What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is a serious crime. It can disrupt
your finances, credit history, and reputation, and take time, money,
and patience to resolve. Identity theft happens when someone steals
your personal information and uses it without your permission.
Identity thieves might:
- go through trash cans and dumpsters, stealing
bills and documents that have sensitive information.
- work for businesses, medical offices, or government
agencies, and steal personal information on the job.
- misuse the name of a legitimate business, and
call or send emails that trick you into revealing personal information.
- pretend to offer a job, a loan, or an apartment,
and ask you to send personal information to “qualify.”
- steal your wallet, purse, backpack, or mail,
and remove your credit cards, driver’s license, passport,
health insurance card, and other items that show personal information.
How Can I Protect My Information?
Do you utilize online banking and bill pay
options?
Click
here for tips on how to make online transactions safe and more secure.
Are
you a business owner?
Click
here for tips on how to make online banking for your business safe
and more secure.
Red Flags of Fraud & Identiy Theft
- mistakes on your bank, credit card, or other
account statements
- mistakes on the explanation of medical benefits
from your health plan
- your regular bills and account statements don’t
arrive on time
- bills or collection notices for products or services
you never received
- calls from debt collectors about debts that don’t
belong to you
- a notice from the IRS that someone used your
Social Security number
- mail, email, or calls about accounts or jobs
in your minor child’s name
- unwarranted collection notices on your credit
report
- businesses turn down your checks
- you are turned down unexpectedly for a loan or
job
If Your Identity is Stolen...
Flag Your Credit Reports
Call one of the nationwide credit reporting companies, and ask for
a fraud alert on your credit report. The company you call must contact
the other two so they can put fraud alerts on your files. An initial
fraud alert is good for 90 days.
Equifax 1 800 525 6285
Experian 1 888 397 3742
TransUnion 1 800 680 7289
Order Your Credit Reports
Each company’s credit report about you is slightly different,
so order a report from each company. When you order, you must answer
some questions to prove your identity. Read your reports carefully
to see if the information is correct. If you see mistakes or signs
of fraud, contact the credit reporting company.
Create an Identity Theft Report
An Identity Theft Report can help you get fraudulent information
removed from your credit report, stop a company from collecting
debts caused by identity theft, and get information about accounts
a thief opened in your name. To create an Identity Theft Report:
- file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint
or 1-877-438-4338; TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Your completed complaint
is called an FTC Affidavit.
- take your FTC Affidavit to your local police,
or to the police where the theft occurred, and file a police report.
Get a copy of the police report.
The two documents comprise an Identity Theft Report
Useful Links
For more information on Fraud & Identity Theft,
please visit the following websites:
www.idtheft.gov
www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/data.shtm
www.usa.gov/topics/consumer.shtml |
