In-person training sessions, lasting 60-90 minutes, will be delivered through the Foundation and credit union staff members who completed the Foundation's "Train-the-Trainer" training.

Attendees will receive handouts on the prevention, protection and remediation of ID theft and cyber crimes. Topics to be covered in the educational sessions include:

oID theft: what it is, how it occurs, and minimizing risk;

oSkimming of information from debit/credit cards;

oRecognizing pretext calling techniques to obtain private information (i.e., social security number);

oProtecting your computer and learning to shop online safely;

oAvoiding Internet scams and frauds such as spamming, spoofing, phishing and pharming; and

oWhat to do if you're a victim.

"Identity theft is not only devastating financially to the victim, but it has negative effects upon the victim's credit union and all organizations that serve credit unions," said Diane LaVigna-Wixted, the Foundation's executive director. "By working together on this initiative, we present a united front to credit union members and consumers, promote the credit union difference through financial education, and demonstrate the 'people helping people' philosophy."

Who are You? Identity Thieves Really Want to Know! is a collaborative project of the New York State Credit Union Foundation, New York State Credit Union League and CUNA Mutual Group.

Funding for this project is from a court-approved settlement of antitrust claims brought by the Office of the New York State Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission. Additional funding has been provided by Covera Card Solutions and a grant from the National Credit Union Foundation.