1. Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Identity Crisis
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

2. Considerations and Definitions

3. Questions To Consider
How many personal identifiers are in your wallet or purse? How many financial identifiers?
If the volume of mail I get at home drops off substantially, I should check ?
Where is a “security alert” placed and who does it? What about a “security freeze?”
What can I do, personally, to prevent or limit being a victim of identity crime?

4. Definition and Types Identity Crime is defined as:
Theft or misuse of personal or financial identifiers in order to gain something of value and / or facilitate other criminal activity.
Types of Identity Crimes include:
Identity Theft
Credit card / Access Device Fraud (skimming)
Check Fraud
False Identification Fraud
Passport / Visa Fraud

5. Scope and Current trends

6. Scope ID Crime often facilitates: Mail theft & fraud
Illegal Narcotics / drugs
Organized crime
Financial fraud (money laundering)
Mortgage fraud
Weapons trafficking
Homicide
Terrorism
Wire fraud
Computer crime / internet intrusions

7. Scope ID Crimes often begin with: Wallet / Purse theft Muggings
Computer intrusion
Mail theft
Dumpster diving (theft of trash)
Theft of business documents or info
Theft from medical facilities, hotels, etc.

8. Types of Identifiers Personal: Financial: Name and Date of Birth
Social Security Number
Address and phone numbers
Driver’s license and passport numbers
Mother’s maiden name; pet name; etc.
Financial:
Credit card numbers
Bank account numbers
PIN numbers
Insurance account numbers

9. Current Trends Use of current / latest technologies. Scams include:
Over hearing cell phone conversations.
Reading other’s faxes or .
Hacking into computers.
Telephone and scams.
Careless online shopping and banking.
Magnetic Strip Scanners

11. Top 10 Consumer Fraud Complaints
Internet Auctions %
Shop-at-Home/Catalog Sales %
Internet Services/Computer Complaints %
Foreign Money Offers %
Prizes/Sweepstakes and Lotteries %
Advance-Fee Loans and Credit Protection 3%
Business Opportunities/Work at Home Scams 2%
Telephone Services %
Other (Miscellaneous %

12. Legal aspects of Identity crime

13. Protect Yourself
From Business and Commerce Code – Chapter 20, added definitions:
Security Alert
Security Freeze

14. Security Alert
“Security alert" means a notice placed on a consumer file that alerts a recipient of a consumer report involving that consumer file that the consumer's identity may have been used without the consumer's consent to fraudulently obtain goods or services in the consumer's name.

15. Security Freeze
"Security freeze" means a notice placed on a consumer file that prohibits a consumer reporting agency from releasing a consumer report relating to the extension of credit involving that consumer file without the express authorization of the consumer.

16. Prosecuting Needs Reporting ID Crime to Police
Making a written report is vital because credit bureaus require a police report.
You should complete an Identity Crime Incident Detail Form.
You should immediately begin gathering bank, credit card statements, letters from creditors, merchant account statements, etc.
You should obtain credit reports from the three major Credit Bureaus.

17. Need For Immediacy in Reporting Relation to time of theft and when the theft was reported

18. Statistics
Texas was ranked 4th in the nation for percentage of victims in relation to population.
There were 26,624 victims of Identity Theft in Texas in 2005
City No.
Houston 3,735
Dallas 1,908
San Antonio 1,760
Fort Worth 1,105
Austin 858

19. Costs of I.D. Theft in the last year
4.6% of the Population
9.91 Million U.S.Citizens
Average loss for financial institutions: $4,800.00
Total loss: $47.6 billion
Average loss for individual victims: $500.00
Average time spent resolving issues: 30 hours

21. Credit Reporting Agency’s

22. How do I get my Free Credit Report

23. Experian

24. TransUnion

25. Equifax

26. Credit Report Example

27. Processing Medical Insurance Claims
Other Scams
Online Business
Processing Medical Insurance Claims
Social Group Clubs
Pigeon Drop Scam
Lottery Tickets Scam
Nigerian Royal Family
Home Repairs
Envelope Stuffing

28. NO Call List

29. Telemarketers Do not get stuck on the phone
Never provide credit card information over the phone.
Always ask for mail correspondence if you do wish to make a purchase or to make denotation.
Remember they are calling you, feel free to say, Thanks but, NO Thanks

30. Personal protection

31. Prevention – Personal Awareness
Do not give out personal identifier information over the phone or Internet.
Stay informed about your personal financial records with frequent checks of credit history, bank records, i.e., extra or unknown transactions.
Limit personal information on necessary public distribution items (checks, business cards).
Purchase a home cross-cut shredder.
Consider Identity Theft Insurance.
Limit types of information you provide to everyone
(license plates, kids names, last names)

32. Internet Safety

33.
We provide services relating to victims of specific types of crimes involving Identity Theft. We can assist you in the process of restoring your credit and ensuring the secure reacquisition of your personal information.