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Every year, millions of Americans fall victim of identity theft accounting for
billions of dollars. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally
information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other
crimes.
Common ways ID Theft happens
- Dumpster Diving. Rummaging through trash looking for bills or other
paper with your personal information on it.
- Skimming. Stealing credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage
device when processing your card.
- Phishing. Pretending to be financial institutions or companies and send
spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
- Changing Your Address. Diverting billing statements to another location
by completing a change of address form and then charging your account.
Because your bills are being sent to a different address, it may be some
time before you realize there is a problem.
- "Old-Fashioned" Stealing. Stealing wallets, purses, mail, bank and
credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks, tax
information. Or, stealing personal information while they're on the job,
bribing or conning an employee who has access to records, or hacking
records.
- Pretexting. They use false pretenses to obtain your personal
information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other
sources.
What identity thieves do with your information
- Establish phone, cable, credit, or bank accounts in your name. When
they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, the delinquent accounts
are reported on your credit report.
- Counterfeit checks or credit or debit cards, or authorize electronic
transfers in your name, and drain your bank account.
- File for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they have
incurred under your name or to avoid eviction.
- Buy a car by taking out an auto loan in your name.
- Get identification such as a driver's license issued with their picture,
in your name.
- Get a job or file fraudulent tax returns in your name.
- Give your name to the police during an arrest. If they don't show up for
their court date, a warrant for arrest is issued in your name.
Ways to detect suspicious activity
- Bills that do not arrive as expected.
- Unexpected credit cards or account statements.
- Denials of credit for no apparent reason.
- Calls or letters about purchases you did not make.
Ways to avoid ID theft
- Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information.
- Protect your Social Security number. Don't carry your Social Security
card in your wallet or write your number on a check. Give it out only if
absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
- Don't give out personal information on the phone, through mail, or over
the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or know who you're
communicating with.
- Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails. Use updated firewalls,
anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer.
- Don't use obvious passwords like your birth date, your mother's maiden
name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if
you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your
house.
- Carry only identification information and credit cards you'll need when
you go out.
- When ordering new checks, pick them up from the bank instead of having
them mailed.
- Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes, rather than in an
unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. Have your mail
held if you're planning to be away from home.
If you are a victim of identity theft
1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review each.
2. Close accounts that you believe have been tampered with.
3. File a police report in the jurisdiction where the identity theft
took place.
4. File a complaint with the Federal
Trade Commission.
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