Tips for Avoiding Identity Theft – On and Offline

How can someone steal your identity? Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security Number, credit card number or other identifying information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years - and their hard-earned money - cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit.

The FTC commissioned Synovate to survey 4,057 US adults between March and April 2003. The survey determined that 12.7% of respondents had been the victims of identity theft in the past five years, 6.0% of whom only experienced the misuse of an existing credit card. Another 4.7%, however, had new accounts or loans opened with their personal information, or had theft, fraud or other crimes done with their personal information.

What can you do to protect yourself? Following are some tips:

 

Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once a year. By checking your report on a regular basis, you can catch mistakes and fraud before they wreak havoc on your personal finances. Don't underestimate the importance of this step. One of the most common ways that consumers find out that they're victims of identity theft is when they try to make a major purchase, like a house or a car. The deal can be lost or delayed while the credit report mess is straightened out. Knowing what's in your credit report allows you to fix problems before they jeopardize a major financial transaction. 

Know what's in your wallet. Sixteen percent of victims have attributed their identity theft to a lost or stolen wallet. So you're prepared if your purse or wallet is stolen, place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine and copy both sides of your license, credit card, etc. Then you will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. If you suspect ID theft, immediately close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

 

Online safety: If you make purchases or enter personal financial information onto a web site, make sure the site is secure. Look for a lock or key at the bottom of your web browser and check to see if the web address starts with https: - the s meaning secure. And always exit out of secure web sites when you walk away from your computer at work. 

Protect your private information. Shred documents showing account numbers before throwing them away. Destroy old credit cards - don't just toss them into the trash. Lock your mailbox or use a PO Box to keep your personal information safe.

If you think your ID has been stolen:
Immediately contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file and Social Security Number. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.

Equifax - www.equifax.com  
To report fraud, call: 1-800-525-6285 and write:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Hearing impaired call 1-800-255-0056 and ask the operator to call the Auto Disclosure Line at 1-800-685-1111 to request a copy of your report.

Experian (formerly TRW) - www.experian.com  
To report fraud, call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and write:
P.O. Box 9530, Allen TX 75013
TDD: 1-800-972-0322

Trans Union - www.transunion.com  
To report fraud, call: 1-800-680-7289 and write:
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634
TDD: 1-877-553-7803

Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.

File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that we can better assist you. Contact the FTC Identity Theft Hotline by phone at 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); TDD: 1-202-326-2502 or by mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580 or online at: www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Tips for Avoiding Identity Theft – On and Offline

How can someone steal your identity? Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security Number, credit card number or other identifying information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years - and their hard-earned money - cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit.

The FTC commissioned Synovate to survey 4,057 US adults between March and April 2003. The survey determined that 12.7% of respondents had been the victims of identity theft in the past five years, 6.0% of whom only experienced the misuse of an existing credit card. Another 4.7%, however, had new accounts or loans opened with their personal information, or had theft, fraud or other crimes done with their personal information.

What can you do to protect yourself? Following are some tips:

 

Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once a year. By checking your report on a regular basis, you can catch mistakes and fraud before they wreak havoc on your personal finances. Don't underestimate the importance of this step. One of the most common ways that consumers find out that they're victims of identity theft is when they try to make a major purchase, like a house or a car. The deal can be lost or delayed while the credit report mess is straightened out. Knowing what's in your credit report allows you to fix problems before they jeopardize a major financial transaction. 

Know what's in your wallet. Sixteen percent of victims have attributed their identity theft to a lost or stolen wallet. So you're prepared if your purse or wallet is stolen, place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine and copy both sides of your license, credit card, etc. Then you will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. If you suspect ID theft, immediately close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

 

Online safety: If you make purchases or enter personal financial information onto a web site, make sure the site is secure. Look for a lock or key at the bottom of your web browser and check to see if the web address starts with https: - the s meaning secure. And always exit out of secure web sites when you walk away from your computer at work. 

Protect your private information. Shred documents showing account numbers before throwing them away. Destroy old credit cards - don't just toss them into the trash. Lock your mailbox or use a PO Box to keep your personal information safe.

If you think your ID has been stolen:
Immediately contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file and Social Security Number. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.

Equifax - www.equifax.com  
To report fraud, call: 1-800-525-6285 and write:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Hearing impaired call 1-800-255-0056 and ask the operator to call the Auto Disclosure Line at 1-800-685-1111 to request a copy of your report.

Experian (formerly TRW) - www.experian.com  
To report fraud, call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and write:
P.O. Box 9530, Allen TX 75013
TDD: 1-800-972-0322

Trans Union - www.transunion.com  
To report fraud, call: 1-800-680-7289 and write:
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634
TDD: 1-877-553-7803

Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.

File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that we can better assist you. Contact the FTC Identity Theft Hotline by phone at 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); TDD: 1-202-326-2502 or by mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580 or online at: www.consumer.gov/idtheft.