Identity theft is one of our nation's fastest growing crimes. The FBI estimates that between 500,000 and 700,000 individuals are victims of this crime each year. Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information such as your name, address, Social Security number (SSN) bank or credit card account number or other types of identifying information to commit fraud or other crimes.
- The criminals can use your account numbers to go on a spending spree with your credit and/or debit card numbers and buy high dollar items that they can easily sell like personal computers, TVs, and stereo equipment.
- Open new credit accounts using your information. When they don't pay the bills the "bad credit" information is reported against you.
- Change the address on your current accounts. By changing the address, you won't get the bills and this extends the time the criminals can use your account.
- Take out auto loans in your name.
- Establish telephone or wireless services in your name.
- Open a bank account and write "worthless" checks.
- File for bankruptcy under your name.
- Give your name to police during an arrest - when they don't show up for court an arrest warrant will be issued in your name.
- Secure personal information in your home.
- Secure personal information in your workplace.
- Do not give out personal information over the telephone, mail, or internet unless you initiated the contact and know the company or individual you are dealing with.
- Clean out your wallet and/or purse.
- Only carry your Social Security card with you when you will need it for a specific purpose.
- Only carry those credit cards that you really need.
- Keep a copy of all information that you keep in your wallet.
- Watch your mail.
- Keep track of your billing statements and bank account statements, if they are late contact your financial institution.
- Do not mail bills from your personal mail box use a Postal Mail box or go to the Post Office.
- Remove mail from your mailbox promptly.
- Have your mail stopped or have a trusted friend or family member get the mail for you if you are out of town.
- Watch your trash.
- Do not throw out bank statements, cancelled checks or credit card offers without shredding or tearing up first.
- Use caution when using the internet.
- Avoid being "phished".
- Use of fraudulent emails requesting you provide personal information. These attempts often appear to be from "legitimate" companies using the companies logo, some of the more popular companies used are:
- Citi Bank and SunTrust Bank
- Ebay and Paypal
- Install a fire wall on your computer and keep it current.
- Monitor the balances in your financial accounts. Look for unexplained charges or withdrawals.
- Failing to receive bills or other mail, which can signal that an identity thief has changed your address.
- Receiving credit card for which you did not apply.
- Being denied credit for no apparent reason.
- Receiving calls or letters from debt collectors or businesses about merchandise or services you did not buy.
- Order copies of your credit report and check for accounts that you did not authorize.
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review your credit bureau reports. Call one of the toll-free fraud numbers for the credit bureaus. Once they have verified the fraud alert the other two credit bureaus will be notified and all three reports will be sent to you free of charge.
- Equifax - To report fraud, call: 1-800-525-6285 and write: P.O. Box 74021, Atlanta, GA 303741-0241
- Experian - To report fraud, call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742), and write: P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013-9532
- TransUnion - To report fraud, call: 1-800-680-7289, and write: Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
- Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
- File a report with your local law enforcement agency or in the community where the identity theft took place.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, or call,
- 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) or,
- TDD: 202-326-2502, or write;
- Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.
www.ftc.gov or
1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338)
The FTC's toll-free ID Theft Hotline
TDD: 202-326-2502
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