report with your local police department.

Check out this great video from FTC about how to report and recover from identity theft! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7UJ6oScjvU&feature=youtu.be

If you are deploying, what can you do to help protect your credit while you are overseas?

Place active duty alert on credit reports to protect your credit.  Check out this blog from the FTC about the active duty alert: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/deploying-servicemembers-consider-active-duty-alert

Don’t forget to meet with a financial counselor to assist you with the identity theft you are experiencing.  You can check with your on-installation family readiness center, Fleet and Family Support, Army Community Service or the Airmen & Family Readiness Center for help.  You can also meet with a financial counselor by contacting MilitaryOneSource.mil.  Don’t forget that your military bank can also be a great resource for help!

Don’t miss the next chat – where you can participate on July 26, 2016!  Stay tuned to the AMBA blog for more information before the next #milchat!