How To...  Fight Identity Theft

Video	Games	Booklet

What is Identity Theft?

• It occurs when someone steals your personal information –  e.g., credit card or Social Security number – and uses it fraudulently
• It can cost you time and money
• It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name

How can someone steal my Identity?

• Go through your trash or “dumpster dive”
• Steal your wallet or purse
• Steal your mail or submit a change of address form for your mail
• Use “phishing” or fake emails to get you to provide personal information
• Steal personnel records from their employers

• Dormitory burglaries
• Driver’s license/student ID theft
• Credit card offers
• Use of Social Security numbers for identification

What can be done ?

• The Federal Trade Commission has created a program with these points
  • DETER
    Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information
  • DETECT
    Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements
  • DEFEND
    Defend against identity theft as soon as you suspect a problem

Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information

• Shred financial documents before discarding them
• Protect your Social Security number
• Don't give out personal information unless you’re sure who you’re dealing with
• Don't use obvious passwords
• Keep your information secure

Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements

• Be alert
  • Mail or bills that don't arrive
  • Denials of credit for no reason
• Inspect your credit report
  • The law entitles you to one free report a year from each nationwide credit reporting agencies if you ask for it
  • Order online: www.AnnualCreditReport.com
    • Note that this is the ONLY one you should go to for your free report. There are many look-alikes out there that will give you a free report and then sign you up for a recuring monthly charge for further reports. Also whn you are forwarded from www.AnnualCreditReport.com to the individual credit reporting sites, be careful what you click on. There are many opportunities to sign up for services for which you will be charged. It is not always as obvious as it should be what you should click on to get your free report. Please read carefully. Click here for information from the FTC on your consumer rights
  • Order by phone: 1-877-322-8228
  • Bonus: If you are a PayPal user, you can get free alerts from Equifax on inquiries or balance changes
• Inspect your financial statements
  • Look for charges you didn't make

Defend against identity theft as soon as you suspect a problem

• Place a 90-day “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports by calling any one of the three nationwide credit reporting companies below or following this link.
  For more information on fraud alerts, including a 7 year alert if you have a confirmed case of ID theft, please review our Fraud Alert page.

Organization	Phone
Equifax	800 525-6285
Experian	888 397-3742
TransUnion	800 680-7289
SSN-Fraud	800 269-0271

• Placing a fraud alert on you account entitles you to a free credit report from each agency. Order these reports and them carefully. Look for fraudulent activity.
• Close accounts that have been tampered
• File a police report
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission
  
  

For more information

• Streaming Video - Phishing: Detect it, Avoid it (40 Minutes)
• Online: www.ftc.gov/idtheft
• By phone: 1-877-ID-THEFT
• By mail:
  Identity Theft Clearinghouse
  Federal Trade Commission
  600 Pennsylvania Avenue,
  NW Washington, DC 20580
• More Identity Theft contact numbers