Identity thieves use a variety of ways to gain access to your personal information:

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1 How Identity Theft Occurs Identity thieves use a variety of ways to gain access to your personal information: Steals information from employers, bribe an employee who has access records, or hacks into an organization s computer. Rummage through trash. Obtain credit reports by abusing their employer s authorized access Steal credit and debit card numbers with a storage device as information is being processed (known as skimming ). Steal wallets and purses. Steal mail, including bank statements, pre-approved credit card mailings, new checks, and tax forms. Complete a change of address form to send your mail to another location. Steal personal information from your home. Scam information from you, posing as a legitimate business person or government official. Once thieves have your personal information, they can: Go on spending sprees Open a new credit card account Change the mailing address on your credit card account Take out loans in your name Establish phone or wireless service in your name Counterfeit checks or debit cards and drain your bank account Open a bank account in your name, then proceed to write bad checks File for bankruptcy under your name Give your name to police during an arrest

2 How Can I Tell if I m a Victim of Identity Theft? You might suspect that you are a victim of identity theft if: You fail to receive bills for your credit cards (signaling that someone changed your address with the company) Receive credit cards for which you did not apply Are denied credit for no apparent reason Receive calls from debt collectors for things you did not buy You should order a copy of your credit report every year from one of the three major credit bureaus below and review it carefully, looking for any activity that is unauthorized. You will be charged for obtaining credit reports. Equifax ( Experian ( TransUnion (

3 Managing Your Personal Information You can do the items listed below to help minimize your risk of being an identity theft victim. Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information for passwords, such as your mother s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your social security number or phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers. Lock up personal information in your home especially if you have a roommate, hire outside help, or are having work done in your home. Ask about information security procedures where you work. Who has access to your personal information? How do they dispose of records with personal information? Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact. Guard your mail and trash from theft. Place your outgoing mail in USPS collection boxes, not in your personal mailbox. Remove mail promptly. If you plan on being away, have your mail stopped while you are away. Shred or tear charge receipts, credit card applications, insurance forms, physician statements, expired credit cards, and old checks and bank statements. Keep your social security card in a secure place, never in your wallet. Only give out your social security number when it is absolutely necessary. If your social security number is used as your student ID or driver s license number, ask for a substitute number. Limit the identification and the number of credit cards you carry. Pay attention to your billing cycles. Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work. When Someone Asks For Your Social Security Number Before giving out your social security number, ask the following questions: 1. Why do you need it? 2. How will it be used? 3. How do you protect it from being stolen? 4. What will happen if I don t give it to you? Safeguard Your Computer Your computer can be a goldmine for personal information. Protect yourself by: Updating virus protection software regularly. Don t download files from strangers or click on hyperlinks from people you don t know. Use a firewall, especially if you have a high-speed or always on connection to the Internet. Use a secure browser. Look for the lock icon on the status bar. Try not to store financial information on your laptop. Avoid using automatic login features that saves your username and password. Delete any personal information stored on your computer before you dispose of it. Read Web site privacy policies.

4 If Your Identity Is Stolen If you suspect that your personal information has been used to commit fraud or theft, take the four following steps right away: 1. Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus. Ask them to place a fraud alert in your file as well as a victim statement. 2. Equifax ( 3. Experian ( 4. TransUnion ( 5. Obtain a credit report and analyze it carefully. 6. Renew fraud alerts and victim statements annually. They do expire. 7. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. 8. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Keep a copy; you may need it to validate your claim to creditors. 9. File a complaint with the FTC at

5 Additional Resources Check out the following websites to learn more about Identity Theft and how you can safeguard yourself from becoming a victim. 1. Resource 1 2. Resource 2 3. Resource 3