WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD

NAMES

IDENTITY THIEVES FRADULENTLY USE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

TO

GET CREDIT CARDS, OPEN BANK

ACCOUNTS, GET SERVICES SUCH AS

PHONE OR CABLE IN YOUR NAME

WITHOUTWITHOUT YOU KNOWING ABOUT IT

GOODS AND SERVICES ARE BOUGHT

THESE NON-PAYMENTS SHOW UP

YOU GET LETTERS ABOUT BOUNCED

CHECKS

BILL COLLECTORS

START CALLING YOU

ALL BECAUSE SOMEONE

WHERE CAN A THIEF STEAL YOUR IDENTITY?

AT

M

PUBLIC PHONE

CREDIT CARD

CELL PHONE

TRASH

E MAIL

OUT-GOING MAIL

AT WORK

INCOMINGMAIL

The

INTERNET

IS A “GOLD MINE” OF

FOR THE

IDENTITY THIEF

PROTECT YOUR

PASSWORDSPASSWORDS

SPAMREPLYING TO SPAM E-MAIL EVEN TO

UNSUBSCRIBE TELLS A THIEF THE E-MAIL ADDRESS IS ACCURATE

PROVIDING PERSONAL INFORMATION ON OFFICIAL

LOOKING WEBSITES SUCH AS FAKE CONTESTS, MORTGAGE OR CREDIT

CARD APPLICATIONS

PROVIDES INFORMATION THAT MAY BE

TO IDENTITY THIEVES

STEALING PURSES AND WALLETS

SCAMSSCAMS

FILL OUT CHANGE-OF-ADDRESS FORMS AT THE POST OFFICE &

HAVE YOUR MAIL DIVERTED TO THEM

STEALING PURSES AND WALLETS

SCAMSSCAMS

FILL OUT CHANGE-OF-ADDRESS FORMS AT THE POST OFFICE &

HAVE YOUR MAIL DIVERTED TO THEM

GIVING THE IDENTITY THIEVES

THEY CALL CREDIT CARD COMPANIES AND CHANNGE THE ADDRESS ON YOUR ACCOUNTS

THEY GIVE YOUR NAME TO THE POLICE IF THEY ARE ARRESTED

AND DO NOTNOT SHOW UP FOR THE COURT DATE

IN 2001 THERE WERE 500,000 REPORTED

INDENTITY THEFT CASES

THE COST TO TO BANK AND CREDIT CARD COMPANIES WAS

THE AVERAGE VICTIM SPENDS ABOUT

CLEANING UP THEIR CREDIT REPORT!!!

WAYS TO HELP

NEVER GIVE YOUR SOCIAL NUMBER TO ANYONE

LOCK UP YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD

NEVER CARRY YOUR CARD WITH

YOU

DO NOT WRITE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ON YOUR

CHECKS !!!!!

DO NOT HAVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER OR DRIVER’S LICENSE

NUMBER PRINTED ON YOUR CHECKS

CHECK YOUR CREDIT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR

REPORT ANY INACCURACIES

• IN WRITING

• CERTIFIED MAIL

• RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

ANYTHING WITH PERSONAL INFORMATION

ON IT

INSTALL A LOCKING MAILBOX

SEND MAIL DIRECTLY FROM THE POST OFFICE

HELP!!!!

FILE A POLICE REPORT

NOTIFY ALL THE CREDIT BUREAUS

IN WRITING• CERTIFIED MAIL

• RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

THEY ARE:

EQUIFAX

EXPERIAN

TRANS UNION

PUT A

ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT

CLOSE ALL THE AFFECTED ACCOUNTS

DISPUTE ALL UNAUTHORIZED

ACCOUNTS!!!!

FILE YOUR COMPLAINT WITH

THE FTC

(FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION)

DOCUMENT EVERYTHING

CONTACT THE POST OFFICE

CALL THE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE

CONTACT THE CHECK

VERIFICATION COMPANIES

IN WRITINGTHAT YOU HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT

SEND EVERYTHING

•CERTIFIED MAIL

•RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

KEEP COPIES OF

YOU SEND OUT

KEEP A RECORD

OF EVERY PHONE CONVERSATION

YOU HAVE

IN YOUR DOCUMENTATION

INCLUDE

NAME OF THE PERSON TO WHOM YOU SPOKE

THEIR IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

DATE AND TIME OF CALL

DEALING WITH IDENTITY THEFT TAKES

AND