Identity Theft
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Identity theft is a growing problem, with hundreds of thousands
of people falling victim every year. Here you will find information
to help protect yourself or to help if you have fallen victim to an
identity theft scam.
If you believe you have been a victim of any kind of fraud,
contact Premier Federal Credit Unions Member Services
Department immediately at 800.873.2929.
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What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone finds and uses your
personal information, such as your name, social security number,
or credit card number to commit fraud or theft using your name.
Victims can spend months, even years, recovering from identity
theft. There can be high out-of-pocket expenses related to
clearing your name. You could be denied loans and jobs. Though
unlikely, you could even be mistakenly arrested as a result of
crimes committed in your name.
Click here to view the Federal Trade Commissions Video on
Avoiding Identity Theft.
How does it happen?
Identity thieves use a variety of methods to gain access to data
including:
- They steal your mail (or rummage through your trash), and
use your financial statements, pre-approved credit card
offers, telephone calling cards and tax information to open
accounts in your name. Believe it or not, "Dumpster Diving"
is the most prevalent form of identity theft.
- They access places that keep records for a large number of
people, such as retail stores, fitness centers, car dealers,
schools, hospitals, and even credit bureaus. Thieves may
use the stolen identities themselves, or sell the information
to other criminals.
- They steal your purse or wallet containing your personal
identification, credit and bank cards, and checks.
- They "shoulder surf" (look over your shoulder) at ATM
machines and phone booths in order to capture your PIN
numbers.
- They change your address with the post office or credit
card company to divert your mail or specific statements
to another location.
- They "hack" information you share on the Internet from
non-secure Internet sites. More importantly, they infect
your home computer with viruses that transmit your data.
- They buy your information from other sources, or pose as
a landlord, employer, or someone else who may have a
legal right to access your information. This is called
"pretexting".
- They find your family information (mother's maiden name)
in public genealogy records.
- They mail you fictitious IRS Forms and fraudulent bank
correspondence in an attempt to obtain your personal
information.
This information is used to open new accounts (credit cards,
cellular phone service, checking accounts) or take out loans
in your name. Quite often you don't know what is going on for
a period of time - normally about 14 months - because you
aren't receiving any statements or you haven't checked your
credit report.
Prevention is Key
There are a variety of things you can do to reduce the risk
of identity theft. Think about taking care of your identity on
a regular basis, just like you take care of your health. The
collection of ideas below should help raise your awareness.
- Ask questions. Don't reveal any personally identifying
information until you understand how it will be used.
Don't give out any information over the phone, through
the mail, or on the Internet unless you initiate the
contact.
- Pay attention to security measures when making
purchases on the Internet. Does the site encrypt your
transaction information? Those that do will clearly state
their security measures on their site. Look for "https"
rather than "http" in the first part of the URL. The "s"
stands for "secure". Also, look for a locked padlock icon
on the bottom right of your Internet Explorer browser
window, and on the bottom left of your Netscape
browser window. This locked padlock icon is another
indication of a secure site. Click on it and read the
certificate.
- Be vigilant about your mail. Promptly remove your mail
after it has been delivered. Deposit outgoing mail in
collection boxes or at the post office, or consider
installing a locked mailbox at your residence. If you're
going on vacation, place your mail on hold.
- Pay attention to your charges and billing cycles. Is there
a charge on your statement that you don't recognize? Do
your statements arrive on time? If not, contact your
creditors. A missing statement could indicate that a
thief has taken over your account and has changed
your billing address. Use Premier FCUs Online Banking
to check your accounts daily. Do not print your telephone
number or social security number on your checks. Balance
your checkbook every month.
- Be cautious about where you keep personal information.
Store your social security card, birth certificate, passport,
unused bank cards, and canceled and used checks in a
safe place, especially if you have roommates, hired help,
or are having service work done in your home. File away a
list of all your account card numbers, expiration dates, and
phone numbers. DO NOT carry your social security card,
birth certificate or passport with you. Experts agree that
the key to identity theft is obtaining a person's social
security number.
- Tear up or shred receipts, credit card offers you get in
the mail, expired cards, insurance information, physician
statements, bank checks and statements that you are
discarding, and anything else that may have your personal
information on it. Pay special attention to credit card,
check card, and ATM receipts. They often have your
account number printed right on them! A crosscut shredder
is highly recommended.
- Order a copy of your credit report on a regular basis.
Request changes to inaccuracies in writing and follow up
with each credit bureau. See the following list of credit
reporting agencies.
- Remove yourself from marketing lists. Even though many
marketing organizations allow you to "opt out" of having
your information shared with others, you may want to
contact the following organizations.
- Credit Bureaus: To stop prescreened credit card offers
from coming to you in the mail. Identity thieves often
"dumpster dive" for offers that you throw away, secure a
credit card in your name, and have the statements sent
to a different address without your knowledge. "Dumpster
Diving" is the most prevalent form of identity theft.
Prescreened credit offer Opt-Out line: 888.567.8688
Experian's consumer Opt-Out line: 800.407.1088
Identity theft insurance is also available through various
insurance companies. It can also be sold as a rider to your
homeowner's policy. The fees vary, and coverage normally
includes legal expenses, loan re-application fees, telephone
and certified mailing charges, notary expenses and lost wages
for the time taken from work to deal with the fraud. Contact
your insurance agent for more information.
Im a Victim! What Now?
If you have become the victim of identity theft, you probably
don't know where you should start. Premier FCU has put
together this list of items to help you resolve the problem and
restore your identity.
- Take action immediately. Document the time and money
you spend on clearing your name. In some states, any
person found guilty of financial identity theft will be
ordered to pay restitution to the victim for any financial
loss, including lost wages. Use the attached Action Plan
to help yourself get organized (PDF).
- Contact the creditors of any accounts that have been
tampered with or opened fraudulently. These may
include credit card companies, telephone and cell
phone companies and other utilities, credit unions,
banks, and other lenders. It's also a good idea to
contact other card issuers, like libraries, health
insurance providers, video stores, AAA, etc. Ask to
speak with the security or fraud department, take notes
concerning who you spoke with, when, and conversation highlights. Follow up in writing within 30 days.
- Instead of completing different forms for each creditor,
ask each creditor if they will accept an ID Theft Affidavit
provided by the FTC (PDF) to report your claim. Click here
for Premier FCUs Affidavit of Fraud (PDF).
- Follow up with credit card companies in writing. There
are specific consumer protection procedures spelled out
for resolving errors with credit card companies. Click
here to view those procedures (PDF). Immediately close
accounts that have been tampered with and open new
ones with new PINs and passwords. Avoid using easily
available information, such as the last four digits of your
social security number. Call us at 800.873.2929 to stop
payment on unused checks.
- Ask that your closed accounts be processed as "account
closed at consumer's request" rather than "card lost or
stolen". When "card lost or stolen" is reported to credit
bureaus, they may interpret the loss as your fault.
- Once fraud is confirmed by a creditor, request that a
letter from the creditor be sent to you and to each of
the major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax,
and Trans Union) confirming the fraud. Be sure to follow
up.
- Contact the fraud departments of each credit bureau
and tell them that you have been a victim of identity
theft. Request a fraud victim information kit. Ask that a
"fraud alert" be placed in your file (make sure it stays in
place for at least one year). A fraud alert allows you to
add a temporary security alert message to your credit
report alerting credit grantors to verify your identification
in case someone is using your information without consent.
In addition, request that a "victim's statement" be added
to your credit report. For example: "My identification has
been used to apply for credit fraudulently. Call me at
***-***-**** to verify any application for credit." Some
credit reporting agencies require that you provide a copy
of your telephone bill to verify your identity. You may also
choose to request a "security freeze", which stops the
release of any information from your file (until you remove
it).
- Order a copy of your credit report at this time. A free
copy should be provided to you if you indicate that you
are a victim of identity theft. Ask the credit bureaus if
they will supply with free reports every few months.
- A special note about "inquiries." Too many inquiries on your
credit report can be viewed negatively by potential
creditors. As a result, wherever questionable inquiries appear,
ask that they be removed from your report. In a few months,
order new copies of your reports to verify your corrections and
changes, and to make sure that no new fraudulent activity has
occurred.
- File a report with your local police department or in the
community where the theft took place. Make sure the
report contains a complete list of items that are missing if
your purse or wallet was lost or stolen. You may also want
to secure a Department of Motor Vehicles investigator's
report. The police report (and its case number) is the
most important piece of paper you will possess throughout
this process. Be sure to keep a photocopy for yourself.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at
877.ID.THEFT. By mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse,
Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20580) or visit their Web site. Doing
so will allow law enforcement and other government
agencies to share information, if necessary, to help resolve identity theft related problems.
- Get a new driver's license and be sure to ask for a new
license number. Tell the DMV representative that you are
a victim of identity theft. You must provide proof that
your license number has been used fraudulently in order
to obtain a new license number. Also, have a flag put on
your old driver's license number. If any traffic tickets are
issued to your old license number, or any bad checks are
written, you will not be affected. Click here for information
from the North Carolina Department of Transportation on
Identity Theft.
- It is not recommended that you apply for a new social
security number. The long-term effects of doing so can
be more problematic than helpful. However, you should
report the fraud to the Social Security Administration and
the Office of the Inspector General.
- Stealing or tampering with mail is a crime. If you believe
your mail has been tampered with, or that an identity thief
has falsified change of address forms, report it to your local
post office. For more information, check the US Postal
Service Web site or call 800.372.8347.
- If your credit union accounts, checks, or debit, ATM or
credit cards have been tampered with, close your
accounts immediately and stop payment on all unused
checks. Call us at 800.873.2929 for instruction. Cancel
your old cards and order new ones and use different
PINs.
- If you have securities investments or brokerage
accounts and believe they have been tampered with,
contact your broker or account manager and report it
to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or call
800.732.0330, fax 202.942.9634.
- Having trouble with fraudulent cell phone charges?
Contact the Federal Communications Commission at
888.225.5322.
- Using another's social security number to secure
employment is a crime. Report it to the Social Security Administration's Fraud Hotline at 800.269.0271. Follow
up in writing within 30 days at PO Box 17768, Baltimore,
MD 21235. Use this opportunity to request a copy of your
Social Security Statement by calling 800.772.1213.
- Identity thieves may actually declare bankruptcy under
your name to avoid payment of debts they've incurred! If
you believe this has happened to you, write to the U.S.
Trustee in the region where the bankruptcy was filed.
US Trustees can be found here or in the Blue Pages of
your phone book under US Government - Bankruptcy
Administration.
- In rare instances, identity thieves may create a criminal
record under your name. You may need to hire an attorney
to help resolve the problem. The procedures for clearing
your name vary by jurisdiction.
- Notify your utility companies to prevent a thief from using
your utility bill as proof of residence when applying for new
cards.
It is important to act promptly. Place your phone calls immediately
and follow up in writing within 30 days.
There Are Laws to Protect You
The Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998 makes
it a federal crime when someone:
"Knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means
of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or
to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation
of federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable
state or local law."
Under this act, a person's name, social security number, credit
card number, cellular telephone electronic serial number, or any
other piece of information that may be used alone or in
conjunction with other information to identify a specific
individual is considered a "means of identification".
Violations of the Act are investigated by federal law enforcement
agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI, the U.S.
Postal Inspection Service and the Social Security Administration's
Office of the Inspector General. Federal identity theft cases are
prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice. In most instances, a
conviction for identity theft carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment, a fine and forfeiture of any personal property used or
intended to be used to commit the crime.
Schemes to commit identity theft or fraud also may involve violations
of other statutes, such as credit card fraud, computer fraud, mail
fraud, wire fraud, financial institution fraud, or social security fraud.
Each of these federal offenses is a felony and carries substantial
penalties - in some cases, as high as 30 years in prison, fines and
criminal forfeiture.
Many states have passed laws to protect you against identity theft;
others may be considering such legislation. Contact your State
Attorney General's office or local consumer protection agency to find
out whether your state has laws related to identity theft, or visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
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