Financial Fraud Detection Methods in GUAM
A recent incident involving the Financial Aid Office at the University of Guam has raised concerns about financial fraud and identity theft. On March 27, 2018, an email with attachments containing protected information of 154 students was sent to 196 unauthorized recipients.
Number of Affected Individuals
- A total of 196 unintended recipients were affected by this incident.
- 154 students whose information was compromised are also affected.
Identity Theft Concerns
Although there is no indication that anyone has suffered identity theft, the University has notified those whose information was accessed to take steps to protect themselves. If you received an email with attachments containing your personal information, please review the identity theft materials posted on the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website.
Fraud Alert and Credit Protection
If your personal information was accessed by an unauthorized party, it does not necessarily mean that you will become a victim of identity theft. You can take steps to protect yourself by placing a fraud alert on your credit file or security freeze on your credit report.
- A fraud alert tells potential creditors to contact you before issuing new credit in your name.
- This can help prevent unauthorized activity on your account.
Placing a Fraud Alert
You can place a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting any one of the three national credit bureaus:
- Equifax: (800) 525-6285 or www.equifax.com
- Experian: (888) 397-3742 or www.experian.com
- TransUnion: (800) 916-8800 or www.transunion.com
There is no charge for placing a fraud alert, which lasts for 90 days and can be renewed at no cost.
Additional Resources
If you have any questions or concerns, you can:
- Contact the University’s call center at (671) 735-2640.
- Send an email to fraudprevention@triton.uog.edu.
- Fill out a form if you received the email in error.
Guam Code Annotated Law
For reference, Guam Code Annotated Title 9, Section 46.80 states that impersonation and identity theft are illegal and punishable by law.