Loss or theft of your personal identifiers
– Social Security Number
– Financial account or credit card numbers
– Pins and Access Codes
Loss or theft of your Personal Identification
– Drivers License
– Passport
– Signature
What is ID Theft?
Old fashioned theft
– Lifting your wallet or purse
– Mail grab
– Credit card number
scams
– Trash diving
Common ID Theft
Keep alert
Make sure you receive all of your mail
Do not put up the flag on your mailbox
Do not give out your credit card or
bank number over the phone unless
you initiated the call
Shred old documents
Old Fashioned Prevention
Old fashioned scams – now uses the internet– Nigerian scam over $100 million (1997)
– Foreign lottery (2002)
Hacking – usually attack large data bases
Phishing – deceptive email – Ebay, paypal, using accounts for spamming
Pharming – web site redirection – Redirecting domain servers
High Tech
Never click or answer strange email or documents
Do not answer spam
Look for the padlocks on sites
Use spyware, firewall and antivirus programs and keep updated
With wireless networks, use a router with an encryption mechanism
Do not click on links go directly to sites
Do not use protected sites in wireless cafes
Keep ID numbers off your computer
IF IT SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE –IT IS
High Tech Precaution
Credit Reporting Bureaus
– Equifax (800-525-6285)
– Experian (888-EXPERIAN)
– Trans Union (800-680-7289)
FTC – Fraud Hotline (877-438-4338)
Call Local Police
US Postal Service
Review Your Credit Reports Periodically
Social Security Administration (800-722-1213)
Stolen – Now What?
Three Credit Reporting Bureaus
One Free Credit Report Per Year– Effective September 2005
Single Web Source – www.annualcreditreport.com
– 877-322-8228
Go to Each Web Site
and Stagger Requests
ID Insurance
Credit Reports
Identity Theft Websites
US Department of Education; Office of the Inspector General
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/index.html
Identity Theft Resources Center
www.idtheftcenter.org
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
www.fdic.gov
United States Postal Service
www.usps.gov
Social Security Administration
www.ssa.gov
Better Business Bureau
www.bbbonline.org/IDTheft/