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Identity Theft

Identity Theft. Protecting Who You Are Printing with “Notes” enabled with provide a script for each slide. Bob Samson 2/28/2005. What is Identity Theft?. The practice of stealing someone’s personal information to purchase things in their name cost Americans $52.6 billion last year

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Identity Theft

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  1. Identity Theft Protecting Who You Are Printing with “Notes” enabled with provide a script for each slide Bob Samson 2/28/2005

  2. What is Identity Theft? • The practice of stealing someone’s personal information to purchase things in their name cost Americans $52.6 billion last year • About 10 Million people a year suffer some type of Identity Theft • In 2004, 39% of complaints to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) were about Identity Theft • 72% of Identity Theft did not involve on-line transactions • Friends, family members and neighbors account for half of all known thieves

  3. No One is Safe Even the unborn and the dead can be victims of identity theft

  4. How Identity Theft Occurs • Someone obtains sufficient information about you to apply for credit in your name • Social Security Number • Basic personal info like address or place of employment • A copy of your drivers license • Once approved, they purchase items for themselves • You are left with the bills for things you did not purchase

  5. Where Do They Get Your Information? • Medical records from your doctor’s office, accountant, lawyer, dentist, health insurance carrier or from any forms such as credit applications that you may have filled out in the past • From your mail box or garbage can where you have received or discarded personal information • From public records where information has been made available through a court or other filing • From you directly where you have been tricked into giving your personal information to someone either over the phone or the Internet • Or just plain outright theft – a wallet or purse can contain sufficient information to steal someone’s identity

  6. Let’s Look at Specific Areas of Risk • Your mailbox • Your phone • Your email knowledge • Your Internet habits • Your purse or wallet • Your trash • The people you do business with

  7. Your Mailbox • Install a locked mail box or use a post office box • Reduce the high risk items that are sent to your home • New checks – pick them up from your bank • Use the P.O. Box address on your checks (don’t put your phone number on your checks) • Take advantage of the opt-out on annual bank notices • Notify list brokers, credit companies and others that you do not want the junk mail • Don’t pay bills by leaving envelopes containing checks in your mailbox • Mail checks and other sensitive information from inside the Post Office, not in a neighborhood drop box

  8. List Brokers Below are some of the major list brokers: • Acxiom Corporation1 Information WayLittle Rock, AR 72202Tel. No.: 501-342-2722 • Donnelly Marketing, Inc.Data Base Operations416 South BellAmes, IA 50010Tel. No.: 888-633-4402 • R.L. Polk & Company Attn: Opt-Out Coordinator 26955 Northwestern Highway Southfield, MI 48034 Tel. No.: 800-464-7655 • DMA Mail Preference Service P.O. Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008 • DMA Telephone Preference Service P.O. Box 9014 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014

  9. Reduce Credit Offers You can reduce credit card offers by calling (888) 567-8688 There are four credit bureaus: • EquifaxP.O. Box 740241Atlanta, GA 30374 • Experian Resource Center (TRW)901 West Bond StreetLincoln, NE 68521 • Innovis, Inc. Consumer OPTOUT P. O. Box 219297 Houston, Texas 77218-9297 • Trans Union Name Removal P.O. Box 97328 Jackson, MS 39288-7328

  10. A Sample Letter Date: To whom it may concern: I request to have my name removed from your marketing lists. Here is the information you asked me to include in my request: First, Middle and Last Name (List all variations including Jr., Sr., etc.) Current mailing address Previous mailing address (if you moved in the last 6 months) Social Security Number Date of Birth Thank you for your prompt handling of my request. Your signature

  11. Warranty Cards There is no need to fill out warranty cards To remove yourself from existing lists, write: • National Demographics and Lifestyles Customer Service Department 1621 18th Street, #300 Denver, CO 80202

  12. Your Phone • Be wary of social engineering • Use Caller Id • Never, never, give personal information to someone who has called you unless you know them and are sure you can trust them • Sign up with the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call program (http://www.donotcall.gov or call (888) 382-1222) • If you receive a tele-marketing call and you are not interested, ask to be placed on the companies Do Not Call list • Be cautious when giving out your phone number • Consider an unlisted phone number

  13. Your Email Knowledge • Never send credit card data in an email - Emails should always be considered unsecured • Don’t open email attachments without understanding that these are the largest cause of viruses - Even opening an attachment from a trusted email address is not safe (your friend could have been infected and had their address book stolen) • Email is one of the largest sources of viruses, trojans and spyware

  14. A Special Note about Phishing • Emails from legitimate companies are copied to trick consumers into providing confidential information • Passwords • Credit card numbers and expiration dates • Banking account numbers • Even experts cannot tell by looking at the messages or the web site to which you are directed that this message is a forgery • Understand that no legitimate company ever asks you to validate personal information via an email • Never respond, even if you do business with the company. If you are concerned, call them first!

  15. Your Internet Habits • “Social Networks” are services joined to help you remember addresses and phone numbers • Some companies like this are Plaxo, Friendster, Tickle and others • You risk your personal information, privacy and the information contained in your own computer’s address book • Remember, joining free services will expose your information and possibly the information stored on your computer to misuse and theft • Be careful of HTML email - it can contain web bugs • Learn how to identify a “secured” web page - Never send your personal information over an unsecured web page • AND… Don’t click on “Unsubscribe” links unless you know you actually subscribed

  16. Your Purse or Wallet • Never carry your Social Security Card or any card that contains that number • Carry only credit cards that you need for that day • Cancel unused credit card accounts • Try to use debit cards – they are password protected • Use a password that is not easily found from information in your wallet or purse • Reduce the number of credit cards you have taken out in your name • Avoid fake VISA or MasterCard in your wallet

  17. Your Trash • Destroy all documents containing personal information • Credit account billing statements • Old bank statements • Receipts • Insurance forms • Credit applications • Don’t forget to destroy your backup CD’s or diskettes from your computer • Never discard a computer without having the information removed with a professional software eraser

  18. The People with whom You Do Business • Who you choose to do business with will reduce your risk of identity theft • Read privacy policies and terms • If you disagree with them, don’t do business with them • Be savvy about your rights

  19. The FACT Act • Why check your credit history? • The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 gives you the right • Any company can have a breach of security (ChoicePoint) • Mistakes can be made affecting your credit history • For insurance claims ChoicePoint Consumer Disclosure Center, P.O. Box 105292, Altanta, Ga 30348 (866) 312-8076 • For employment history reports ChoicePoint WorkPlace Solutions Consumer Disclosure Center, P.O. Box 105292, Altanta, GA 30348 (866) 312-8075 • For tenant history reports Resident Data Consumer Disclosure Center, P.O. Box 850126, Richardson, TX 75085-0126 (877) 448-5732

  20. Some Last Points to Consider • Monitor your credit report at least annually • Do not use free credit report services – Deal directly • Equifax (http://www.equifaxcom) to order your report call: (800) 685-1111 • Experian (http://www.experian.com) (888) 397-3742 • TransUnion (http://www.transunion.com) (800) 888-4213 • Innovis (http://www.innovis.com) (800) 540-2505 • Add a “Fraud Alert” to your credit reports • If you should have your identity stolen, you can get help at: • The Federal Trade Commission • Web Site (http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index.html) • Phone: (888) 438-4338) • Free ID Theft Guide (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm)

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