IDENTITY
THEFT: Reduce Your Risk What
is Identity Theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name or personal
information, such as your Social Security number, driver’s license
number, credit card number, telephone number or other account
numbers, without your permission. Identity thieves use this
information to open credit accounts, bank accounts, telephone
service accounts, and make major purchases—all in your name.
Information can be used to take over your existing accounts,
or to open new accounts. Identity theft can result in damage
to your credit rating and denials of credit and job offers.
How Does Identity Theft Happen?
Identity theft commonly
begins with the loss or theft of a wallet or purse. But there
are many other ways that criminals can get and use your personal
information in order to commit identity theft. The following
are some examples:
Example
#1
One evening, you sit down to pay your monthly bills. You
write the checks, toss the statements in the trash and put
the container out on the curb for the morning’s trash pick-up.
While you sleep, “dumpster-divers” go through your trash looking
for the papers you’ve thrown away. They discover a gold mine
of information that can be used for fraudulent purposes—your
name, address, phone number, utility service account numbers,
credit card numbers, and your Social Security number.
Example
#2
You receive an email message from what appears to be your
Internet Service Provider (ISP). The message requests that
you update the information they have on file about you—your
name, credit card number, bank account number, etc.—by replying
to the email or going to a specific Web site address to provide
the information. However, neither the message nor the Web
site address is from your ISP. They belong to someone who
wants to get your information to steal your identity.
Protect Your Identity
While there is no guarantee
that your identity will never be stolen, there are steps you
can take to minimize the risk:
- Do not give
out your Social Security number to people
or companies that you do not know.
- Before disclosing
any personal information, make sure you know why it is required
and how it will be used.
- Shred information
you no longer need that contains personally identifiable information
and account numbers. For example, credit card receipts, billing
statements and pre-approved credit offers should be shredded
before you discard them.
- Guard your
mail from theft. Promptly remove your incoming mail from your
mailbox and place outgoing mail in post office collection
boxes. Install a locking mailbox if mail theft is a problem
in your neighborhood.
- Keep the
personal information you have at home and at work in a safe
place.
- Do not carry
extra credit cards, your birth certificate or passport, or
other cards that display your Social Security number in your
wallet or purse, except when necessary.
- Create unique
passwords and personal identification numbers (PINS) and avoid
using easily available information such as mother’s maiden
name, date of birth, or the last four digits of your Social
Security number.
- Use passwords
on your banking and brokerage accounts.
- Get a copy
of your credit report from each of the three major credit
reporting agencies at least once a year. Review the reports
to be sure no one else is using your identity to open new
accounts or to use your existing accounts.
If You’re A Victim
- Contact the fraud
departments of the three major credit bureaus.
Request that a “fraud alert” be placed on your file and include
a statement that creditors must get your permission before any new
accounts are opened in your name. Get a copy of your credit report
from each credit bureau so that you can dispute any inaccurate information.
Check your reports at least every six months.
The three major credit bureaus
are:
Equifax
Order Credit Report: 800-685-1111
Report Fraud: 800-525-6285
www.equifax.com
Experian
Order Credit Report: 888-397-3742
Report Fraud: 888-397-3742
www.experian.com
Trans Union
Order Credit Report: 800-888-4213
Report Fraud: 800-680-7289
www.tuc.com
- Contact all the creditors
involved.
Let them know that your accounts may have been used without your
permission, or that new accounts have been opened in your name.
If your accounts have been used fraudulently, ask that new cards
and account numbers be issued to you. Check your billing statements
carefully and report any fraudulent activity immediately. Many banks
and creditors will accept the “ID Theft Affidavit” available at
www.consumer.gov/idtheft,
to dispute the fraudulent charges.
- File a police report.
Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others
that may require proof of a crime.
- Contact the Federal
Trade Commission.
The FTC provides useful information to identity theft victims and maintains a database of identity theft cases for use
by law enforcement agencies. File a report with the FTC by calling
the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline: 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338); by mail,
Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania
Avenue, N.W., Washington DC 20580; or online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
Also request a copy of the publication, ID Theft, When Bad Things
Happen to Your Good Name.
- Keep a record of your
contacts.
Start a file with copies of your credit reports, the police report,
any correspondence, and copies of disputed bills. It is also useful
to keep a log of your conversations with creditors, law enforcement
officials, and other relevant parties. Follow up all phone calls
in writing and send all correspondence certified, return receipt
requested.
Additional Resources
Non-Profit
Organizations
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
3100 5th Avenue, Suite B
San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: 619-298-3396
Email: prc@privacyrights.org
www.privacyrights.org
Identity Theft
Resource Center
P.O. Box 26833
San Diego, CA 92196
Email: voices123@att.net
www.idtheftcenter.org
Federal Government
Agencies
Federal Bureau
of Investigation
www.fbi.gov
FBI Internet
Fraud Complaint Center
www.ifccfbi.gov
Federal Trade
Commission
Identity Theft Clearinghouse
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20580
1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338)
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
Social Security
Administration
SSA Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, MD 21235
1-800-269-0271
email: oig.hotline@ssa.gov
U.S. Postal
Inspection Service
www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect
State and Local
Government Agencies
Contact your State Attorney General's office or local consumer protection agency to find out whether your state has laws related
to identity theft.
Identity Theft Prevention
Tips:
- Safeguard
your personal information.
- Do not
share personal information with unknown persons or companies.
- Carry with
you only the information you need.
- Order and
review a copy of your credit report at least once a year.
- Shred documents
containing sensitive information before discarding.
If You Become
a Victim:
- Contact
the credit bureau fraud departments.
- Contact
all the creditors involved.
- File a
police report.
- Contact
the Federal Trade Commission.
- Keep a
record of your contacts.
Identity
Theft Contact Information
Published by American Express in cooperation with the Privacy
Rights Clearinghouse and the Identity Theft Resource Center.
Information was prepared with the assistance of the Federal
Trade Commission. This document may be reproduced for non-profit
educational purposes.© 2002, American Express Company Consumer
Affairs Office, 801 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C.
20004
November
2002 |