BEWARE! IDENTITY THEFT CARL JOHNSON FINANCIAL LITERACY JENKS HIGH CSHOOL

KEY TERMS  Federal Trade Commission (FTC)– A federal agency that enforces consumer protection  Fraud – Someone who knowingly deceives you for their own personal gain  Identity Theft – Using a person’s name or personal information without the person’s permission to steal money or get other benefits

WHY ARE YOU A TARGET????  Young people are some of the most frequent targets of identify theft and other scams  They are targeted because of their limited experience in dealing with financial matters and therefore are easier to victimize  Identify theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world today, and is one of the most costly problems that consumers face  Consumers receive offers daily that sound too good to be true  The internet and are a major means of scams by con artists

SPAM S

WHY ARE YOU A TARGET????  Identify theft means that someone has used your personal information without your permission  This could be your name, social security number, credit card number or other pieces of information  They use this information to purchase all kinds of things  They get the goods, you get the bills!  According to the Federal Trade Commission, there are about 9 million people in the U.S. yearly who have been victims of identity theft  This can cost lots of money to clear up, and as a result, your credit history and reputation suffer!

METHODS THAT ID THIEVES USE TO GET YOUR INFORMATION  Dumpster Diving – Rummaging through your trash looking for your personal information  Skimming – Stealing your credit/debit card numbers with a special device when processing your card  Phishing – Pretending to be banks, the IRS or some other organization, they send you letters or asking you for your personal information  Changing Your Address – Scammers complete a change of address card for you so they can receive your billing statements. Once they have the statements, they are able to access your accounts

DUMPSTER DIVING

SKIMMING DEVICE

METHODS THAT ID THIEVES USE TO GET YOUR INFORMATION  Stealing – They steal your wallet, purse or even the mail out of your mailbox – anything with your personal information  Statements (Bank or Credit Cards)  Preapproved Credit Offers  New Checks  Tax Information  Pretexting – Pretending to be you, scammers use false information to get your personal information from financial institutions, utility companies and other sources  Hacking – They hack into your computer or other computers that maintain your personal information

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM BEING A VICTIM  The best way to protect yourself from ID theft is to monitor your billing statements and bank statements each month  Also check your credit report regularly  By regularly checking your accounts, you can limit the damage caused by identity theft

SAFETY MEASURES TO CONSIDER…  Use passwords on all credit cards, bank and cell phone accounts…Avoid common passwords – Use a combination of letters and numbers  Keep all personal information in a secure place, such a small safe or lock box  Only use secure web sites for entering in personal information  Shred all papers with personal information on them before throwing into the trash

SAFETY MEASURES TO CONSIDER…  Never give out personal information on the phone unless you have initiated the contact…Anyone who should need your information already has it!  Avoid clicking on links from s or clicking on websites unless you are certain it is a valid link – It may be a scam for your information  Place your outgoing mail in a postal mail drop box or take to a post office, especially if mailing checks or other personal information. If you are going on a trip, have the postal service hold all your mail until you return home

SAFETY MEASURES TO CONSIDER…  Leave your Social Security card in a safe place – This does not include your wallet or purse  Do not use your Social Security number as an ID number or give out your Social Security number  Carry only the personal identification and credit cards that you will actually need when you go out

SAFETY MEASURES TO CONSIDER…  Avoid responding to promotions. Identity thieves create fake promotional offers to get your personal information  Keep you purse or billfold in a safe place at school or work. Pick up orders of new checks at the bank, instead of mailing them to your home  Monitor your credit history on a regular basis by ordering a copy of your credit report from the three primary credit bureaus. Because you can get a free report annually, you might order one report from each agency every four months, instead of ordering all three at one time

IF YOU ARE A VICTIM…  If you become a victim of identity theft, let your parents know and also contact your local law enforcement immediately  You complaint is an essential resource for law enforcement, as they will use your information to build their cases against whoever victimized you, as well as spot trends against these criminals  Contact the fraud division of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax/Experian/TransUnion), explain that you have been a victim of identity theft and ask them to put a fraud alert on your credit file  Contact all credit card companies or issuers of all credit that has been affected. Follow up with a letter and a copy of the police complaint  File a compliant with the Federal Trade Commission