Identify Theft

What is Identity Theft?
PC 530.5: Unauthorized Use of Personal Identifying Information

Identity theft involves acquiring key pieces of someone's identifying information, such as name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and mother's maiden name, in order to impersonate them.

This information enables the identity thief to commit numerous forms of fraud, which include, but are not limited to, taking over the victim's financial accounts, opening new bank accounts, purchasing automobiles, applying for loans, credit cards and Social Security benefits, renting apartments, and establishing services with utility and phone companies.

Protect Yourself

• Promtly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery
• Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection mailboxes or at your local post office. Do not leave in unsecured mail receptacles.
• On vacation, have the post office hold your mail.
• Never respond to phone calls or e-mails asking for your personal information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, credit card number, or bank PIN code, unless you initiated the phone call or contact. Protect this information and release it only when absolutely necessary.
• Shred all papers that have your name or personal information on it. Shred pre-approved credit applications, credit card receipts, bills, and other financial information you don't want before discarding them in the trash or recycling bin.
• Consider having your name removed from the marketing lists of the three credit reporting bureaus to limit the number of pre-approved offers of credit that you receive. (See Resources link for contact information)
• Empty your wallet of extra credit cards and ID's and/or cancel the ones you do not use and maintain a list of the ones you do.
• Order your credit report from one of the three credit bureaus at least once a year to check for fraudulent activity or other discrepancies.
• Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank counters, trash receptacles, or unattended gasoline pumps.
• Keep track of all your paperwork. When you no longer need it, destroy it.
• Memorize your Social Security number and all of your passwords. Do not record them on any cards or on anything in your wallet or purse.
• Sign all new credit cards upon receipt.
• Save all credit card receipts and match them against your monthly bills.
• Be conscious of normal routine financial statements. Contact the sender if they are not received in the mail.
• Monitor your bank accounts regularly.
• Notify your credit card companies and financial institutions in advance of any change of address or phone number.
• Never put your credit card or any other financial account number on a postcard or on the outside of an envelope.
• Use caution when disclosing checking account numbers, credit card numbers or other personal financial data at any website or online service location unless you receive a secure authentication key from your provider.
• When you subscribe to an online service, you may be asked to give credit card information. When you enter any interactive service site, beware of con artists who may ask you to confirm your enrollment service by disclosing passwords or the credit card account number used to subscribe. DON'T GIVE THEM OUT!
• Beware of mail or telephone solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards designed solely to obtain your personal information or credit card numbers.
• Closely monitor expiration dates on your credit cards. Contact the credit card issuer if replacement cards are not received prior to the expiration dates.
• If you applied for a new credit card and it hasn't arrived in a timely manner, call the bank or credit card company involved.
• Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
• Never loan your credit cards to anyone else.

If You Are A Victim

• Set up a folder to keep a detailed history of this crime.
• Keep a log of all your contacts and make copies of all documents. Keep records of everything involved in your efforts to clear up the fraud.
• Contact your police department.
• Change the passwords to all of your accounts.
• Contact all creditors, by phone and in writing, to inform them of the problem.
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov to report the problem. The FTC is the federal clearinghouse for complaints by victims of identity theft. The FTC helps victims by providing information to help resolve financial and other problems that could result from identity theft. Their hotline telephone number is:
  1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).
• Call each of the three credit bureaus' Fraud Units to report identity theft. Ask to have a “Fraud Alert/Victim Impact” statement placed in your credit file asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts. Request a copy of your credit report be sent to you.
• If the Internet was involved with your identity theft, contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov to file a complaint.
• If your Social Security number has been used fraudulently, contact the Social Security Administration's Fraud Hotline at: 1-800-269-0271.
• Notify the United States Postal Inspector if your mail has been stolen or tampered with.
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service – local post office (See phone listing under Federal Government) or contact them at: www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect

Related Link:

Resources