WHAT IS
IDENTITY THEFT?
Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal
information, credit cards, checks, or driver’s license and uses
those to obtain credit or merchandise in your name. Identity
theft also involves using someone else’s identity with intent to
commit an unlawful act.
HOW DOES
IDENTITY THEFT HAPPEN?
Everyday transactions require you to share personal
information such as your name, address and phone numbers; bank
and credit card account numbers; and your Social Security
number. Thieves may have access to this information through
their regular employment.
Purses and wallets may be stolen.
Mail may be stolen including new check orders, bank and credit
card statements, and pre-approved credit offers.
Your trash may be rummaged through for personal information.
Fraudulent telephone solicitors may contact you.
WHAT
SHOULD I DO IF IT HAPPENS?
Contact your local police department immediately. Most
fraudulent use of cards or checks takes place within days of
being lost or stolen.
Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which has established
a centralized complaint and consumer education service for
victims of identity theft. They maintain a database that is
shared with law enforcement officials worldwide and also with
credit bureaus to help correct identity theft related problems.
Contact the fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus.
Ask that a “fraud alert” be placed on your name and Social
Security number so hopefully law enforcement will be contacted
if a business checks with the credit bureau. This will also show
up if you use your accounts without changing them, so you may
wish to carry a copy of the police report with you to minimize
credit hassles for yourself.
Contact the credit departments of any accounts that have been
tampered with or opened fraudulently.
Contact the postal service if you think your mail has been
stolen.
If you have been the victim of an identity theft, check your
criminal history to clear up any arrest or conviction records in
your name caused by someone using your name as an alias.
WHAT CAN I
DO TO REDUCE MY RISK OF IDENTITY THEFT?
Before you reveal any personal identifying information, find
out how it will be used and whether it will be shared with
others. Ask if you can choose to have it kept confidential.
Cancel unused credit cards.
Don’t carry your Social Security card, passport or birth
certificate with you except when necessary.
Shred all credit card receipts, solicitations, cancelled checks
and other financial documents before throwing them away.
Check credit card statements immediately or unauthorized
purchases.
Don’t give out your Social Security number, mother’s maiden
name, or any account information over the phone unless you are
sure the caller is legitimate.
Have your name removed from lists sold to companies offering
pre-approved credit cards.
Never write down PINs and passwords–memorize them. If you must
keep a written record, do not put it in the same location as
your credit or debit cards. Don’t use the last 4 digits of your
Social Security number as your PIN.
Carry only necessary credit cards and identification information
with you.
Protect your mail from theft-install a locked mailbox at your
residence, do not leave paid bills in your mailbox for pickup,
and have your mail held by the post office if you will be away
from home.
When you order new checks, consider picking them up at the
bank rather than having them mailed to your home.
Check your credit reports at least once a year. You can
obtain these free once a year at:
www.annualcreditreport.com
Do not give your Social Security number unless absolutely
necessary.
Check on-line bank accounts frequently.
Never leave your purse and credit cards unattended at work.
Do not leave credit cards, checkbooks, etc. in your vehicle.
Sign the back of a new credit card as soon as you get it.
Destroy unwanted cards.
Be careful about where you keep personal information in your
home, especially if you employ outside help or are having
service work done in your home.
Request that your name be removed form lists of direct mail and
telephone marketers.
Pay attention to billing cycles. Contact creditors if bills
do not arrive on time.
Make sure you are using a secure site when ordering merchandise
over the Internet.
Be cautious when using bank ATMs or public phones to make long
distance calls so that the number you are using cannot be
observed by others in the area.
Check your credit card when returned to you after purchase to
make sure it is your card. Ask for and destroy carbons used in
the transaction.
Keep a list handy of phone numbers for all credit cards and
financial institutions you may need quickly if your purse or
wallet is stolen, including account numbers and expiration
dates.
HELPFUL PHONE NUMBERS
FTC IDENTITY THEFT HOTLINE
1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338)
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
THREE MAJOR CREDIT BUREAUS
Equifax- www.equifax.com
To order your report, call: 800-685-1111 or write P.O. Box
740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To report fraud, call: 888-766-0008 or write P.O. Box 740241,
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
TDD: 800-255-0056
Experian- www.experian.com
To order your report, call: 888-ECPERIAN
(888-397-3742) or write P.O. Box 2104, Allen, TX 75013
To report fraud, call: 888-EXPERIAN
(888-397-3742) and write P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013-9532
TDD: 800-972-0322
Transunion -
www.transunion.com
To order your report, call: 800-888-4213 or write P.O. Box 1000,
Chester, PA 19022
To report fraud, call: 800-680-7289 and write Fraud Victim
Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
TDD: 877-553-7803
MAJOR CHECK
VERIFICATION COMPANIES
Request that these companies notify retailers not to accept
your stolen checks. You may also ask your bank to notify the
check verification service with which it does business.
Telecheck- www.telecheck.com
1-800-710-9898 or 1-800-927-0188
Certegy, Inc. - www.certegy.com
(formerly Equifax Check Systems)
1-800-437-5120
To find out if the identity thief has been passing bad checks in
your name, call:
SCAN
1-800-262-7771
