Phoenix, Ariz. (July 12, 2005) - While more than 27.5 million people in just the last five years have spent significant amounts of time and money trying to alter the damage done by Identify theft, Arizonans now have a program that could help them receive assistance and reimbursements for as little as $4.95 per month.

Arizona Federal has teamed up with Identity Safeguards and ChexSystems sm to offer its members IDefend, an online identity protection program that includes educational materials, a monitoring service and a restoration program.

For as low as $4.95 per month or $49.95 annually, which is half of what other similar programs cost, members will receive weekly credit monitoring, a yearly credit report, Debit Bureau monitoring beginning in the fall, a personalized protection plan, fraud alerts, up to $20,000 in lost wages and expense reimbursement and recovery assistance. After signing up with IDefend, Arizona Federal members will receive weekly email updates. If fraudulant activity is suspected, the member reports the activity and a personal recovery advocate is assigned to the account to help determine a proper plan of action and work with the customer until all issues are resolved.

Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States and impacts one in every 23 people. This type of crime occurs when someone possesses or uses a false name, address, Social Security number, bank or credit card account without permission with the intent to commit fraud or other crimes and can occur without the victim’s knowledge. It is difficult to recover from this type of crime and takes a significant amount of time and money to alter the damage done.

For more information on the IDefend program, to sign up for the program or to learn about other services Arizona Federal provides for their members, visit their website at www.azfcu.org or call (602) 683-1000.

Arizona Federal is one of the state’s largest credit unions with more than $1.4 billion in assets, 180,000 members and 22 Arizona locations. Arizona Federal focuses on its members by making it easy for them to do business and offering them a wide variety of financial services and educational opportunities. Arizona Federal is also dedicated to providing financial education and playing a positive role in the community.

Read other press releases