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[ Download ID Theft Reporting
Packet ] [
More Info on ID Theft ]
Identity theft, according to the National
Crime Prevention Council, is the fastest-growing crime in America,
affecting half a million new victims each year. Identity theft and/or fraud
is the taking of your identity to:
 | Obtain credit and/or credit cards from banks and retailers, |
| Steal money from your exiting accounts, |
| Apply for loans, |
| Establish accounts with utility companies, |
| Rent an apartment, |
| File bank-ruptcy, or |
| Obtain a job using your name. |
A lot of damage can be done before you ever find out what happened.
HOW IT IS COMMITTED
The imposter:
| Obtains your social security number, birth date, address, phone
number, etc. |
| This is done in various ways, such as going through your trash at home
or at stores (“dumpster divers”), ‘peeping’ over your shoulder at store
check-out locations, ATM’s, etc., online through non-secure Webb orders
and ways we probably haven’t heard of yet. |
| Uses the obtained information and gets a fake driver’s license. |
| Applies in person or through the mail for instant credit. |
| Explains that the reason for change is that they have recently moved
(gives new address), etc. |
| Continues to apply with different companies based on new, falsified
credit account. |
| Creates a whole new you. |
PREVENTION METHODS
DO’s:
| DO shred all documents, such as pre-approved credit applications in
your name, insurance forms, bank forms (i.e. checks and statements) that
you are discarding, other financial information, etc. |
| DO minimize the identification information and credit cards you carry.
Take only what you need. Leave social security cards, birth certificates,
passports in a secure area, i.e. safes (fireproof), safety deposit box,
etc. |
| DO be careful using ATMs and phone cards. Someone may look over your
shoulder and get personal information. |
| DO keep in a safe place, a list of your credit card/bank account
numbers along with their respective customer service information phone
numbers. |
| DO write on your calendar the appropriate amount of time for you to
receive newly applied for or renewed credit cards, ordered checks, etc. If
you do not receive them in the allotted time, call the sender to verify
address, date sent, etc. |
| DO pay attention to billing cycles. A missing credit card bill could
mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed the
address. |
| DO cancel all credit cards that you have not used in the last six
months. Open credit is a prime target. |
| DO order your credit report at least twice a year.
Equifax at 800-685-1111
Experian at 888-EXPERIAN
(397-3742)
TransUnion at
800-680-7293
|
| DO correct all mistakes on your credit report in writing. Send the
corrections back to the credit reporting agency and you should get a
response within 30 days. |
| DO write to Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Services, PO
Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735 to get your name OFF direct mail lists.
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DON’Ts:
| DON’T give out personal information over the phone, through the mail,
or over the Internet if the contact was initiated by a so-called bank,
Internet provider, or government representative, unless you can verify
their identity. |
| DON’T use your mother’s maiden name, your birth date or birth date of
someone in your immediate family, the last four of your social security
number, or other familiar or similar numbers as a password for anything.
|
| DON’T put your social security number on your checks or your credit
receipts. If a business request you number give them an alternate and
explain why. If the government asks for your social security number a
privacy notice will accompany the request. |
| DON’T put your telephone number and/or driver’s license number on your
checks. This not only keeps that information secure, it should require the
recipient of the check to ask to see your license (this helps in case
checks are stolen). |
| DON’T put your credit card number on the Internet unless it is
encrypted on a secured site. |
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