Identity Theft. Protect Yourself from

Transcription

1 Protect Yourself from Identity Theft Helping you to better understand some of the common sources of identity theft, how to protect your information, how to detect it when there s a problem, and how to clean up the mess once you realize there s a problem.

2 4 IDENTITY THEFT Identity theft happens. It s an unfortunate reality of modern life. After all, your information is all over the place: work, school, the doctor s office, everywhere you shop. There are bits of information about you in more places than you can likely remember. Thankfully, there are certain steps you can take to keep your personal information from falling into the wrong hands. We ve put together this Identity Theft Guide to help you better understand some of the common sources of identity theft, how to protect your information, how to detect when there is a problem, and how to clean up the mess once you realize that there is something to defend. 1 victim every 3 seconds 14% 47% 77% 85% Percent of Amercans who have experienced identity theft. Percent of breaches in 2013 that exposed Social Security Numbers. Combined % of breaches in 2013 that were in the healthcare & business sectors. Percent of identiy theft involving existing account info.

3 DETER 3 COMPUTER PROTECTION TIPS Install a firewall on your home computer. Install or upgrade your virus protection software to prevent a worm or virus from granting access to your computer files. Consider installing anti-spyware software. Password-protect files that contain sensitive data. When shopping online, do business with companies that provide transaction security protection on the web page. Have different passwords for each account and change them frequently. To increase security, you can cut and paste passwords instead of typing them to protect against key logger programs. Think before you click! Don t blindly open attachments without knowing whether they can be trusted. Make sure your operating system and web browser are up to date. Back up important files frequently. Learn who to contact in case something seems suspicious. We aware of file-sharing and file-swapping programs. They expose your computer to illegitimate hackers. Before disposing of your computer, remove data by using a strong wipe utility program. You should also remove the hard drive and destroy it Secure your wireless network at home. WPA2 is the strongest if you have a choice between WPA or WEP. 15. Limit access to your wireless network by only allowing specific computers to access it. 16. Before using a public wi-fi, be sure it s secure. If it does not ask you for a password, chances are it s not secure.

4 4 DETER HERE ARE SOME STEPS TO TAKE TO HELP AVOID IDENTITY THEFT REMOVE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER FROM YOUR >> Wallet >> Checks >> Driver s License KEEP YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD IN A SECURE AREA, SUCH AS A SAFE DEPOSIT BOX. CARRY ONLY THE CREDIT CARDS AND DOCUMENTS YOU NEED ON A DAILY BASIS. CHANGE THE WAY YOU HANDLE MAIL. Mail theft is one of the most frequent ways thieves gain access to your personal information. Incoming Mail: >> Sign up for estatements instead of paper statements. >> Purchase a mailbox that locks or obtain a P.O. Box. >> Invest in a cross-shredder for your home and always shred: Pre-approved credit card offers Convenience checks sent by credit card companies All statements that you don t intend to keep. Cancelled checks Outgoing mail: >> Send mail from work or deliver it to the post office. >> Use online bill paying services instead of paper checks. CLOSELY MONITOR THE FOLLOWING: Your Credit Report. By federal law, you are entitled to one free credit report from each of the four credit bureaus each year, Equifax, Experian, TransUnion and Innovis Your Billing Statements. Check them each month for fraudulent charges and immediately report any suspicious activity. If you do not receive your statement, call the biller to ensure there was no fraudulent change of address filed. DO NOT SHARE ACCOUNT INFORMATION, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION BY PHONE, TEXT OR UNLESS YOU INITIATE CONTACT.

5 13 DETER 5 7. REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PERSONAL INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE BY DOING THE FOLLOWING: Remove your name from the marketing lists of the four credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion. This will limit the number of credit card offers you receive in the mail for 7 years. Sign up for the Do Not Call registries. You can sign up for both the National and Missouri Do Not Call lists. Remove your name from the Direct Marketing Association list. This will remove your name from lists used by nationwide marketers. Opt out of the sale or sharing of your info when given the chance. You can do this with credit card companies, subscriptions, insurance companies and investment firms. 8. PROTECT YOUR PLASTICS. >> Take your debit and credit card receipts with you and never toss them in a public trash receptacle. >> Keep a list or photocopy of all your plastics in a safe location so you can quickly contact these companies in case of emergency. >> Watch for new and reissued cards in the mail, and if you do not receive them when expected, contact the issuer. >> Let the card issuer know before you go on vacation. >> Do not write down your Personal Identification Number (PIN). If you must write it down, do not store it in your wallet. >> Immediately sign the back of all plastics upon receipt. OTHER SAFEGUARDS FOR PROTECTING YOUR PERSONAL INFO >> Do not wire money to people you do not know. >> At home, use a safe or locking file drawer for storing documents. >> Do not reveal personal information in public places or online. >> Don t respond to sweepstakes offers in the mail or online. >> Don t allow merchants to write Social Security numbers on checks.

6 6 DETER MORE STEPS TO TAKE TO HELP AVOID IDENTITY THEFT 9. PROTECT YOUR ONLINE IDENTITY >> Use only your first name or a nickname. Never provide your full name. >> Use a bogus location. Never use a city or state where you actually lived. >> Use a bogus date of birth or none at all. >> Do not post your city of birth. >> Do not give out your maiden name. >> Make sure your privacy settings on the social networks are set properly. 10. PROTECT YOUR MOBILE PHONE. >> Change your password frequently. >> Use your mobile phone s security application. 13 How Identity Thieves Attack Our Social Media Profiles 54% Have been a target of an identity thief 13% Socially engineered to disclose password or other sensitive Information 15% Had account accessed without their permission WWW 70% Asked to visit a scam website via a private message

7 DETECT 7 FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO ENSURE YOUR IDENTITY HAS NOT BEEN STOLEN Check your monthly statements from companies you conduct business with to watch for unauthorized charges or withdrawals. Check your free credit report every 12 months. You can do this by phone, online or by mail. See resources for full contact information. If you start receiving bills or collection calls that are not for you, do not avoid or disregard them. Contact the companies to determine why they are trying to reach you. 4. If you are unexpectedly rejected on a credit request, find out why Read your mail from your financial institutions. If your plastics (debit or credit cards) have been compromised, that is one way financial institutions will try to reach you. Fifty percent of victims discovered identity theft due to contact from their financial institution. Keep your cell phone numbers and address up to date with your financial institution. 13 ID THEFT PROTECTION SERVICES TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY. Since identity theft is becoming more prevalent, there are many companies in the marketplace that offer products or services that claim to help consumers minimize their risk of identity theft. Each company has different offerings, so if you are considering on of them the Federal Trade Commission recommends that you understand what you are gaining for the service. The rights and protections you have under Federal and State laws can help you protect your identity and recover from identity theft at no cost, but if you like the convenience of paying an outside party to help you exercise your rights and protect your information, you have many options available. HERE S A TIP: For up-to-date reviews and service rankings of these products, visit the website nextadvisor.com/credit-report-monitoring/compare.php.

8 8 DEFEND IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO IS ACT QUICKLY. Follow the steps below to protect yourself. IF THE IDENTITY THEFT INVOLVES DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD FRAUD: Contact the issuer of the card immediately after you realize the card is lost or stolen. The thief knows he has to act quickly since most companies can block a card instantly once they are notified. 2. File an identity theft incident report with the police and keep a copy. Many creditors will ask for a copy of it before they will reimburse you for the fraud charges. Also, prosecutors can seek restitution from the thief. 3. Close the accounts you know the thief has accessed. Use new account 13 numbers and passwords. 4. File an identity theft complaint form with the Attorney General s office. Make sure you keep a copy of the report. The Missouri Attorney General web address is IF THE IDENTITY THEFT INVOLVES YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION: Place an Alert on your file. There are three types of alerts that you can place on your account. Fraud Alert: Good for 90 days, a fraud alert makes it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you. It may also delay your ability to obtain credit. Extended Fraud Alert: An extended fraud alert stays on your account for seven years and requires that you file an identity theft report with the police. Security Freeze: This type of alert prevents credit reporting agencies from releasing your credit report without your consent. A security freeze costs $5 to add or remove unless you prove that you have been a victim of identity theft.

9 13 DEFEND Contact all related financial institutions or credit card companies immediately. Make sure you close the accounts and/or block the plastics. File an identity theft report with the local authorities. 4. Document all contacts. Make notes of everyone you speak with, asking for names and phone extensions and recording any information discussed. 5. Understand the process. Each creditor may have a different process for handling a fraud claim, so be sure to ask what you can expect to happen. 6. Follow up to make sure everything a creditor/credit reporting agency has requested is received. It s always a good idea to place a follow-up call or send a letter of confirmation. Consider sending correspondence by certified mail or return receipt. 7. Keep all files. Don t throw away any correspondence and keep it in an accessible file for the future. 8. Add passwords to your accounts and files that contain sensitive data. When creating passwords, do not use the last four digits of your social security number, your mother s maiden name, your birth date, middle name, pet s name, consecutive numbers, or anything else that could be easily discovered by thieves. Use passwords that contain letters and numbers. 9. If your driver s license has been stolen, contact the DMV that issued the license. Place a stolen/lost card warning on your file. FTC POLICE AFFADAVIT + = REPORT IDENTITY THEFT REPORT IF YOU ARE VICTIM OF TAX FRAUD Contact the Internal Revenue Service. Reach them by calling or viist irs.gov/uac/identity-protection.

10 10 DEFEND IF YOUR IDENTITY THEFT INVOLVES STOLEN CHECKS: Contact your financial institution and have them put stop payment orders on your checks and close your account. 2. Call major check verification companies. Request that they notify retailers who use their databases not to accept your checks. Reach TeleCheck at , Certegy at , ChexSystems at IF YOUR PASSPORT IS STOLEN: Contact the U.S. Department of State. Call Submit the required form. You can find the form at 2. and submit it to U.S. Department of State Passport Services, Consular Lost or Stolen Passport Section, th St. NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC IF SOMEONE USED YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER FRAUDULENTLY: File a complaint with the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. You can do so online at call , or fax You an also write to SSA Fraud Hotline, P.O. Box 17768, Baltimore, MD Request a replacement social security card and verify the accuracy of reported earnings. The number is IF SOMEONE HAS FALSIFIED A CHANGE OF ADDRESS S IN YOUR NAME: Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. You can find the district office nearest you by calling your local post office. 2. File a complaint with the USPIS online at postalinspectors.usps.gov/contactus/filecomplaint.aspx 3. Contact all related financial institutions or credit card companies immediately. Make sure you close the accounts and/or block the plastics.

11 13 DEFEND 11 IF SOMEONE FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY IN YOUR NAME: Prepare a written summary using the information specified at justice.gov/ust/eo/fraud/index/htm. 2. Send the summary to the U.S. Department of Justice s Trustee Program. the info to USTP.Bankruptcy.Fraud@usdoj.gov or by mail to Executive Office for the U.S. Trustees Criminal Enforcement Unit, 20 Massachusetts Ave., NW Ste. 8000, Washington, DC IF SOMEONE ESTABLISHED PHONE SERVICE IN YOUR NAME, BILLING CALLS TO YOUR MOBILE PHONE OR USING YOUR CALLING CARD AND PIN: Contact your service provider immediately to cancel the account. 2. If you have trouble removing the charges, contact the Missouri Public Service Commission by calling You can file a complaint online at psc.mo.gov or to Governor Office Building, 200 Madison St., P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, MO File a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Call 888.CALL.FCC or file online at fcc.gov. IF AN IDENTITY THIEF TOOK OUT A STUDENT LOAN UNDER YOUR NAME: Contact the school or program that opened the loan and close it. 2. Report the fraudulent loan to the U.S. Department of Education Inspector General s Hotline by calling 800.MIS.USED. 3. File a complaint. Online at: or write Office of Inspector General, U.S. Dept. of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC IF SOMEONE TAMPERED WITH YOUR SECURITIES INVESTMENTS OR BROKERAGE ACCOUNT: File a complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Send a fax to , file online at or write to SEC Complaint Center, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC

12 12 RESOURCES QUICK INFO FREE FREE ANNUAL CREDIT REPORT (for Experian, Equifax and and TransUnion) Phone: Online: Mail: Send completed form to: Annual Credit Report Request Service P.O. Box Atlanta, GA DIRECT MARKETING ASSOCIATION Signing up will reduce the number of unsolicited catalogs, coupons and other marketing mail you receive. Mail Preference Service Online: Mail: DMA Mail Preference Service P.O. Box 643 Carmel, NY Telephone Preference Service Online: Mail: DMA Telephone Preference Service P.O. Box 1559 Carmel, NY Preference Service Online: DO NOT CALL REGISTRIES National (Expires in 5 years) Phone: Online: Missouri: (Free and does not expire unless you move) Phone: Online: OPT OUT OF PRESCREENED CREDIT OR INSURANCE OFFERS Using this will take care of all 4 national credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion and will limit the number of offers you receive in the mail for 7 years. Phone: Online: SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD HOTLINE Phone: Online:

13 13 RESOURCES 13 U.S. PASSPORTS (To report lost or stolen) Complete form DS-64, found at travel.state.gov, and print for submission by mail or in person at an Authorized Passport Facility. Report Fraud: Online: travel.state.gov ALPHABETICAL LISTING EQUIFAX (credit bureau) Report Fraud: Order Credit Report: (not the free one you are entitled to) Online: equifax.com/personal Mail: P.O. Box Atlanta, GA EXPERIAN (credit bureau) Report Fraud: Order Credit Report: (not the free one you are entitled to) Online: experian.com Mail: P.O. Box 4500 Allen, TX FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION The FTC s goal is to assist victims of identity theft by providing them with information to help them resolve the problems that arise from the theft. Identity Theft Hotline: Online: ftc.gov INNOVIS (credit bureau) Report Fraud: Order Credit Report: Online: innovis.com Mail: 250 East Broad St. Columbus, OH MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE Identity Theft Hotline: Online: Mail: Consumer Protection Unit P.O. Box 899 Jefferson City, MO 65102

14 14 RESOURCES ONGUARD ONLINE Website provides practical tips from the federal government and tech Industry to help guard against internet fraud. Online: PRIVACY RIGHTS CLEARINGHOUSE A nonprofit consumer organization for consumer information & advocacy. Online: TRANSUNION (credit bureau) Report Fraud: Order Credit Report: (not the free one you are entitled to) Online: Mail: Consumer Disclosure Center P.O. Box 1800 Chester, PA VARIOUS AGENCY RESOURCES FBI Internet Fraud Complaint Center: Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force: IRS Specialized Identity Theft Protection Unit (if someone used your SSN on a tax return): Secret Service: Springfield Police Department: U.S. Postal Service: postalinspectors.uspis.gov To report fraudulent use of your checks: ChexSystems: TeleCheck: CPRS/Certegy: TIP: Visit mycucommunity.com for forms and other identity theft information.

15 13 NOTES

16 Did you find this booklet helpful? Request a free PDF copy at info@mycucommunity.com