Identity Theft
What is Identity Theft?
Identity Theft is the fastest-growing crime in America, affecting half a
million new victims each year. Identity Theft or Identity Fraud is the taking of another person's identity
to obtain credit, credit cards from banks and retailers, steal money from a
victim's existing accounts, apply for loans, establish accounts with utility
companies, rent an apartment, file bankruptcy, or obtain a job using the
victim's name. Thousands of dollars can be stolen without the victim
knowing about if for months or even years. Identity theft is a felony in Arizona (ARS
13-2708).
How do they steal my identity?
It's really very easy! All they need is your name, address, date of birth,
social security number, or credit card number. Once a thief has this information
they can ruin your credit, drain your bank accounts and generally destroy your
reputation. Unfortunately, it may take years to straighten out the problem.
Where do they get this information? Basically, anytime that you give someone
personal information, whether verbally or in writing, a potential thief can use
the information for their own gain. Fortunately, reputable companies protect
your information. Therefore you should only deal with companies that have an
established reputation for honesty. If you deal with people or companies that
are unknown to you, check them out thoroughly before doing business with them.
Many times people unwittingly give information when
completing surveys or questionnaires, or when talking to strangers over the
phone who ask for information in exchange for goods or services. Even papers in
your trash can provide valuable information for thieves. Invest in a home
shredding device and shred your important documents instead of throwing them in
the trash.
Skilled identity thieves can also get information from
businesses or other institutions by stealing records from their employer,
bribing an employee who has access to these records or hacking into the
organizations computers.
They also:
-
rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses or
dumps, in a practice called "dumpster diving."
-
obtain credit reports by abusing their employer's
authorized access to credit reports, or by posing as a landlord, employer,
or someone else who may have a legal right to the information.
-
steal credit and debit card numbers as your card is
processed using a special information storage device in a practice known as
"skimming."
-
steal wallets and purses containing I.D., credit and bank
cards.
-
steal mail, including bank and credit card statements,
pre-approved credit offers, new checks, or tax information.
-
complete a "change of address" form to divert your mail
to another location.
-
steal personal information from your home or vehicle.
-
scam information from you by posing as a legitimate
business person or government official.
How Thieves Ruin Your Credit:
Once
identity thieves have your personal information, they may:
- Go on spending sprees using your credit and debit card account numbers
to buy "big ticket" items like computers that they can easily sell.
- Open a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth, and
social security number (SSN). When they don't pay the bills, the delinquent
account is reporting on your credit report.
- Change the mailing address on your credit card account. The imposter
then runs up charges on the account. Because the bills are being sent to the
new address, it may take some time before you realize there is a problem.
- Take out auto loans in your name.
- Establish phone, wireless, or utility service in your name.
- Counterfeit checks or debit cards, and drain your bank account.
- Open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.
- File for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they've
incurred, or to avoid eviction.
- Give your name to the police during an arrest. If they are released and
don't show up for their court date, an arrest warrant could be issued in
your name.
What can I do?
- Do not give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or
over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know whom you're
dealing with. Identity thieves will pose as bank representatives, Internet
service providers, and even government officials to get you to reveal
identifying information.
- Protect your social security number. Avoid giving it out, and do not write
your social security number on checks or other documents unless you're sure
it's necessary.
- Do not use your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four
digits of your social security number, or a similar series of numbers as a
password for anything.
- Shred all documents, including pre-approved credit card offers,
insurance forms, bank and credit card statements, and other
personal documents before throwing away.
- Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you
carry. Take what you'll actually need. Don't carry your social security
card, birth certificate, or passport, unless necessary.
- Do not put your social security number on your checks or your credit
receipts. If a business requests your social security number, give them an
alternate number and explain why. If a government agency requests your
social security number, there must be a privacy notice accompanying the
request.
- Do not put your telephone number on checks.
- Protect incoming and outgoing mail. Pick mail up promptly, and deposit
mail at the post office or in official blue mailboxes.
- Check your credit card status with the three major credit-reporting
bureaus yearly. Dispute information that is suspicious.
- Deal only with companies that you know have good reputations.
- Review bank and credit card statements and report questionable charges.
- Be careful using ATMs and phone cards. Someone may look over your shoulder
and get your PIN numbers, thereby gaining access to your accounts. Take ATM, credit card and other receipts with you.
- Make a list of all your credit card account numbers and bank account
numbers with customer service phone numbers and keep it in a safe place.
- When you order new credit cards in the mail, or previous ones have
expired, watch the calendar to make sure you get the card within the
appropriate time. If the card is not received within that time, call the
credit card grantor immediately to find out if the card has been sent. If
you don't receive the card, check to make sure a change of address was not
filed.
- Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if bills
don't arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity
thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing
address.
- Cancel all credit cards that you have not used in the last six months.
Open credit is a prime target.
- Order your credit report at least twice a year. Here in Arizona you are
allowed one free report from each of the three credit reporting companies
per year. For information on obtaining your free credit report, visit
www.annualcreditreport.com, or call 877-322-8228. Reports should be obtained from all three major sources:
- Equifax at 800-685-1111
- Experian at 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
- TransUnion at 800-680-7293
- Correct all mistakes on your credit report in writing. Send the letters
return receipt requested. Identify the problems item by item and send with a
copy of the credit report back to the credit reporting agency. You should
hear from the agency within 30 days.
- Write to Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service, PO Box
9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735 to get your name off direct mail lists.
If You Are
A Victim…
- Act immediately.
- Notify the police, your bank, your credit card companies, and the Fraud
Units at the credit bureaus.
Remember…
The person who steals your identity may be someone you have
never met and will, in all likelihood, never meet. In our society they only need
a minimum amount of information about you to ruin your financial status and
reputation.
Be aware and take some simple steps to help lessen the chance
that you will be a victim of identity theft.
From the Federal Trade Commission:
From the Arizona Attorney General's Office:
Sites on the Web for
more information:
www.privacyrights.org
www.aarp.org
www.pirg.org
www.fraud.org
www.identitytheft.org/faq.htm
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
(Federal Trade Commission)
www.endidtheft.com
(sponsored by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office)
www.identitytheft911.org/home.htm |
