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IDENTITY THEFT
The following is summarized from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft website, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/.
WHAT IS IDENTITY THEFT?
Identity theft occurs when someone appropriates your name, social security number, credit card numbers, or other bits of personal information without your knowledge to commit fraud or or other crimes.
HOW TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF IDENTITY THEFT
The Federal Trade Commission recommends the following steps to minimize the risk of identity theft.
- Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.
- Protect your Social Security number. Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
- Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
- Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit www.OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.
- Don't use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.
HOW TO DETECT ACTIVITIES THAT MIGHT BE ATTEMPTS TO STEAL YOUR IDENTITY
- Monitor your financial accounts and billing statements. Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:
- bills that do not arrive as expected;
- unexpected credit cards or account statements;
- denials of credit for no apparent reason; and
- calls or letters about purchases you did not make.
- Inspect your credit report. Your credit report contains information on where you work and live, the credit accounts that have been opened in your name, how you pay your bills and whether you've been sued, arrested or filed for bankruptcy. Checking your report on a regular basis can help you catch mistakes and fraud before they wreak havoc on your personal finances.
- The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.
- Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228, a service created by these three companies, to order your free credit reports each year. You also can write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
- Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for charges you did not make.
HOW TO REPORT IDENTITY THEFT
If you suspect that your personal information has been used to commit fraud, the FTC recommends that you take immediate action and keep a record of your conversations and correspondence. The FTC further suggests that the following actions are appropriate in almost every case.
- Place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit reports, and review the reports carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts. The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert; a call to one company is sufficient:
- Equifax: 1-888-766-0008
- Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
Placing a fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't
contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain.
- Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently.
- Call the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or changed without your okay. Follow up in writing, with copies of supporting documents.
- Use the ID Theft Affidavit at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/resources/forms/affidavit.pdf to support your written statement.
- Ask for verification that the disputed account has been closed and the fraudulent debts discharged.
- Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft.
- File a report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime.
- Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations.
TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE
Search by service names:
Identity Theft Reporting/Recovery Programs
SOURCE: Federal Trade Commision Identity Theft website
PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: July2011
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