Identity Theft

1. Identity Theft Presented by Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and Lawrence County Information Systems & Technology

2. Before We Begin • Class Length: 1 hour • Sign Training Log • Restrooms & Exits • Questions • Handouts • Feedback

3. Learning Objectives

4. Learning Objectives • Learn what Identity Theft is and some of the different types of Identity Theft. • Learn some of the steps you can take to prevent your identity from being stolen. • Learn what to do if you believe your identity has been stolen. • Not intended to make everyone an expert.

5. What is Identity Theft?

6. What is Identity Theft? Identity Theft is when someone uses your personally identifiable information, such as your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your consent, to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity Theft is #1 Crime in America today.

7. Identity Theft Statistics • 13+ million Americans have had their identities stolen this year to date. • Business losses are upwards of $50 billion annually, and $5 billion is spent by victims each year recovering from identity theft. • 7% of all adults have their identities misused each year, with an average $3,500 lost per instance.

8. Identity Theft Statistics • 80% of large organizations surveyed indicate they had experienced one or more data breaches over the previous 12 months. • 49% of the business security breaches involved the loss or theft of paper documents. • The average business security breach recovery cost was $6.75 million!

9. Identity Theft Types

10. Identity Theft Types • Financial. • Credit Card, Bank Account, Investment, Mortgage & Tax Fraud. • Medical. • Assuming your identity for medical care. • Criminal. • Commit crimes while assuming your identity. • You can be arrested and jailed for a crime you didn’t commit and know nothing about.

11. Identity Theft Types • Child. • Stealing the identity of a child. • Often goes undetected for years because no one has been monitoring their credit. • Senior Citizens. • Targeting senior citizens via a variety of methods to obtain personal information. • Elderly people under the care nursing facilities are at higher risk.

12. Identity Theft Types • Social Security Number (SSN). • Common denominator in most types of identity theft. • Easily commit crimes and financial fraud in your good name. • Create a different identity using your SSN – also called Synthetic Identity Theft.

13. How Personal Information Is Obtained

14. How Personal Information Is Obtained • Workplace. Absconding personnel records, financial reports, email messages, etc. • Old-Fashioned Stealing. Stealing wallets and purses, mail, etc. • Dumpster Diving. Rummaging through trash looking for documents with your personal information on it. • Skimming. Scanning credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.

15. How Personal Information Is Obtained • Phishing. Spam E-mails from supposed reputable companies to get you to link to malicious sites to reveal your personal information. • Changing Your Address. Diverting your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form. • Pretexting.  Using false pretenses to get you to divulge personal information.

17. How Personal Information Is Obtained • Social Networking. Searching the Internet for information people make publicly available on sites such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc. • Malware. Malicious software such as Spyware, Trojan Horses, Rootkits to gain/maintain control of your computer or obtain information like account logins and passwords.

18. Example forms of Identity Theft

19. Example forms of Identity Theft • Credit Card Fraud: • Make unauthorized purchases with your credit card account(s). • Open new credit card accounts in your name, and rack up charges on those accounts as well. • Usually use different billing address so you don’t have any idea it’s happening. • Can severely damage your credit.

20. Example forms of Identity Theft • Government Documents Fraud: • Obtain a driver's license or official ID card issued in your name but with their picture. • Use your name and Social Security number to get government benefits. • File a fraudulent tax return using your information.

21. Example forms of Identity Theft • Medical Identity Fraud: • Receive medical care or medication in your name. • Health insurance claims filed with your insurance carrier. • False medical records and health information created that could place you at great personal risk. • Phone or Utilities Fraud: • Open a new phone or wireless account in your name, or run up charges on your existing account.

22. Preventative Measures

23. Preventative Measures • Place a Freeze on your credit: • #1 way to protect your credit. • Accomplished through the 3 major credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Equifax or Experian). • No new accounts (credit card, banking, brokerage, loans, rental agreements, etc.) may be be attached to your name/social security number without your approval. • $10 fee (per agency) to freeze, or temporarily unfreeze, your credit report in order to create a new account.

24. Preventative Measures • Monitor your credit reports regularly. • At least annually. • Everyone is entitled to at least one free report per year. • Go ONLY to Annual Credit Report to get your free report http://www.annualcreditreport.com. • Ensure all activity is accounted for; clarify with the credit bureau in question if you don’t understand report contents, or suspect fraudulent activity.

25. Preventative Measures • Opt out of pre-approved credit offers (i.e. Financial Junk Main) with the three major credit reporting agencies. • No cost. • Significantly reduces the number of organizations receiving your credit information. • Reduces the amount of documents you need to shred prior to discarding.

26. Preventative Measures • Shred all documents containing important personally identifiable information on it before discarding. • Carry only necessary identification and credit/debit cards in your wallet/purse. • Be aware if you’re using contact-less credit cards: • Can be scanned without your knowledge. • Use a scan-proof wallet. • Don’t carry anything with your SSN on it.

27. Preventative Measures • Use a pre-paid credit card for certain purchases. • Never provide your personal information to anyone unless: • It’s absolutely necessary. • You initiate it (be very suspicious if you didn’t). • You can confirm the validity of the person and/or company receiving it. • Purchase a USPS-approved locking mailbox.

28. Preventative Measures • Be vigilant when using the Internet: • Be on the alert for unsolicited e-mail messages and links in e-mails. These links very often lead to malicious websites that may look legitimate, or install malware on your computer. • When using the Internet, be watchful of the actual address of the site you’re on. Ensure you’re actually on the website you intend to be be:

29. Preventative Measures • Search Engines. • Using a search engine (i.e. Google) is a useful and widely used tool for locating information and items on the Internet. • Be very selective of links you go to when searching.

30. Preventative Measures • When making purchases over the Internet, limit your business to places that are reputable and legitimate. • You may find items advertised for less, but don’t trust unknown sites. • Be suspicious any site unless you know it to be reputable. • Check the Better Business Bureau if you are uncertain: http://www.bbb.org

31. Preventative Measures • Whenever possible, pay for on-line purchases through PayPal. • The recipient of the funds does not have access to your financial account information. • More and more companies are accepting PayPal as an allowed payment method.

32. Preventative Measures • Social Networking: • Restrict access to your page(s) to only those you have authorized (“Friends” or allowed “Followers”). • Communicate with only those persons you personally know, and don’t accept requests to be “Friends” with anyone else. • Be guarded about what you publish on your pages. • Vigilance on social networking sites goes beyond identity theft. There are always people hunting for victims to exploit, be they adults or children. • Anything you share can be used against you.

33. Preventative Measures • Protect Usernames & Passwords: • Never reveal to anyone. • If absolutely necessary to write them down, keep them in a locked, safe place. • Never place on your computer or electronic device unless under a high level of encryption. • Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts.

34. What to Do If Your Identity Has Been Stolen

35. What to Do If Your Identity Has Been Stolen • Contact the 3 credit reporting agencies and have them place a Fraud Alert on your file. • Contact financial institutions where your credit has been misused and formally dispute any charges and close compromised accounts. • File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (get copy of the report).

36. What to Do If Your Identity Has Been Stolen • File a report with the Attorney General’s Office (get copy of the report). • File a report with your local law enforcement office, or the appropriate law enforcement agency in the community where the identity theft took place (get copy of the report). • File a report with the Social Security Administration (get copy of the report).

37. Video

38. Resources

39. Resources • Federal Trade Commission (FTC): • ID Theft Resources: http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft • Online Complaint Form: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov • Telephone: 1-877-ID-THEFT • Identity Theft Resource Center (IDRC):http://www.idtheftcenter.org • SD Attorney General’s Office: • Online Complaint Form: http://atg.sd.gov • Telephone: 605-773-3215

40. Resources • TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790 • Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 • Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013

41. Resources • Free Annual Credit Report:http://www.annualcreditreport.com • Opt Out Prescreen: • www.OptOutPreScreen.com • Telephone: 1-888-567-8688 • Social Security Administration: • https://www.socialsecurity.gov/fraudreport/oig/public_fraud_reporting/form.htm

42. Summary

43. Summary • Identity Theft is a serious crime that can significantly and negatively affect your life. • Safeguard your personal information, and never provide it to anyone unless it’s absolutely necessary, and when you do ensure it is for valid purposes. • Be wary of scams to obtain your personal information, whether they be via the Internet or other means. • Carefully monitor your credit report and monthly financial account statements for unusual activity. • Take appropriate steps in the event you believe your identity has been compromised.

44. Questions?

45. Questions? What is the most effective method for protecting yourself from becoming an Identity Theft victim? Placing a Freeze on your credit reports with the 3 credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Equifax or Experian). What is the first thing you should do when you believe your identity has been stolen? Contact one of the 3 credit reporting agencies and file a Fraud Alert.

46. Please fill out survey,take a resource handout&Thank you for attending!