Division of Family & Consumer Sciences Strengthening Families, Farms, Communities & the Economy The Organization of Professional Employees of the USDA visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft While identity theft can happen to anyone, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk. This program is being offered to help you be a protected USDA employee and a responsible consumer. visit to download the complete presentation

Identity Theft Overview What is identity theft? How does it occur? How to protect personal information What steps to take if your identity is stolen visit to download the complete presentation

What is Identity Theft? ID theft occurs when someone wrongfully uses your personal information in an illegal manner to obtain cash, credit, loans, services, rentals, mortgages, employment or to commit a crime in your name. visit to download the complete presentation

A Growing Crime Identity Theft was the #1 category in the Federal Trade Commission, “Consumer Sentinel Network” for calendar year Source: december-2014https:// december-2014 visit to download the complete presentation

How Identity Theft Occurs Identity thieves…. –Steal a purse or wallet –Randomly use SSN’s –Find personal information in homes –Complete false change of address forms –Obtain personal information from worksites visit to download the complete presentation

How Identity Theft Occurs Identity thieves can… –Take your trash –Fraudulently obtaining your credit report –“Skim” your credit or debit cards –Shoulder surf –Steal your mail visit to download the complete presentation

How Identity Theft Occurs Identity thieves can… –Steal your personal information through e- mail or phone by claiming to be a legitimate company and stating that there is a problem with your account “Phishing” if done online “Pretexting” by phone visit to download the complete presentation

Phishing Forward spam that is phishing for information to: Federal Trade Commission – Department of Homeland Security visit to download the complete presentation

How Identity Theft Occurs Often by people you know –Family, neighbors, co-workers Are ½ of all known ID thieves Usually done offline –2/3 of cases are offline Theft of wallet or trash Credit card or other account visit to download the complete presentation

How does the thief work? An ID thief uses your information to: –Obtain new credit cards –Forge checks or debit cards and drain accounts –Open new bank accounts –Receive utilities –File a bankruptcy case –Commit crimes visit to download the complete presentation

What is at risk? An Identity Thief can use your: –Social Security number –Driver’s license number –Credit/Debit card number –Telephone number –Or other account numbers without your permission visit to download the complete presentation

What is at risk? Identity Theft can damage your credit rating and you could be: –Denied a job offer –Denied a loan –Denied housing –Denied utilities Your wages garnished Your driver’s license revoked visit to download the complete presentation

Minimize Your Risk Protect your Social Security Number: –Do not use on checks, insurance or other cards –Memorize your number –Ask why when required to give your number How will it be used? How will it be protected? Is it necessary? visit to download the complete presentation

Minimize Your Risk Safeguard personal information: –Place passwords on your Credit/Debit cards Bank accounts Phone or online accounts –Have your photo placed on your credit and debit cards –Use an “active duty” alert if you are deployed military visit to download the complete presentation

Use Passwords When placing passwords on your accounts, do not use: –Mother’s maiden name –Your birth date –Last four digits of your SSN –A series of consecutive numbers –Your phone number –Your street address or zip code visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Your Information Do not provide personal information over the telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless: –You placed the call, letter or . –You know the company is reputable and the request legitimate. –Guard against “phishing.” visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Yourself If you receive a call claiming you won a prize: –Do not provide or confirm any personal information. –Do not provide credit card information. –Ask for the phone number and ID of the caller. –Do not send money. visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Your Computer Update your virus protection software –Install updates for your operating system. Protect against intrusions and infections such as “pharming.” –Do not open files, click on hyperlinks or download programs sent to you by strangers. Protect against spyware. visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Your Computer –Use a firewall program –Check for website security Lock icon on browser’s status bar URLs that begin with https: –The “s” stands for security –Do not store financial info on laptops Use a strong password –Upper & lower case and numbers visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Yourself If donating or discarding a computer, clean it of all personal information. –You must do more than just delete files If donating, buy or download a program that “shreds” or “wipes” files If discarding, physically remove the hard drive and damage or destroy it visit to download the complete presentation

Guard Your Wallet or Purse Do not: –Hang your purse over the back of a chair or put it in a shopping cart. –Carry more credit cards than you need. –Carry your passport, visa, or original birth certificate. –Carry your passwords or PINS. –Carry your SSN or card. visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Yourself If your purse/wallet is stolen and keys taken: –Change the locks on your Home Vehicles Do not give a thief the opportunity for more access to your personal information. visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Yourself Do not post personal information on the Internet. Review your credit and bank statements each month, report fraudulent activity immediately. Shred documents with any personal information. Be careful with key cards. visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Yourself If you have applied for a new credit card, watch the mail and calendar. –If it does not arrive within a few weeks, call the credit card company. To opt-out of receiving pre-approved credit card offers: –Call opt-out visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Your Mail Use a locking mailbox or post office box for incoming mail. Do not leave mail lying around. Do not allow mail to pile up. Use the U.S. Post Office or postal mailbox for outgoing mail. Have new checks delivered to your bank. visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Yourself Be careful with personal information at home or when traveling: –Use a telephone where your conversations cannot be overheard. –Make sure no one is looking over your shoulder at ATMs or pay phones. visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Your Credit Cards Shield your credit cards from view. Sign new cards when they arrive. Total receipts, do not leave empty spaces where additional amounts can be added. Keep receipt copies to compare with your monthly statements. –Do not leave in shopping bags. visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Your Credit Cards Watch out for shoulder surfers with camera cell phones. –They can take a picture of your credit card which gives them: Your name Credit card type Credit card number Expiration date visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Your Bank Accounts When ordering checks: –Use initials for your first name. –Use your work phone number. –Use a PO Box instead of your home physical address. Do not put full account numbers on the memo line. visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Your Account Numbers Cross out your credit card or bank account number on receipts when submitting for reimbursement to: –Charitable or professional organizations –Employers –Tax preparers –Product rebates visit to download the complete presentation

Get a Copy of Your Credit Report To obtain a free copy of your credit report: Order online: Call toll-free: Mail the Annual Credit Report form printed from to: Annual Credit Report Request Service PO Box Atlanta, GA www.ftc.gov/credit visit to download the complete presentation

Check Your Credit Reports To correct any errors on your credit report contact: Equifax – Experian – EXPERIAN ( ) TransUnion – visit to download the complete presentation

Secure Documents Keep vital information in a secure place Have a list of your credit card and bank account numbers Photocopy credit cards Keep copies of credit card and bank statements visit to download the complete presentation

Discovering Identity Theft It takes 14 months on average before victims discover the theft. –Fraudsters often divert bills to another address. Victims who bank electronically find out faster. –Paper statements – 114 days –Online – 8 days visit to download the complete presentation

Discovering Identity Theft FTC Report –54% of victims found out by monitoring accounts. –26% alerted by companies they did business with. –8% found out by being refused credit. visit to download the complete presentation

Discovering Identity Theft Time = Money –Credit company or being denied credit Average loss = $12,021 –Through paper statement review Average loss = $ 4,543 –By electronic statements Average loss = $ 551 visit to download the complete presentation

If You Are A Victim Alert credit card companies and bank immediately! File a police report. Stop payment on outstanding checks. Change passwords or PINS. Request new ATM cards. visit to download the complete presentation

If You Are A Victim Contact all of your creditors: –Close all affected accounts. –Request that creditors indicate that your accounts were “closed at the customer’s request.” –Have creditors contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. visit to download the complete presentation

If You Are A Victim Contact the three credit reporting agencies: –Place a “Fraud Alert” in your file –Add a “victim’s statement” to your file –Complete an ID Theft Affidavit –Request a free copy of your credit report visit to download the complete presentation

If You Are A Victim Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – –1-(877)-ID-THEFT is the FTC’s hotline for identity theft victims to file complaints and to get information to repair their credit visit to download the complete presentation

If You Are A Victim You may also need to contact: –Department of Motor Vehicles If the fraud involved your driver’s license –Internal Revenue Service If tax fraud in your name –Passport Office If the fraud involved your passport visit to download the complete presentation

If You Are A Victim You may also need to contact: –Social Security Administration If the fraud involved your SSN –U.S. Postal Inspection Service If someone stole your mail or changed your mailing address visit to download the complete presentation

If You Are A Victim You may also need to contact: –U.S. Secret Service If credit card fraud was committed ( –U.S. Trustee’s Office If a fraudulent bankruptcy case was filed in your name or with your Social Security Number visit to download the complete presentation

If You Are A Victim Keep a record of your contacts: –Maintain a “paper trail” of all correspondence regarding the theft Written Telephone visit to download the complete presentation

Identity Theft Summary What is identity theft? How does it occur? How to protect personal information What steps to take if your identity is stolen visit to download the complete presentation

Protect Yourself visit to download the complete presentation

Authors Marilyn C. Bischoff, Family Economics Specialist Marsha A. Lockard, Extension Educator Barbara D. Petty, Extension Educator

Contact Information Susan Shockey, PhD, CFCS, CPFFE National Program Leader Visit to download the complete presentation