1. Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
How to prevent it, and how to fix it

2. What is identity theft? Someone steals your personal information…
Name
Date of birth
Social Security Number
Bank account numbers
Credit card numbers
And uses it to benefit themselves.
Set up a bank account
Get a credit card
Take out a loan
Give false information to the police for a crime

3. Why should I be worried? Financial impacts Disruptive
Drain your bank account
Charge debts in your name
Get medical care on your insurance
File for a tax refund in your name
Disruptive
May need to get new accounts, new Social Security number, etc.
Emotional toll: anxiety, stress, feeling powerless, shame
Thieves target seniors because…
Often have more money saved
May not monitor finances – takes longer to detect
Viewed as easier to deceive
Emotional: many victims of IDT feel vulnerable. They may become suspicious of others (esp. b/c they may not be able to put a face to the crime). If they were tricked, or if they were careless with their information, they may blame themselves for the crime.

4. How do thieves get my information?
Stealing your…
Wallet or purse
Mail
Trash
Information when you apply for legitimate credit
Card skimming
Hacking…
Your computer
Businesses
Government
Your online presence (Facebook, Pinterest, etc.)
Asking you
Call, , or text
Pretending to be a legitimate business,
friend, or relative

5. Or: Someone you trusted abuses that trust
May use your credit card, bank account, etc. without permission, or try to convince you to let them use it
Check your credit card bills
for unauthorized charges
Check your bank records
for unauthorized purchases.
Review all of your mail for
unfamiliar credit cards or bills.

6. How do I know if I am a victim?
Denied credit
Unknown charges on your credit card
Debt collector contacts you about debts that are not yours
Errors on your credit report
Wrong name, address, contact info
Credit lines, accounts, debts you never knew about
Inquiries from companies you never applied to
Receive bills for credit cards or loans that you’ve never heard of
Police charge you with a crime you did not commit
IRS rejects your tax return, says you already filed one

7. How do I protect myself? Stop it before it happens
Protect your personal information
Keep important documents somewhere safe: birth certificate, Social Security card, etc.
Never give personal information to people who call or you
Lock your mailbox
Shred documents – don’t just throw them away
Monitor your credit reports
Check your credit reports regularly
(877)
Consider “freezing” your credit
Be tech-smart
Use password protection for bank accounts and telephones
Keep antivirus/ antispyware software updated
Be careful about posting information online – name, birthdate, address, etc.
Check for encryption: “https” url ,or lock icon on browser
Mention that they will be asked verification questions from old addresses, accounts, loans, purchases (they will need to provide the correct information or they will be denied online request, and will have to mail in request).

8. WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Take your contact information off sales lists
Opt-out of telemarketing sales: Do Not Call List
Can delete your phone number from telephone solicitation lists.
Calling toll-free (888) from the telephone number you want to delete.
Opt-out of pre-screened credit offers
Credit bureaus sell your financial information to credit card companies, payday lenders and other financial institutions who then send you invitations to borrow
Thieves can use these offers to open accounts in your name
Call (888) or visit

9. What should I do if it happens?

10. 1. Place a “Fraud Alert”
Call one of the credit bureaus, place an Initial Fraud Alert
Can request if you suspect you are a victim of Identity Theft, or are about to be
Exs: wallet stolen, fooled by scammer
Only have to call one credit bureau
What this does:
Can request a free copy of your credit report from each credit bureau
This is in addition to your free annual report
Ask that they only include the last 4 digits of your SSN
Potential creditors must use “reasonable” steps to verify your identity
But, they still may get it wrong
How long does it last?
Initial fraud alert: stays on your credit report at least 90 days

11. Extended Fraud Alert
Can place if you know you have been a victim of Identity Theft
Must provide the credit bureau with an Identity Theft Report
Free
Effects:
Lasts 7 years
Potential creditors must actually contact you before extending credit
Entitled to two free credit reports from each credit bureau in the first year
Removed from marketing lists for “pre-screened” credit offers

12. 2. Check Your Credit Reports
Look for:
Loans/debts you didn’t take out
Accounts you didn’t open
Wrong information about your (name, address, phone number, employer, arrest records, etc.)

13. 3. Report It Create an Identity Theft Report Send dispute letters
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
File a police report
Send dispute letters
Can send to:
Credit cards
Banks
Credit bureaus
Businesses (send to “fraud department”)
Debt collectors
Include copies of:
Documents showing the errors
Your Identity Theft Report
Do this ASAP
Debt Collectors: within 30 days
Credit Cards: dispute within 60 days
Banks: how soon you dispute affects how much you owe
Before charges: $0. Within 2 days: $50. Within 60 days: $500.
If you don’t dispute a fraud within 60 days, you can be fully liable

14. Contacting the FTC
Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C
(877) ID-THEFT [(877) ]
TTY: (866)

15. Also contact… If you know your SSN has been misused:
Social Security Administration
P.O. Box 17785
Baltimore, MD
(800)
If a tax return has been filed in your name:
Complete an IRS “Identity Theft Affidavit” and submit with copy of ID
(800)
If a thief has used your health insurance:
Contact the healthcare providers for copies of the medical records

16. New Mexico Identity Theft “Passport”
When you report ID Theft to police, your report goes to a statewide database
Can request MVD identify you as victim of ID Theft on back of your State ID
Meant to protect victims from being arrested for someone else’s crimes

17. 4. Close Accounts Contact your bank, credit cards, etc.
Close misused accounts, open new ones
Change passwords / PINs for other accounts
Order replacement DEBIT/Credit cards
Close accounts thieves opened in your name
If your Social Security Number has been used, consider contacting SSA and requesting a new one

18. 5. “Freeze” Your Credit
You can stop credit bureaus from releasing your credit report, unless you specifically authorize it
No one can take out a loan, open a bank account, obtain a credit card in your name
Takes effect within 3 business days
Cost?
Free for seniors (over 65)
Free for victims of identity theft
About $10 per credit bureau for everyone else

19. How do I freeze my credit?
Send a written request to each of the three credit bureaus:
Equifax
Experian
Transunion

20. How to request a credit freeze
Sample Letter
What Your Letter Needs
Date:
Experian
Attn: Security Freeze
PO Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
To whom it may concern:
I wish to have a security freeze placed on my credit. I am over 65.
Enclosed is a copy of my government-issued ID and a copy of my proof of current residence.
Name:
Address:
Previous address(es):
Soc. Sec. #:
Date of birth:
Please place an immediate freeze on my credit records. Thank you.
Sincerely,
  Signature
Enclosure
Required:
Copy of government issued identification card
Copy of proof of current residence  
Optional:
Copy of police report
Fee
Name
Addresses for the past two years
SSN
Date of birth
COPY of government issued ID
COPY of proof of current residence
Fee (if under 65)
Copy of police report
(victim of ID Theft)

21. What if I freeze my credit but I want to get a new credit card?
Each credit bureau will send you a ‘password’ you can use to unfreeze your credit
Keep your password in a secure place. Don’t keep in your wallet, cellphone, laptop computer, or other device that can easily be stolen
You can unfreeze your credit completely, or just for a specific transaction
Free for victims of ID Theft, and seniors age 65+
$5 per credit report otherwise