Identity Theft

Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in America, affecting half a million new victims each year. Identity theft or identity fraud is the taking of a victim’s identity to obtain credit, credit cards from banks or retailers, steal money from a victim’s existing accounts, apply for loans, establish accounts with utility companies, rent an apartment, file bankruptcy, or obtain a job using the victim’s name. Thousands of dollars can be stolen without the victim knowing about it for months or even years.

The imposter obtains your social security number, your birth date, and other identifying information, such as your address and phone number. With this information and a fake driver’s license they can apply in person for instant credit, or through the mail posing as you. They often claim they have moved and provide their own address. Once the first account is opened, they can continue to add to their credibility.

They can get the information from your doctor, lawyer, school, health insurance carrier, and many other places. "Dumpster divers" pick up information you may have thrown away, such as utility bills, credit card slips and other documents.

To prevent this from happening to you:

• Do not give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know whom you’re dealing with. Identity thieves will pose as bank representatives, Internet service providers and even government officials to get you to reveal identifying information.
• Shred all documents, including pre-approved credit applications received in your name, insurance forms, bank checks, statements you are discarding, and other financial information.
• Do not use your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your social security number, or a similar series of numbers, as a password for anything.
• Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry. Take what you’ll actually need. Don’t carry your social security card, birth certificate, or passport, unless necessary.
• Do not put your social security number on your checks or your credit receipts. If a business requests your social security number, give them an alternate number and explain why. If a government agency requests your social security number, there must be a privacy notice accompanying the request.
• Do not put your telephone number on checks.
• Be careful about using an ATM and phone cards. Someone could look over your shoulder to obtain your PIN.
• Make a list of all your credit cards and account numbers (with customer service phone numbers) and keep it in a safe place.
• When you order new credit cards in the mail or previous ones have expired, watch the calendar to make sure you get the card within the appropriate time frame. If the card is not received within that time frame, call the credit card grantor immediately to find out if the card has been sent.
• Do not put your credit card number on the Internet unless it is encrypted on a secure site.
• Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if bills don’t arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address.

Cancel all credit cards that you have not used in the last six months. Open credit is a prime target.