Identity Theft - What you should know!

An identity thief uses your personal information to commit fraud or theft.

The Identity Theft Hotline

Toll-free: 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338). The FTC puts your information into a secure consumer fraud database and may, in some cases, share it with other law enforcement agencies.

Click here for a printer-friendly copy of the action kit.

How to Minimize the Risk

	Before revealing personal information, find out how it will be used: Will it be shared with others? Can I choose to have it kept confidential?
	Follow up if bills don't come on time. A missing bill could mean someone has taken your account and changed the address.
	Guard your mail from theft. Don't use your mailbox for outgoing mail. Get incoming mail from your mailbox promptly.
	Put non-obvious passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts.
	Just carry ID's and credit cards you'll actually need.
	Ask yourself, Was it I who initiated this contact?" "Do I know who I'm dealing with?" If not, don't give personal information on the phone, Internet, or by mail..
	Before discarding them, tear-up or shred charge receipts, copies of credit apps, insurance forms, checks, bank statements, expired charge cards, and junk mail credit offers.
	Be careful about information in your home that could be found by roommates, maids, or repair people.
	Verify your employer keeps your personal information secure.
	Ask to use other types of identifiers when asked for your Social Security Number (SSN). Give it only when truly necessary.
	Keep your SSN card secure. Don't carry it.
	Verify your credit report yearly. Watch for activity that is not yours.

How do Identity Thieves Get Personal Information?

	Stolen wallets and purses containing ID's and credit cares.
	Stolen bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, telephone calling cards and tax information from mailboxes.
	A fraudulent post office "change of address form" could divert your mail to another location
	Your trash, or the trash of a business
	Fraudulently posing as a landlord, employer or someone else to get your credit report
	Employment personnel records.
	Personal information found in your home.
	Personal information you shared on the Internet.
	Personal information bought from "inside" sources. For example, a thief might pay a store employee for information on an application for goods, services or credit.

How identity thieves use your personal information

	They get the mailing address on your credit card account changed, then make charges. Not getting the bills, you are not immediately aware of the problem.
	They apply for new credit cards with your name, date of birth and social security number. Then they don't pay the bill.
	They use your name to get a phone or cell phone.
	They open a bank account in your name and write bad checks.
	They file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they've incurred under your name, or to avoid eviction.
	They counterfeit checks or debit cards, and drain your bank account.
	They buy cars by taking out auto loans in your name.

Social Security Numbers

Your employer and financial institution require your Social Security number for tax reporting purposes. When you apply for a loan, apartment, or other credit, other businesses may need it to get a credit report on you.

In some cases, the business might be asking for your SSN just for record keeping purposes, and may let you substitute a different number.

If asked for your SSN, find out if there are alternatives, then make the decision on whether or not you wish to do business with the company.