IDENTITY THEFT

Tips on how to deter, detect and defend.....

Identity theft is a serious, and growing crime. The crime results in someone stealing your personal information
and using it as their own. While your information is being fraudulently used, your credit and good name is
ruined. Identity theft costs the victim time and money.
Tips on DETERING ID Theft . . .
                              The best means to prevent ID Theft is to safeguard your information.

  • Don't give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or over the internet
    unless you initiated the contact and/or know whom it is you are dealing with.
  • Don't use "easy" passwords
        (example: birthdate, last 4 digits-social security, maiden name, etc)
  • Never click on links you receive in unsolicited emails. Remember, your bank or other financial
    contacts will not ask for personal information via email. Phising is another way ID Thieves
    attempt to get personal info, they send out bogus emails with links that when clciked resemble
    the homepage of your bank or other financial institution, if information is input, it is stolen.
  • Protect your social security number. Do not carry your social security card in your purse or
    wallet, or write the number on a check. If asked to provide your social security number, ask if
    you can provide a different identifier.
  • Shred all financial documents and personal paperwork before discarding them.
Tips on DETECTING ID Theft . . .
                   The best means to detecting ID Theft is to routinely monitor your financial accounts.
                                                        BE ALERT to the following:

  • Bills that do not arrive as expected.
  • Unexpected credit cards, credit card statements, or other bills that are for things you did not
    purchase or request.
  • Denials of credit for no known reason.
  • Receivng calls or letters about purchases you did not make.
  • Unusual charges on your financial statements.

Be sure to inspect your credit report, at least once a year. The law requires that the major 3 credit
bureaus provide you with your credit report free once a year, as long as you ask for it.
                                                     www.annualcreditreport.com
Tips on DEFENDING AGAINST ID Theft . . .
           Once you do realize that you are a victim of ID Theft, immediately proceed to defend yourself.

  • Place a FRAUD ALERT on your credit reports, and review the reports carefully to look for
    issues. This alert will tell creditors to follow certain procedures before opening new accounts in
    your name or make changes on existing ones.
  • Close accounts that have been tampered with or established under fraudulent means.
  • File a police report with local law enforcement. In doing this, it will provide you with documents
    that some creditors may ask for as proof of your claim.
  • Report the ID Theft to the Federal Trade Commission. ftc.gov/idetheft