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Identity Theft
is a crime, which occurs when someone is using your personal
information without your permission to commit fraud or
other illegal acts. Identity Theft is serious!
Over 10 million
individuals have their identity stolen each year.
Common Ways
Identity Theft Happens:
Stealing Mail
and Wallets
Dumpster Diving
Skimming
Phishing and Pretexting
Obtaining Data from Businesses & Institutions
Indicators
of Identity Theft:
Failing to
receive expected bills or other mail.
Receiving unexpected account statements and credit cards  that
you didn't apply for.
Being denied credit for no apparent reason.
Receiving letters or calls from debt collectors or merchants
about purchases that you did not make.
Detecting unauthorized charges in your account statements.
Discovering unknown accounts in your credit report.
Response to
Identity Theft:
Financial
Identity Fraud:
FRAUD ALERT:
Place a Fraud Alert on your credit file
with the three major Consumer Reporting
Agencies:
Equifax (800) 525-6285
Experian (888) 397-3742
TransUnion (800) 680-7289
Examine your credit report.
ACCOUNTS CLOSE-UP:
Close accounts that have been tampered
with or
opened fraudulently.
POLICE REPORT:
File a report with law enforcement officials.
Request a copy.
COMPLAINT TO FTC:
Report the complaint to the Federal Trade
Commission
www.ftc.gov/idtheft
(877) IDTheft (877) 438-4338
CORRECTION OF CREDIT REPORTS:
Send documents to the Consumer Reporting
Agency:
Copy of an Identity Theft
Report.
Copy of the Police Report.
Information requested
by the agency.
Letter explaining what
information is fraudulent.
Proof of your identity
(SSN, name, address)
Phone
Fraud:
Cancel account
or calling card.
Fraudulent local service charges:
Contact State Public utility Commission.
Fraudulent charges for cellular phones and long distance:
Contact Federal Communications Commission
at www.fcc.gov or (888) 225-5322.
Government
Identity Theft:
Social Security
Number Misuse:
Contact Social Security Administration
of the Inspector General at www.socialsecurity.gov/oig
or (800) 269-0271.
Tax Fraud:
Contact IRS Identity Protection Unit
at www.irs.gov/privacy/article/0,,id=186436,00.html
or (800) 908-4490.
Criminal
Identity Theft:
Contact police or sheriffs departments that originally
arrested the impersonator.
File an impersonation report and confirm
your identity.
Request a "clearance letter."
Ask to change the "key name"
or "primary name" in
the official record.
Contact the D.A.'s office to clear your
name in
the court records.
Medical
Identity Theft:
Contact billing department, doctor and fraud/legal
department.
File a police report.
Request a "clearance letter."
Identity Theft
Prevention Tips:
- Protect
your Social Security Number.
- Use a cross-cut type shredder before disposing of
unwanted documents.
- Avoid using unsecured mailboxes at home or at work.
- Pick up mail every day or stop delivery:
call U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777.
- Have new checks delivered to your local bank branch,
not at home mailbox.
- Minimize junk mail delivery:
Opt out of unsolicited credit offers
sent by mail
(call 1-888-5-OPTOUT or 1-888-567-8688).
- Carry only those debit and credit cards that you
anticipate using.
- Examine your bank statements and report mistakes
and discrepancies to the card issuer
immediately.
- Do not provide personal information on the phone,
internet or by mail to an unknown party
or when
you have not initiated the contact.
- Ignore unsolicited e-mails.
- Secure personal information at home.
- Monitor consumer credit reports regularly.
- Review earnings posted on the Social Security Statement
(Form SSA 7005).
Additional
Resources:
FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT
- Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) www.ftc.gov/idtheft
- Department of the Treasury Identity Theft Resource Page:
http://www.identitytheft.gov
Identity Theft and Your Tax Records:
http://www.irs.gov/privacy/article/0,,id=186436,00.html
- US Secret Service (USSS)
Criminal Investigators:
http://www.secretservice.gov/criminal.shtml
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
Identity Theft and Fraud:
www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html
- Social Security Administration
Identity Theft and Your SSN:
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html
Social Security: Your Number and Card:
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html
- US Postal Inspection Service
ID theft: Safeguarding Your Personal
Information:
www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub280/welcome.htm
CONSUMER &
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- International Association of Chiefs of Police: ID Safety
http://www.theiacp.org/idsafety
- Privacy Rights Clearinghouse: Identity Theft Resources
http://www.privacyrights.org/identity-theft-data-breaches
- Call for Action / Identity Theft
http://www.callforaction.org/?cat=10
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