Prevent Identity Theft
Identity Theft is a very real and aggravating problem. Identity thieves assume your name, date of birth, SSN and credit rating – which they ruin by posing as you to buy or rent things. They may also get a driver's license and citations in your name, then fail to appear, resulting in a warrant for your arrest.
The problem is growing, due in part to widespread publication of your personal and financial information on the Internet. Sources of this information include merchants, creditors, court files and theft. Your information can be stolen from your home, car, mail or business.
If your identity is stolen, it can take more than a year of concerted effort to clear up your credit record. You will likely be refused credit, including mortgages; collection agencies will call you at home and work; merchants will likely refuse to accept your checks. You could be arrested and even held in jail.
Prevention Tips
Here are some steps you can take now to minimize the risk of your identity being stolen.
Never leave your wallet, purse, checkbook, credit receipts in your car.
Car prowl is a prime source for identity theft. Thieves know to look in merchandise
bags for credit receipts – which often print your credit card number.
Have your mail delivered to a secure location.
Mail box theft is another common source for identity thieves. Your credit card bill
has everything a criminal needs to make purchases by telephone or on the Internet.
Don't put bill payments in your unlocked mailbox for postal pickup.
Carefully review your account statements and credit bills.
Contest any unauthorized items or entries.
Don't give out personal information over the telephone unless you initiated the call
Identity thieves can pose as representatives of banks, ISPs, collection agencies,
government agencies, etc. to get you to reveal your account numbers, passwords,
SSN, or mother's maiden name.
Never use a debit card or check when shopping online.
Once stolen from your account, it can be difficult to recover your money. Consider
using one credit card only for your online purchases. Use a secure browser when
sending credit card numbers over the Internet. Review your bill carefully as soon
as you get it. Contest unauthorized charges.
Keep a list of all your credit/debit cards, card numbers, and issuer phone numbers.
This will facilitate your reports to creditors/banks if your purse/wallet is stolen.
Memorize your ATM password.
Never store the password in your purse or wallet.
Shred your financial garbage.
Including credit receipts, pre-approved credit offers, credit checks. Cross-cut
shredders are best.
Cancel unused credit cards and charge accounts.
Be stingy with your SSN.
Don't give it out to everyone who asks. Make thoughtful decisions regarding whether
the requester really needs it. Ask to use other types of personal identifiers
Do not print your SSN or drivers license number on your checks.
Carry only the number of checks you will need on a given day. Keep pads of blank
checks in a safe place.
Never carry anything with your SSN on it.
If your health insurance card shows your SSN, ask your insurer for a new card without
the SSN. Until you get your new insurance card, carry it only when you need to use
it.
Prevent credit reporting agencies from selling your name, SSN, address and credit
rating.
Merchants who want to offer you credit cards or sell you merchandise buy your financial
information. This is a source for personal information that can ultimately be published
on the Internet. Contact the “Opt out” option of all credit reporting agencies.
Prevent your creditors and identity clearinghouses from selling or “sharing” your
personal information.
Your creditors generally sell or “share” your name, address, SSN, financial information,
spending and bill paying habits unless you tell them not to. This information often
finds its way to clearinghouses for personal information, and to the Internet. Find
sample letters preventing disclosure at Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, www.privacyrights.org and JUNKBUSTERS, www.junkbusters.com. Clearinghouses and other publishers
of personal information are listed below.
Obtain and review your credit reports regularly.
Check all three major credit reporting agencies. Dispute incorrect information.
Be sure the agency has a correct address for you, especially if you have moved or
suspect your identity has been stolen. Contact information for credit reporting
agencies is below.
If Your Identity Has Been Stolen Or Misused
Reports.
Make a police report at your local police department. Possible crimes include theft,
mail theft, car prowl, and identity theft. Contact the credit reporting agencies,
your banks, creditors and the check guarantee-verification companies as soon as
possible
Other Action.
Close all compromised accounts. Open new accounts with new numbers. “Flag” all other
accounts. Obtain passwords for checking and savings accounts. Stop payment on any
outstanding checks you are unsure of.
Keep detailed records of who you talk to, and when.
If a bill/statement is late, contact customer service immediately.
Review your credit reports regularly for additional unauthorized activity.
Other Contacts, Places To Find help:
Federal Trade Commission.
Accepts complaints from ID theft victims: Identity Theft Hotline: 1-877-IDTHEFT(438-4338),
or, Identity Theft Clearinghouse, FTC, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
20580. To request the booklet “ID Theft, When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name:”
(877) FTC-HELP (382-4357), or mail a request to the FTC, Consumer Response Center
at the above address. Find more ID theft information at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft.
Social Security Administration.
If you believe your SSN has been used by a stranger, contact the SSA Fraud Hotline:
Phone: (800) 269-0271
Address: SSA Fraud Hotline, P.O. Box 17768, Baltimore, MD. 21235
Fax: (410) 597-0118
Email: oig.hotline@ssa.gov
To order Earnings & Benefits Statement: (800) 772-1213 or web: www.ssa.gov.
U.S. Postal Service.
If theft of U.S. Mail is involved, or if the identity thief filed a change of address
with the post office, contact the U.S. Postal Inspector. In King County, (206) 442-6300,
Or Postal Inspection Service, United States Postal Service, PO Box 400, Seattle,
WA 98111-4000 or online at postalinspectors.uspis.gov.
Passports.
If you have a passport, notify the passport office in writing that your identity
has been stolen and to be on alert for anyone ordering a new passport in your name.
Department of Motor Vehicles.
If you suspect someone has obtained a false driver's license in your name or is
using your driver's license number: (360) 664-8885, or Department of Licensing,
Driver Responsibility-Fraud Unit, PO Box 9030, Olympia, Washington 98507-9030. Email:
drvfraud@dol.wa.gov or www.wa.gov/dol.
More help is available on the Internet. Type "identity theft" into your search engine.
Credit Reporting Agencies.
It is important to include your social security number and current address when
writing to the three credit bureaus.
Equifax
Opt Out: (800) 567-8688, or PO Box 740123, Atlanta, GA 30374-0123.
Report fraud: (800) 525-6285, or PO Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348, or FAX (770)
375-2821.
Order credit report: (800) 685-1111
www.equifax.com
Experian
Opt Out: (888) 567-8688, or Attention Consumer Services, 901 West Bond, Lincoln,
NE 68521.
Report fraud: (888) 397-3742 or PO Box 9530, Allen, TX, 75013, FAX (972) 390-3974.
Order credit report: (888) 397-3742
www.experian.com
TransUnion
Opt Out: (888) 567-8688, or TransUnion LLC's Name Removal Option, PO Box 97328,
Jackson, MS 39288-7328.
Report fraud: (800) 680-7289 or Fraud Victim Assistance Dept, PO Box 6790, Fullerton,
CA 92834, FAX (714) 447-6034.
Order credit report: (800) 888-4213
www.transunion.com
Check Guarantee-Verification Companies. To report theft or fraudulent use of your checks:
CrossCheck
(800) 654-2365 or 707-586-0431 www.cross-check.com
Equifax (claims)
(800) 437-5120
TeleCheck
(800) 366-2425 or (800) 835-2343 www.telecheck.com
Clearinghouses And Other Publishers of Personal Information Companies that buy personal financial information and sell it, unless you direct them not to:
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008 and Telephone
Preference Service, P.O. Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014 www.the-dma.org
Dun & Bradstreet
Customer Service, 8310 Capitol of Texas Highway Austin, TX. 78731 www.dnb.com
Haines & Co., Criss-Cross Directory
8050 Freedom Avenue, N.W., North Canton, OH 44720 www.haines.com
Experian Corp.
List Maintenance, 901 W. Bond, Lincoln, NE 68521 www.experian.com
Donnelley Marketing
One American Lane, Greenwich, CT. 06831 www.donnelleymarketing.com
InfoUSA Inc. & InfoUSA.com
378 Vintage Park Drive, Foster City, CA. 94404 www.infousa.com
ADVO, Inc.
One Univac Lane, Windsor, CT. 06095 www.advo.com
R.L. Polk & Co.
26955 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, MI. 48034 www.polk.com
Lexis-Nexis and P-Find
ATTN: Lexis-Nexis Name Removal, P.O. Box 933, Dayton, Ohio, or Email:
Click Here
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