• What is Identity   Theft?
• How Does Identity   Theft Happen?
• Protect Your   Identity 
• Prevent Account   Fraud
• If You Are a   Victim
• Three Major Credit   Bureaus
• Additional   Resources

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.

Identify 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. Identify theft can result in damage to your credit rating and denials   of credit and offers.

How Does Identity Theft   Happen?
Identify theft commonly begins with the loss of 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 identify theft. Here 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 e-mail 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 numbers,  bank account number, etc. - by replying to the e-mail 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 identify.
  

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 your Social Security number to people or companies that you do   not know.
• Do not give our financial information on the phone unless you’ve initiated   the call or know the party you are dealing with.
• 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, old bank statements, invoices 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.
• If regular bills or statements stop reaching you, take action and call the   company’s customer service number. Someone may have filed a false   change-of-address notice to divert your mail.
• If doubtful or unauthorized charges appear on your bills or statements, call   immediately to resolve the discrepancy.
• Keep personal numbers off our checks. Never preprint your driver’s license   or Social Security number on your checks.
• 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 (PIN’s) and   avoid using easily available information such as your mother’s maiden name, date   of birth, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Use password   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 to use your existing accounts.

Prevent Account   Fraud

• Protect your checking account number. Never give it to a stranger.
• Report lost or stolen checks immediately, and review new check orders   to make sure none were stolen in transit.
• Store new and cancelled checks securely and always use   tamper-resistant checks.
• Question suspicious phone inquiries. Notify your bank immediately if   you receive odd calls claiming to come from your bank; be especially wary of   those requesting account information to "award a prize" or "verify a statement".
• Guard your ATM information. Avoid using obvious or easily attainable   information as your password.

If You Are 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 credits 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 every six months.

• Three Major Credit   Bureaus:

  • 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 new name. If your accounts have been used fraudulently, ask   that new accounts 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: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index.html,  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 identify theft victims and maintains a database of identify theft   cases for use by law enforcement agencies. File a report with the FTC:
  

  by telephone:
  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:
  http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index.html

  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 268333
San Diego, CA   91196
Email: voices123@att.bet
www.idtheftcenter.org

Federal Government Agencies

Federal Bureau of Investigation
http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.htm

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)
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index.html

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 Services
www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect