Identity Theft

Identity theft is a crime in which an impersonator acquires sensitive information, such as a Social Security number, driver’s license number, or credit card number, to fraudulently obtain goods, services, credit, and loans in the victim's name. 

• They use personal information you share on the Internet.

• They scam you, often through email, by posing as legitimate companies or government agencies with which you do business.

• They steal wallets and purses containing your identification, credit cards, and bank cards.

• They steal your mail, including your bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks, and tax information.

• They complete a “change of address form” to divert your mail to another location.

• They rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses, for personal data in a practice known as “dumpster diving.”

• They fraudulently obtain your credit report by posing as a landlord, employer, or someone else who may have a legitimate need for, and legal right to, the information.

• They find personal information in your home.

• They get your information from the workplace in a practice known as “business record theft” by: stealing files out of offices where you’re a customer, employee, patient, or student; bribing an employee who has access to your files; or “hacking” into electronic files.

• They contact your credit card issuer, impersonate you, and request a change of the mailing address on your credit card account. 

• They open a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth, and SSN.

• They establish phone or wireless service in your name.

• They open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.

• They file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they’ve incurred under your name.

• They counterfeit checks or debit cards, and drain your bank account.

• They buy cars by taking out auto loans in your name.

• They give your name to the police during an arrest.

• Maintain a secure computer and use email and the Internet with proper safeguards.

• Get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. Your credit report contains information on where you work and live, the credit accounts that have been opened in your name, how you pay your bills, whether you’ve been sued or arrested, or if you’ve filed for bankruptcy. Make sure it’s accurate and includes only those activities you’ve authorized. You can get yearly credit reports from: Annual Credit Report.com

• Place passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN, or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

• Do not give personal information over the Internet, on the phone, or through the mail unless you initiated the contact or are sure you know the person with whom you are dealing. Identity thieves may pose as Internet service providers (ISPs), email contacts, representatives of banks, and government agencies to get you to reveal your SSN, mother’s maiden name, account numbers, and other identifying information. You can check the organization’s website as many companies post scam alerts when their name is used improperly.

• Guard your mail and trash from theft.

• Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox.

• Tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards that you’re discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail.

• Before revealing any personally identifying information (for example, on an application), find out how it will be used and secured, and whether it will be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice about the use of your information. Can you choose to have it kept confidential?

• Do not carry your Social Security card; leave it in a secure place. Give your SSN only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible.

• Carry only the identification information and the number of credit and debit cards that you’ll actually need.

• Pay attention to your billing cycles.

• Be wary of promotional scams. Identity thieves may use phony offers to get you to give them your personal information.

• Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work.

* Based on FTC documentation