Preventing Identity Theft Jennifer Abel Virginia Cooperative Extension

What is Identity Theft? An identity thief takes some piece of your personal information without your knowledge and uses it to commit fraud or theft. Fastest growing crime in the U.S. Example: A thief uses your personal information to open a credit card account in your name

How do thieves get your info? By stealing wallets and purses They divert your mail with a change of address form They steal your mail They use info you share on the Internet They find info in your home or in your trash They get your personnel records at work They obtain your credit report by posing as a landlord or employer They buy your info from pretexters Example of buying information from inside sources: they pay a store employee for information about you that they get from an application for credit, goods, or services. They can also buy your information from pretexters. Pretexting is when illegal fraud operations sell personal information to identity thieves. Source: Federal Trade Commission, 2001. ID Theft: When bad things happen to your good name.

What can they do with your info? Buy cars by taking out loans in your name Open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on the account Counterfeit checks or debit cards and empty your bank account Establish phone or wireless service in your name Change the address on your credit card or open new cards in your name. Delinquencies show up on your credit report

How to protect yourself Check your credit report once per year Before you reveal personal information, ask how it will be used and shared with whom Pay attention to your billing cycles Mail bills at post office or collection boxes instead of from your mailbox Put vacation hold on mail when you’re away. Call 800-275-8777.

Protecting yourself cont. Don’t carry your SSN card Minimize the credit cards you carry Put passwords on credit card, bank, and phone Use an assigned license number rather than your SSN Remove your name from telephone solicitation lists and national mailing lists. Renew request every 5 years Remove name from national e-mail lists: www.e-mps.org

More tips for minimizing your risk Use a locked mailbox at home or a P.O. box When you order new checks, pick them up rather than having them mailed Keep a photocopy of all credit cards Take credit card and ATM receipts with you Call 888-5OPTOUT to stop receiving pre-screened credit card offers Shred documents with personal info before discarding The three national credit bureaus have marketing and promotional lists that they sell to national marketers. Only Experian allows consumers to have their names removed from these lists. Call 800-407-1088 to get off Experian’s lists.

And still more tips Make sure your personal info at work is kept in a secure place Make sure personal information in your home is secure Don’t give out personal information unless you initiated the contact or trust the business Memorize all passwords Shield your hand when entering PIN at ATM Assumption and Deterrence Act of 1998 The Identity Theft Assumption and Deterrence Act of 1998 makes it a crime to steal someone’s personal identification information. This information includes SSN, credit card number, cellular phone electronic serial number, or any other piece of information that could be used to identify a specific individual.

When SSN is requested, ask... Why do you need my SSN? How will my SSN be used? What law requires me to give you my SSN? What will happen if I don’t give you my SSN?

What to do if you’re a victim: 1. Contact credit bureaus Call fraud units of three nat’l credit bureaus Equifas: 800-272-9281 Experian: 888-397-3742 or 800-301-7195 Trans Union: 800-680-7289 Ask that a fraud alert be placed in your file Add a victim’s statement to your report Review reports quarterly The victim’s statement should say that creditors must contact you before opening any new accounts or changing your account information. Credit bureaus are required to provide you with one free credit report during any 12-month period when you expect that it may contain fraudulent information. Additional reports will cost no more than $8.50. Ask credit bureaus to notify those who have received your report in the last six months to inform them of the disputed information. Contact credit bureaus by phone and in writing. When writing, include copies (not originals) of documents to back up your case. Send your letter return receipt requested so you can document that it was received. Explain all the items you dispute in your report, why, and what action you want taken. Credit bureau must address your letter within 30 days and must forward all the data you provide to the information provider (creditor or bank). Any information that can’t be verified must be deleted from your report. Any erroneous information must be corrected by the bureau. If your file shows an account that belongs to someone else, the credit bureau must delete it. When the credit bureau finishes its investigation, it must give you a written copy of the results and a free report if its investigation results in a change. Source: ID Theft: When bad things happen to your good name, Federal Trade Commission, July, 2001.

2. Contact creditors Contact all pertinent creditors, by phone and in writing Request replacement cards with new account numbers Victims are liable for no more than $50 fraudulently charged on credit cards Request copies of all fraudulent credit applications and statements of charges Ask that closed accounts be processed as “account closed at customer’s request.” Better than “credit card lost or stolen” because credit bureaus can interpret that statement as laying the blame on you. Creditors are required by law to provide you with statements of incurred fraudulent charges. Contact police if you have any problems. When reviewing fraudulent charges, note dates, places, or items that contradict your schedule, whereabouts, or tastes. The law does not require you to fill out notarized fraud affidavits when reporting fraud to banks or creditors, so protest if asked to do so, unless the bank or creditor agrees to pay the fee. Source: A guide for victims of identity theft, Virginia Attorney General’s office When writing creditors, you must write to the address for billing inquiries, not for making payments. You must send your letter so that it reaches the creditor within 60 days of when the bill with the error was mailed to you. If your address was changed by an identity thief, you letter still has to reach the creditor within 60 days after the bill was mailed. That’s why it is so important to pay attention to your billing cycles. Source: ID Theft: When bad things happen to your good name, FTC, 2001.

3. Contact law enforcement Contact all police and sheriff's departments with jurisdiction over your case Get copy of your police report or report number Give the phone number of your fraud investigator to those requiring proof of your case Provide as much documented evidence as possible

If your address has been changed on an existing credit card account... Close the account When opening a new account, assign a password that must be used before any changes can be made to account Avoid using birthdate, mother’s maiden name, last 4 digits of SSN, four consecutive numbers Use different information for PIN

If bank accounts have been tampered with... Close accounts Password-only access on new accounts If checks stolen, stop payment on checks Contact check verification companies National Check Fraud Service: 843-571-2143 SCAN: 800-262-7771 TeleCheck: 800-710-9898 Cross Check: 707-586-0551 Equifax Check Systems: 800-437-5120 International Check Services: 800-526-5380

If ATM card lost or stolen... Cancel card as soon as possible Get a new card with a new PIN Not liable for more than $50 if report loss or theft within two business days Visa and Master Card have protections on their debit cards that make it so you are not liable for more than $50 no matter how much time has elapsed since the loss or theft.

If the identity theft concerns phone service... Contact service provider to cancel account Open new accounts with new PINs Difficulty removing fraudulent charges from bills? Contact the Federal Communications Commission: 888-CALLFCC; www.fcc.gov/ccb/enforce/complaints.html

Mail Theft Report mail theft or fraudulent changes of address to: U.S. Postal Inspections Service, Operation Support Group, 222 S Riverside Plaza, Suite 1250, Chicago, IL 60606-800-372-8437 www.nps.gov/websites/depart/inspect

Passports If you’re the victim of identity fraud, someone could fraudulently order a passport in your name Contact U.S. Passport Agency, 202-647-0518 Ask for form #DSP-64, used to notify the office of the theft of your passport Make a copy of the completed form and send original to Agency

Legal Help If you need an attorney to help resolve your identity theft, contact the Arlington County Bar Association for a referral: 703-228-4465 $35 consultation fee

More Help Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission: 877-IDTHEFT, www.consumer.gov/idtheft If you can’t get your financial institution to resolve banking ID theft problems, find the agency with jurisdiction over your institution: www.ffiec.gov/nic/default.htm Contact the office of the VA Attorney General: 800-451-1525

Summary Guard your personal information Pay attention to your billing cycles Report identity theft to credit bureaus, creditors, and law enforcement Get help from law enforcement, FTC, legal aid Don’t give up until the situation is resolved and all erroneous information is removed from your credit report