What is Identity Theft? Identity theft is a serious crime where your personal information—anything from
your name, your driver’s license, or Social Security Number—has been stolen by an imposter who intends to commit fraud using your name. With your Social Security Number, someone can easily obtain false lines of credit and rack up significant debt in your name. With a stolen identity, someone might use your name in a legal matter, leaving you with a false criminal record. Identity fraud is a major problem, and it happens more often than you might think.
How do I protect my identity? One of the best habits you can have to protect your identity is to change your passwords on a regular basis. Make this a monthly routine. Another simple step toward protection is to avoid using similar passwords, like password1 and password2. Mix it up.
How can someone steal my identity? Your mail often contains sensitive information, like your Social Security Number, and criminals can obtain it by going through your trash. It’s important to destroy documents that include personal information before putting them in the garbage. You can buy a personal shredder or collect your documents in a secure place and dispose of them at a secure shred event like the one we held June 4th. Identity theft can also occur as the result of a lost or stolen wallet, in which case you should file a report with the local police, as well as your bank and credit card companies.
How do I find out if my identity has been stolen? Reviewing your credit report is an effective way to detect identity fraud, and you can get your report for free from
https://www.annualcreditreport.com. You can review your report for signs of suspicious activity, such as accounts opened in your name that you don’t recognize, or credit checks from companies with which you’ve never done business. This could be a sign that someone is applying for credit in your name, and it’s better to catch it early. You can’t always prevent identity theft, but you can be proactive and minimize the damage. If you don’t review your credit report on a regular basis, months or years might go by before you find out that someone has stolen your identity.
What do I do if my identity has been stolen? Report the theft. Report the identity theft to the local police, the Federal Trade Commission and your State Consumer Protection Office or Attorney General. Contact the company or financial institution where the fraud occurred. Inform them that a false account has been opened in your name. For insurance fraud, contact your insurance company, and let them know that your identity has been stolen. For tax fraud, contact the IRS. Freeze your accounts. Contact the three credit reporting agencies—TransUnion, Experian and Equifax—and place a freeze on your accounts. The freeze will block any further credit applications made in your name.
Call the credit union or bank. Report the situation to the fraud departments of all of your financial institutions (any and all institutions with which you do business or have current accounts).
Post by: Cari J.
