| What is identity theft? | | | | since even if there is a loss your bank may be |
| Identity theft is when a person steals personal | | | | obligated to refund your losses. Be sure to check your |
| information, such as the name, address, birth date, | | | | bank's terms and conditions. |
| Social Security number or mother's maiden name from | | | | -Promptly notify your bank and other creditors when |
| another person in order to commit fraud. The thief then | | | | you move or change your phone number or email |
| uses this information to impersonate the victim and | | | | address. |
| take over their financial identity. | | | | -Contact creditors if your regular bills do not arrive |
| With a relatively small amount of information criminal | | | | when expected. |
| can taking over banking, insurance or investment | | | | Don't give away your personal information |
| accounts, open new bank accounts, purchase | | | | Careless conversations can be the best source of |
| automobiles, apply for loans and credit cards, receive | | | | identity theft. Make sure you don't make yourself a |
| Social Security benefits, rent apartments, and even | | | | victim by giving away your confidential information. |
| establish utility and phone company services, all under | | | | -Don't give out personal information, such as your |
| the stolen identity. | | | | Social Security number or account numbers, over the |
| How do identity thieves get personal information? | | | | telephone unless you initiated the call and you know |
| While there is much in the media about internet based | | | | with whom you are dealing. |
| identity theft, there are lots of ways your personal | | | | -If you receive any telephone calls asking for personal |
| information can be stolen, many of them much easier | | | | information don't give out personal information until you |
| than internet theft. | | | | can verify to the call is legitimate. A good way to do |
| -Stealing your wallet, purse, or checkbook. | | | | this is to call the customer service number printed on |
| -Removing mail from your mailbox, both incoming or | | | | your statement. |
| outgoing. | | | | -Confirm why personal information is needed before |
| -Going through your trash to find statements and | | | | giving it out and even then only give out what is |
| receipts. | | | | absolutely necessary. |
| -Phishing - Obtaining information by email scams or | | | | -Register your home and cell phone numbers with the |
| fraudulent websites. | | | | Federal Do Not Call Registry to reduce some |
| -Hacking - Illegally gaining access to a computer where | | | | unsolicited calls. |
| personal information is stored. | | | | Review your credit report regularly |
| -Social Engineering- Simply tricking the victim into giving | | | | Your credit report shows most accounts and balances |
| out personal information | | | | opened using your information. Accounts that you can't |
| Who is an identity thief? | | | | recognize or that have unexplained balances could be |
| Contrary to what many people think, identity thieves | | | | signs that your identity has been stolen. |
| are not always sinister villains looking for victims. In fact, | | | | -Review your credit report from the three major |
| many studies show that a significant portion of identity | | | | agencies at least annually to confirm there were no |
| theft actually occurs by people the victim knows and | | | | unauthorized credit inquiries made or accounts opened |
| trusts. | | | | in your name. |
| -Opportunity criminals who 'chance' upon your personal | | | | -Consider using one of the credit report monitoring |
| information | | | | services offered by the major credit reporting |
| -Organized criminals who actively seek victims | | | | agencies. |
| -Husbands and wives who use their spouse's | | | | -In the US you are eligible for a free copy of your |
| information to open accounts to take money | | | | credit report under the Fair and Accurate Credit |
| -Roommates | | | | Transactions Act (FACT Act). The FACT Act |
| -A person you meet at a party who has lots of | | | | requires the three major credit reporting agencies to |
| questions about your personal life | | | | provide consumers with a free copy of their own |
| -Parents who use a child's identity | | | | credit report each year. |
| -Children who use a parent's identity | | | | To obtain a free credit report contact: |
| -Housekeepers, contractors or others who have | | | | Annual Credit Report Request Service |
| access to your home | | | | P.O. Box 105281 |
| How do I protect myself from identity theft? | | | | Atlanta , GA 30348-5281 |
| By taking a few precautions you can limit the | | | | 1-877-322-8228 |
| opportunity for an identity thief to steal your personal | | | | What do I do if I think I am a victim of Identity Theft? |
| information. | | | | -Immediately contact the fraud division of the credit |
| Safeguard and protect your personal information | | | | reporting agencies and request that a "fraud alert" be |
| -Don't carry important documents such as Social | | | | placed in your file. Ask that no new credit be granted |
| Security cards, passports, or birth certificates in your | | | | without your approval. |
| purse or wallet. Keep important documents in a safe | | | | -Notify the Social Security Administration by calling |
| place at home or in a safe deposit box at the bank. | | | | 1-800-772-1213. |
| Only carry them when you need them. | | | | -Notify all of your creditors of the fraud. |
| -Shred any receipts, financial statements, documents, | | | | -File a report with your local law enforcement authority. |
| or bank statements, including credit card bills, before | | | | -Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission |
| disposing of them. | | | | (FTC) at 1-877-438-4338. The FTC is the |
| -Immediately report lost or stolen checks immediately | | | | clearinghouse for identity theft complaints. They |
| to your bank or other financial institution. | | | | provide information to help resolve financial problems |
| -Immediately report lost or stolen debit or credit cards. | | | | that result from identity theft. |
| -Always store checks in a safe place including | | | | -The FTC provides an ID Theft Affidavit which you |
| cancelled ones. Ask your bank if they will store your | | | | should complete as soon as possible after you |
| checks instead of returning them in the mail. | | | | become aware of the fraud. Completing this affidavit |
| -Store any account numbers in a safe place and don't | | | | can help protect you from responsibility for fraudulent |
| write down passwords for internet sites that contain | | | | charges on your accounts. |
| personal information such as internet banking sites. | | | | -Keep detailed records of all events once you |
| -Reconcile your banking statements regularly and | | | | determine that your identity has been stolen. Include |
| consider using your bank's internet banking service to | | | | names, telephone numbers, and the date and time you |
| monitor your accounts regularly. Studies show that | | | | made contact with individuals or companies requesting |
| identify theft is caught quicker and is less costly by | | | | assistance in recovering your good name. |
| victims who use check their accounts regularly. | | | | While no one can be completely safe from Identity |
| -Remove mail from your mailbox as soon after | | | | theft, simply taking the time to safeguard your |
| delivery as possible. When mailing bills and credit card | | | | information reduce that likelihood. You can also |
| payments, take them to a post office or place them in | | | | significantly reduce the amount of time and money you |
| a secure, official U.S. Postal Service collection box. | | | | spend to recover your identity if you are prepared |
| -Consider using an internet banking service to pay bills | | | | before you become a victim. |