IDENTITY THEFT What it is & how to prevent it

What is identity theft?  Identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information & uses it without your permission  Can affect your finances, credit history, & reputation  Takes time, money, and patience to resolve

Are you at risk? Check yes or no 1. When I keep my ATM cards and credit cards in my wallet, I never write my PIN (Personal Identification Number) on any of my cards. 2. When I leave my house, I take with me only the ATM and credit cards I need for personal or business purchases. 3. When I get my monthly credit-card bills, I always look carefully at the specific transactions charged to my account before I pay the bill. 4. When I get my monthly bank statements, credit-card bills, or other documents with personal financial information on them, I always shred them before putting them in the trash. 5. When I get mail saying I've been preapproved for a credit card, and don't want to accept or activate that card, I always tear up or shred the preapproval forms before putting them in the trash. 6. I request a copy of my credit report at least once a year. 7. If the volume of the mail I get at home has dropped off substantially, I always check with my local post office to see if anyone has improperly filed a change-of-address card in my name. 8. If I think that I may be a victim of identity theft, I immediately contact -  The Federal Trade Commission to report the situation and get guidance on how to deal with it.  The three major credit bureaus to inform them of the situation.  My local police department to have an officer take a report.  Any businesses where the identity thief fraudulently conducted transactions in my name. Source: US Department of Justice

What’s the difference? Open new accounts and/or make significant financial transactions (such as buying houses, cars, or large amounts of electronics) in the victim's name Identity Theft Attempt to steal funds from a victim's account by fraudulent means. Examples of identity fraud include making unauthorized ATM withdrawals with stolen ATM/debit card information, and making unauthorized purchases with a stolen credit card Identity Fraud

How ID Theft Happens  Rummage through garbage at your house, businesses, or public dumps  Work or pretend to work for legitimate companies, medical offices, clinics, pharmacies, or gov’t agencies so you reveal your personal information  Pretend to be someone from a trusted institution & trick you over the phone or in

What Thieves Do  Drain bank account  Run charges on credit cards  Open utility accounts  Get medical treatment on your health insurance  File tax refund in your name  Give your name to police in an arrest

Warning Signs  Withdrawals from your bank account that you cannot explain  You don’t get your bills or other mail  Merchants refuse your checks  Debt collectors call you for debts that aren’t yours  Unfamiliar accounts on your credit report  Medical bills for services you didn’t use  Health plan won’t cover you because medical records show a condition you don’t have  IRS notifies you that more than 1 tax return was filed in your name or you have income from an employer you don’t work for  Receive notice that your information was compromised by a data breach at a company or business where you have an account

How to Prevent Identity Theft  Safely store all paper & electronic records with your personal information  Do not share your SSN unless you trust the other party (or only give last 4 digits)  Shred documents with personal information  Be aware of risky events  Adult who wants a new identity / start over  Lost wallet or purse  Break-in at home, school, doctor’s office  If you’re worried, check around age 16 (number given by the FTC)

More on Keeping Information Safe  Paper copies  Lock box  Keep purse & wallet in a safe place at work  Limit what you carry – take only necessary identification & cards when you travel Do NOT keep your Social Security Card in your wallet!!  Shred receipts, credit offers, credit applications, insurance forms, etc. when you don’t need them  Destroy labels on prescription bottles before throwing away  Online  Be alert to scam s  Get rid of personal information on computers & phones before getting rid of them  Encrypt your data – look for the “lock” icon on the statsu bar of yoru browser to be sure it’s safe  Keep passwords private  Don’t overshare on social networking sites – never put full name, SSN, address, phone number, or account numbers on publicly accessible sites  Be careful about using public Wi-Fi

Child Identity Theft  Minors’ social security numbers can be used to apply for:  Government benefits  Bank accounts  Credit card accounts  Loans or utility services  Rent/Apartments  Usually minors do not have a credit report, but you CAN check to make sure your identity has not been stolen!  Warning Signs  If you get turned down for government benefits like Social Security  Get a notice from the IRS saying you didn’t pay income taxes or that your SSN was used on another tax return  Get collection calls or bills for products you didn’t receive

How to Check & Fix It  Check whether you have a credit report  Contact the 3 credit reporting agencies  Ask for a manual search of your file May ask for birth certificate, SS card, parent’s driver’s license, & proof of address  If your identity WAS stolen,  Call the 3 agencies & ask them to remove all accounts, account inquiries, and collection notices from any file associated with the minor’s name & SSN  Contact every business that your info was used in & close fraudulent accounts  Place a fraud alert on your credit report  File a fraud alert with the FTC online – you may also need to file a police report

AGAIN – This is important!  Place a fraud alert on your credit file with the 3 credit reporting agencies  Check your bank account and other statements for unusual activity  Order your free credit report annually to monitor your accounts

Letters & Forms for Identity Theft Victims  Go to sample-letters-and-forms-victims-identity-theft sample-letters-and-forms-victims-identity-theft  Ch oose TWO of the sample letters & forms.  Write a summary of each form’s purpose and information you put in it. Class Work

Working in small groups, create a skit that demonstrates the steps involved in identity theft  How your identity is stolen  What happens when a thief steals your identity  How you find out your identity was stolen  What you do when your identity is stolen These skits will be performed for the class – so keep it clean and original! Class Work – ID Theft Skit