Identity theft is the fastest growing criminal activity in the
20th Century, replacing illegal drug sales.
How BIG is this Problem?
Banks, credit card companies and businesses that house servers
storing passwords or other sensitive information all report
"break-ins"through Trojan viruses or other online hacking
methods - resulting in the loss of millions of pieces of
information. Instances of lost information are employees selling
it and other lax security measures resulting in thieves having
access to your identity.
Thieves Want
- Your Name - Date of Birth - Home Address - Phone Numbers -
Social Security Number - Driver's License Number - Credit Card
Numbers - CW2 Security Code (the number on the back of your
credit card) - Your Credit Report - ATM Cards - Telephone
Calling Cards - Mortgage Details
Where Are They Getting Your Information?
- Banks - Credit-Reference Agencies - Retailers - Credit Card
Networks - Data-Brokerage Companies - Payment Processing
Companies - Phone Companies - Schools - Your Employer - Doctors,
Clinics and Health Departments - Government Agencies
There are other effective methods:
- Dumpster Diving - Mail Theft - Retail Theft -
"Phishing"/pretexting/pretending - Purse/Wallet Theft
What are Thieves Using Your Information For?
- Making charges to your existing credit cards - Opening new
credit cards in your name - Having phone or utilities turned on
- Withdrawing money from your existing bank accounts -
Employment purposes - Driver's Licenses - Tax Fraud - Social
Service benefits - Student loans - Business or Personal loans -
Health care - Mortgage loans/leases - Auto loans - Using your ID
when caught committing a crime
How Can You Protect Yourself?
- Keep a photocopy of your credit cards, bank account numbers
and investment account numbers in a safe place - Keep your
credit card receipts - Put a "fraud alert" on all your credit
reports - If you apply for credit and the card doesn't arrive on
time, call the card issuer - Choose difficult PIN numbers or
passwords. (Don't use birth dates, your mother's maiden name,
etc.) - Never give personal information to anyone who sends you
an email, a letter or calls you asking for it - Shred personal
information - Don't use the ATM machine if someone is watching
you - Pay attention to what's going on around you - cell phones
often have cameras in them. If someone is standing by you with a
cell phone while you're entering a PIN number, block their view
- Review your bills each month. If there's something you don't
remember, call the creditor. - Check your credit report at least
once a year - Store your cancelled checks safely. - Don't leave
your purse in plain sight when driving - Keep your valuables
locked in the trunk or glove box when driving - Make all
personal information on your computer password protected - Don't
carry information about your PIN numbers, passwords and account
numbers in your purse or wallet
Warning Signs that Your Identity Has Been Stolen:
- A loan application is denied, or you're refused extended
credit requests - You are contacted by a debt-collection agency
- Your purse or wallet has been stolen, or your house broken
into - Unfamiliar activity on your credit report
What to do if it Happens to You:
- If your purse or wallet is stolen, call the police - Contact
your bank, credit card and other credit extending companies and
report the theft - Close accounts - Contact the credit-reporting
companies - Have fraudulent activity removed immediately and
monitor your credit report every 90 days for the next year - Put
everything in writing - File a report with the Federal Trade
Commission - Change passwords on your existing accounts and
create new ones for new accounts
Identity theft is real. There are no guarantees you can keep
your information safe, by taking proactive steps to protect
yourself, you can minimize your chances of having an "identity
crisis".
About the author:
Host, Sintilia Miecevole offers resources for purses with
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