| Identity
Theft
Identity theft is a serious crime where people try to
illegally use your personal information for their own
gain. Information like your name, address, date of birth,
Social Security Number, online banking passwords and
PINs, credit and Check card numbers are keys to your
financial information. When scammers obtain your confidential
information, they can charge expenses to your accounts,
create new accounts in your name, or use your personal
information for other illegal purposes.
How Your
Identity Can Be Stolen.
Identity thieves look for pieces of your personal information.
Here are just a few ways in which thieves might obtain
your identity:
-
Searching your trash.
This is called "Dumpster Diving" - a term
to describe people who rummage through your trash
to find unshredded information like credit card
offers, old bills, and bank statements.
-
Intercepting your mail.
Thieves can complete "change of address"
forms and receive mail that is intended for you.
-
Stealing your wallet
or purse.
Your wallet or purse can contain a wealth of information
about you including your account numbers, address,
and date of birth.
-
Accessing your employer's
files.
Your place of work stores a lot of your personal
and business information and can be a target for
identity thieves. Talk to your company's security
officer to learn how your information is protected.
-
Getting information directly
from you.
Sometimes, thieves pose as telemarketers, or someone
who might have a legitimate reason to ask for your
personal information (like your bank, employer,
or landlord). They even use fake emails and Web
sites to try and obtain information from you.
Signs
of Identity Theft.
Identity theft is dangerous because it can remain
hidden for a relatively long time before it's identified.
Here are some signs to help you identity if you've
been a target of identity theft:
-
Missing mail.
A telling sign of identity theft
is if you are missing mail or see a significant
drop in amount of mail you receive.
-
Suspicious transactions.
Monitor your accounts, statements, and credit
reports and look for unusual transactions.
-
Unexpected declines.
Be alert to any unexpected declines for
a loan or a mortgage despite your good credit.
-
Strange calls.
Calls from a collection agency you do not
recognize are another sign that someone
has stolen your identity.
-
New credit cards.
A credit card in the mail that you have
not applied for could be a sign that someone
has attempted to steal your identity.
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Help Protect Yourself
from Identity Theft.
The important thing to remember is to use caution
when disclosing personal and financial information.
There are a number of ways you can help protect
yourself from identity theft:
-
Sign the back of
your credit and debit cards.
This minimizes the possibility of someone
else using your card.
Keep your credit card receipts.
-
Don't throw your
receipts away.
They can help you double check your bank and
card statements and identify any suspicious
activity.
-
Report lost or
stolen credit cards immediately.
If you lose your credit or Check Cards or
if they are stolen, it's important that you
contact your bank immediately.
-
Cancel and destroy
all unused cards.
Call the banks to cancel the cards and destroy
the cards before throwing them out. When you
destroy the cards, make sure the numbers are
no longer recognizable.
-
Leave out personal
information on your checks.
Don't include your driver's license, telephone
or Social Security Numbers on your checks.
By omitting this information, you keep confidential
information away from prying eyes.
-
Promptly collect
incoming mail.
Your incoming mail has clues to your personal
information. Make sure you collect it promptly.
-
Shred your junk
mail.
Make sure you shred all your junk mail before
you throw it away -- especially credit card
offers which could contain confidential information.
-
Don't drop your
outgoing mail in your mailbox.
It is safer to drop your outgoing mail in
official Postal Service collection boxes than
your mailbox – especially if your mailbox
is not locked.
-
Review your credit
reports.
Make sure they are error-free. There are three
credit reporting agencies whose reports can
show different information. It is best that
you review them at least once a year.
| |
Equifax
|
Experian
|
TransUnion |
Report
Fraud |
(800) 525-6285 |
(888) 397-3742 |
(800) 680-7289 |
Dispute
Credit Report Online |
|
|
|
Order
Credit Report |
(800) 685-1111 |
(888) 397-3742 |
(800) 916-8800 |
Address |
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA
30374
|
P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX
75013 |
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022 |
If You are a Victim
of Identity Theft.
If you think you're a victim of identity theft,
take these steps immediately.
-
Notify one of the three major
credit bureaus and place a fraud alert on your
credit report.
| Fraud
Divisions for the major Credit Reporting Agencies |
|
1-800-525-6285 |
|
1-888-397-3742 |
|
1-800-680-7289 |
-
Contact your financial institutions
and credit card companies.
-
Contact the local police
department and ask to file a miscellaneous incident
report.
-
Contact all the businesses
that have opened accounts in your name without
your permission.
-
Notify the Federal Trade
Commission.
Call 877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338)
or visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
By sharing your identity theft complaint with
the FTC, you will provide information that can
help law enforcement officials track down identity
thieves.
-
Report stolen mail.
File a report with the Postal Service. Call
your local Postal Inspector or visit www.usps.com.
-
Call the Social Security
Fraud Hotline.
Immediately report that your card has been lost
or stolen by calling the Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
-
Report stolen checks.
If your checks have been stolen or misused,
stop all payments.
-
Alert the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
If you identify suspicious activity in your
investment accounts, call the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) at 1-800-732-0330.
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