Resource Center - ID Theft

Identity Theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. We've all seen the commercials where there is a man speaking with a woman's voice because his identity had been stolen. Sometimes those commercials come across as being funny, but a stolen identity is far from comical. It robs you of the person that you have become, and the person that you were beginning to be. You can never be too careful when it comes to valuable information such as your address, Social Security number, bank or credit card account numbers, even your name. There are people that watch as you use your debit card and enter your PIN at the grocery store check out counter, just to steal your purse from the cart while you're loading your groceries.

If you have become a victim of identity theft, do the following:

1. Contact the three major credit reporting agencies. Request that all new credit requests be approved by yourself and that a fraud alert be placed on your file.
    
   
   • Equifax 1-800-525-6285
   • Experian 1-888-397-3742
   • TransUnion 1-800-680-7289 
      
2. Close any accounts that have fraudulent activity by contacting the security department of the financial institution or creditor.
    
   
3. File a police report. Request a copy of the report as creditors or financial institutions may ask for a copy of the report as proof of your claim.

Here are some tools to help keep your identity safe:

• Shred all financial information when it is not needed any longer. This includes all credit applications received through the mail, insurance and investment information, utility bills, etc. Individuals that steal identities will go as far as sifting through your garbage can, this act is also known as "dumpster diving".
   
• Do not carry any type of documentation that sheds light on your identity (passports, Social Security card, credit cards) if you are not in need of it.
   
• Do not place your driver's license number or Social Security number on your checks.
   
• Do not give any personal information over the phone or the internet if you are unsure as to whom you're providing the information for. If someone represents themselves as a financial representative, get their phone number and call them back to confirm their identity. Fraud scams can come in a variety of ways, one of which is "pretext calling". An example of "pretext calling" is when an individual claims to be a representative from your financial institution and asks you to verify your personal information. Your financial institution already has your information on file and will never ask for your verification.
   
• You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report once a year. Get it by contacting the three major credit card reporting agencies.
   
• Always check your bank statements for accuracy.
   
• Watch out for internet scams. Phishing is an internet scam that occurs when a web page is copied or imitated. People are scammed into giving out personal information on the internet.

For more information regarding identity theft, check into the following resources:

• US Government Consumer ID Theft
• Federal Trade Commission / ID Theft Hotline
  1-877-ID-THEFT (1-800-438-4338)