You get an e-mail message from your Internet Service Provider or
a company like Paypal or Amazon and the e-mail tells you that your
information must be updated. They request that you complete the
online form and submit it to them. The form contains your credit
card information, your date of birth and other personal
information. Unfortunately when you click on the link to go to the
web form, it is from a third party doing nothing more than
'harvesting' your information.
You sit down and pay your monthly bills. You complete the
checks, sign them, put them along with the return portion of the
bill in the mail. You then throw out your statements. while you are
away or asleep, "dumpster-divers' are going through your trash can
going through the papers you have thrown away and discover a gold
mine of information about you and your accounts.
While there is no guarantee that your identity will not be
stolen, there are steps that you can take to minimize the risk.
DO NOT give out your Social Number to people or
companies that you do not know
Shred information that you no longer need that contains your
personal information, such as account numbers as in credit card
receipt, billing statements, and especially pre approved credit
card offers. Shred using a cross cut shredder is the preferred
method.
Before you disclose ANY personal information, make sure you know
who is getting the information and for what purpose and why it is
required.
Guard your mail. Mail theft is on the rise. Remove your mail
from the mailbox promptly and place outgoing mail in a post office
collection box. If you have rural mail delivery to your residence,
install a locking mail box to safeguard your mail.
Keep your personal information in a safe place both at home and
at work.
Do not carry extra credit cards, your birth certificate,
passport or other cards that display your Social Security Number in
your purse or wallet except when you need them.
Create unique passwords and personal identification numbers.
Avoid using easily available passwords such as your mother's maiden
name, pet name, date of birth, last four numbers of your social
security number. Make the password more than 6 characters long (if
you can, most ATMs only let you use 4 numbers) and make them of a
mixed variety as in numbers and letters.
Get a copy of your credit report from each of the three major
credit reporting agencies at least once a year. Review the reports
to be sure no one else is using your identity to open new accounts
or using your existing accounts.
Contact the fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus.
Request that a 'Fraud Alert" be placed on your credit file and have
them include a statement that would require creditors get your
permission before any new accounts are opened in your name. Get a
copy of your credit report from each credit bureau and closely
inspect it. You will need to dispute any inaccurate information, in
writing and check your report at least every six months.
Equifax
to order a credit
report: 800-685-1111
to report fraud: 800-525-6285
www.equifax.com
Experian
to order a credit
report: 888-397-3742
to report fraud: 888-397-3742
www.experian.com
Trans Union
to order a
credit report: 800-888-4213
to report fraud 800-680-7289
www.tuc.com
Contact your
Creditors
Contact all the creditors that are
involved and notify them that your account with them may have been
used without your express permission or that new accounts have been
created in your name. If your accounts have been used fraudulently,
ask them that new cards and account numbers be issued. Check your
billing statements and report any fraudulent activity or charges
immediately. Many creditors and banks will accept the "ID Theft Affidavit" (also
available at www.consumer.gov/idtheft
) to dispute the charges.
File a Police Report
Get a
copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may
require proof of a crime.
Contact the Federal Trade
Commission
The FTC provides useful information to
identity theft victims and maintains a database of ID theft cases
for use by police agencies. File a report with the FTC online by
clicking here or calling their hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT
(1-877-438-4338) or by mail at;
Identity Theft Clearing House
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington DC, 20580
You may obtain a copy of "ID Theft, When Bad Things Happen To Your Good
Name" (just click on the name for a PDF copy of the
publication or you may request a copy by mail from the address
above and it is also availble in the Additional Resources and
Publications section)
Keep a Record of Your Contacts
Start a
file with copies of your credit reports, the police report, any
correspondence, and copies of disputed bills. It is also useful to
keep logs of your conversations with creditors (including their
names), Police Officials and any one else involved. Make sure you
follow up your phone calls in writing and send all correspondence
certified, return receipt requested.
