1. P REVENTING I DENTITY T HEFT Presented by Marilyn Rausch Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Captain Spring 2009

2. I MPORTANT NOTICE You have NOT won the lottery in Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Ireland or anywhere else. A poor widow or bank manager does NOT need your help to move money from a dead person’s account to the United States, particularly into your bank account. The IRS is NOT electronically auditing you, and you will NOT be notified of a tax refund or stimulus check by phone or e-mail! The jury duty clerk NEVER calls for your Social Security Number. Bank and credit card companies do NOT e-mail or telephone you to verify your account information. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009

3. W HAT DO ALL OF THESE SCENARIOS HAVE IN COMMON ? They are ways thieves have of trying to trick you into giving them information about yourself. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009

4. They then use this information to steal your identity

5. In 2008, the number of identity theft cases in the United States jumped 22%, to 9.9 Million individuals. Total fraud amount had edged up to $48 Billion. The Federal Trade Commission has predicted that in 2009 “1 in 6 Americans will be a victim of identity theft this year alone.” Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009

6. During economically hard times, more people are led to desperation and the risk of Identity theft becomes greater.

7. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009

9. Any information that can be pieced together to create a profile of who you are

10. NameAddress Social Security Number Mother’s Maiden Name ATM Personal Identification number Birth Date Bank account number

11. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Take out loans Open cell phone accounts Get credit cards Commit Crimes Identity thieves collect bits of your identification to create a “new you.”

12. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009

13. Your WalletYour Trash cansYour mailUnsecured documents in your home.Telephone scamsInternet and email “phishing ”

14. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 What information do you carry in your wallet? ? ? ? ? ?

15. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Driver’s license 1.Name 2.Address 3.Birth Date 4.Possibly Social Security Number 5.Photo 6.Description Check Book Name Address Bank Name Routing Number Account Number Social Security Card Medical Insurance Card (May have your Social Security Number) Credit Cards Library Card Employment License or Union Card GET THE PICTURE?????? And MORE>>>

16. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Name Address from your driver’s license Social Security Number Bank account information from your checks. Other personal information With your

17. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Limit the number of identifying cards that you carry. There is no need for you to carry your Social Security Card. Your Medicare card bears your Social Security Number. Your insurance card may also carry the Social Security Number. Leave your checkbook at home!

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19. Bank Statements Credit Card Statements Pre-approved credit card offers ATM Receipts Canceled or Voided Checks Expired Passports, visa, credit cards Tax formsBillsPaystubs

20. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Almost 400,000 Americans suffer identity theft due to stolen mail in one year.

21. A thief who steals your payment to Medicare that you are sending from your home mailbox now knows 1.Your NAME 2.Your ADDRESS 3.Your SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER 4.Your BANK ACCOUNT AND ROUTING NUMBER. ALL FROM ONE PIECE OF MAIL!! For Example…

22. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Don’t leave outgoing mail in an unsecured location. Deposit mail in USPS collection boxes. Don’t leave mail in your mailbox overnight or on weekends. Have your mail held at the post office when you are out of town. If necessary, get a locking mailbox

23. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Be cautious about discarding unwanted mail. This includes especially 1.Pre-approved credit card applications 2.Checks that can draw from your credit card. 3.Old bank, utility, or investment statements. 4.ANYTHING that includes identifying data.

24. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Unfiled documents left on your desktop are open to view to anyone who might be in your home, including workers, guests, even family members.

25. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Sensitive information that may be kept on your computer at home should be protected with a password.

26. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Avoid giving any personal information on the phone unless YOU initiate the call.

27. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 “Official calls” from banks or credit card companies stating they need to verify your account numbers, social security number, or other personal information.

28. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Banks and Credit card companies already have your account numbers, no matter what they say. They will never ask for any information over the phone (or on the internet, for that matter). If there is a potential fraudulent charge to your account, they will contact you by mail.

29. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 “You have won a prize” that will be put directly into your checking account. They only need your account number so they can deposit it.

30. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 “Thank you for your previous donations.” We would like you to donate the same amount or more again. May we put that on your credit card?”

31. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 “JURY DUTY” Caller states you have failed to report for jury duty and a warrant is out for your arrest. They can help “clear it up” if you can verify your identification.

32. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 TAX-RELATED SCAMS The IRS never contacts people by phone or e-mail. ANY LEGITIMATE COMMUNICATION FROM IRS WILL COME FROM POSTAL MAIL. If the IRS has contacted you, they already HAVE your identifying info!

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34. IMPOSTER SCAMS Criminals pose as “hospital personnel” wanting information about insurance, credit card, bank or other information, particularly when it involves a patient who is drugged or elderly. Criminals posing as government official (Attorney General’s Office or Department of Justice members) trying to get personal financial information. Criminals posing as Social Security Administration workers soliciting money for services that are free under the Social Security Act.

35. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 If you are going to order anything over a cell phone, make certain no one is in earshot. The credit card number you give could be used by someone else who hears you.

36. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 If possible, do not let your credit card out of sight. Question if a card is swiped twice. Do not deal with a clerk who is handling a cell phone (could be relaying information to another person, or even photographing the face and signature of the card.) Keep all credit card receipts to verify charges later.

37. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 BE VIGILANT

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39. Out-of-order checks written. Unusual withdrawals from your checking account. Unusual deposits into your checking account. Unknown payments from your credit card. Unknown activity on your Pay Pal account. Monitor your accounts to pick up on early warning signs of possible theft.

40. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Keep your receipts and compare them with your monthly statement. If you see a charge you don’t recognize, report it to the credit card company. Check your statement for the method that your credit card company uses to dispute a charge. Federal and State laws limit how much you have to pay in fraudulent charges (usually $50.00), but you need to dispute the charge in the first billing cycle. CHECK ALL ENTRIES ON YOUR CREDIT CARD STATEMENT!

41. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 KEEP TABS ON YOUR BANK ACCOUNT Read your bank statements and balance the check book every month. Report immediately Missing payments Unauthorized withdrawals Unexpected deposits. Report to the bank if your statement doesn’t arrive on time (did someone steal it?)

42. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT Your Credit Report is a summary of all your credit activity, including Where you live How you pay your bills. If you have been sued, arrested or filed for bankruptcy. What companies have checked on your credit-worthiness.

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44. Since 2005, by law, you are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three Consumer Reporting Companies: Experian Equifax Trans Union HINT: Consider ordering a credit report from a different Company every 4 months to “cover the year.”

45. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 ON LINE: www.annualcreditreport.com BY PHONE: 1-877-322-8228 BY MAIL: Annual Credit Report Service P.O. Box 105281 Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

46. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009  Name  Address  Social Security Number  Date of Birth  Personal questions such as  Amount of your Mortgage Payment  Amount of your car payment This is to keep your information from getting into the wrong hands.

47. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 NOTE: Do not respond to popup ads or emails offering free credit reports. They are likely spammers trying to get this personal information from you!

48. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Accounts that you don’t recognize. Delinquent accounts that you never opened. Court judgments against you What can Your Credit Report tell you?

49. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 A thief could have opened accounts in your name and put a false mailing address, so you never know he hasn’t paid his bill until it is delinquent on your credit report (or you are called by a collection agent!)

50. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Close Tampered or fraudulent accounts Something seems wrong… what should I do

51. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Fraud AlertCredit Freeze Identity Theft Report Something seems wrong… what tools do I have to help?

52. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Limits Access to your Credit Report for 90 days to 7 years. Filed with the Credit Report Companies

53. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Signals to creditors that they should take extra precautions in identifying the person seeking credit. It requires the potential creditor to contact you or take reasonable steps to verify your identity. Can help keep an identity thief from opening new accounts in your name Will not prevent an identity thief from opening new accounts that do not require a credit check (telephone, wireless or even a bank account.)

54. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 An initial alert lasts 90 days and must be renewed. It can be placed if you SUSPECT you could be a victim (your wallet has been stolen, you have been taken in by a pfishing scam, or there has been a security breach in a computer of a service or company that legitimately has your data. A long-term alert stays on your report for 7 years. To file this, the individual must be a documented victim and have a filed police report to that effect. There are 2 types of Fraud Alert

55. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Alert one of the Credit Reporting Company’s fraud unit that you may have been the victim of identity theft. Experian: 1-888-397-3742 Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 (A call to one alerts the others) TELL THEM YOU WANT TO FLAG YOUR FILE WITH A FRAUD ALERT.

56. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Obtain and review carefully a free copy of your credit report. Contact the Creditors responsible for any fraudulent account. Fill out the Federal Trade Commission’s Universal Fraud Affidavit. File a report with your local police.

57. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Fraud AlertCredit Freeze Identity Theft Report Something seems wrong… what tools do I have to help?

58. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 “ Turns off” credit access for seven years.

59. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Turns off access to your credit files unless you give your permission  Prevents an identity thief from opening a new account in your name.

60. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 In doing this it also  Prevents potential creditors and other third parties from getting access to your credit report.  May keep you from getting “instant” credit.

61. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 What does a Credit Freeze NOT do?  Will not prevent you from getting your free annual credit report.  Will NOT keep a company that already does business with you from getting your credit report (mortgage, credit cards, etc.)  Will NOT prevent an identity thief from using existing accounts, lines of credit, wireless, etc.  Will NOT prevent an identity thief from opening accounts that do not require credit approval.

62. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 1.Each Credit Report Company must be contacted individually. 2.A fee must be paid to each company to freeze the account (usually in the range of $10/account.)

63. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 1.There is also a fee to “thaw” each account: necessary when you apply for a mortgage, credit card, lease, or loan. 2.The Credit Reporting Agency will provide you with a PIN number to open the account to a non-covered creditor to access. 3.Most states allow the Credit Reporting agency 3 days to open that account.

64. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Place Fraud Alert Place Credit Freeze Make Identity Theft Report Something seems wrong… what should I do

65. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Extremely detailed police report which does two things: Verifies that you are a victim Identifies which accounts and inaccurate information came from the identity theft.

66. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Blocks fraudulent info from your credit report Keeps debts from reappearing on your report Prevents a company from collecting fraudulent debts Prevents fraudulent debts from being sold to collection agencies Allows an extended fraud alert

67. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 It’s not as easy as it may seem… Credit Reporting Companies may not accept the report if it is not detailed enough. Police are not legally required to use the FTC Complaint form as part of their report. Police may be reluctant to even take the report (you may have to force the issue!)

68. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 How can you prove that you are a victim? Gather as much information as you can.  Dates of the identity theft.  What fraudulent accounts were opened.  Suspected identity thief.  You need EVIDENCE  Proof of forged signature  Wrong information on application.

69. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Online Complaint Form 1-800-ID-THEFT (438-4338) TTY 1-866-653-4261 Telephone (Identity Theft Hotline) Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20580 Write: Identity Theft Clearinghouse

70. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Provides information that can help law officials track down and prosecute Identity Thieves. Refers victim’s complaints to other government agencies and companies for further action Allows investigation of the companies that may be breaking laws that the FTC enforces. Gives added information that can be used in the Identity Fraud Report that you file with the police.

71. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Re-establishing your credit may take years of diligent effort. As in all things, PREVENTION is easier than redemption.

72. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Monitor your accounts regularly for suspicious activity. Balance your checkbook Compare receipts to your credit card statement

73. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Monitor your Credit Report Obtain it directly Don’t use “Free Credit Report” Offers Don’t use “links” on the computer to obtain your report.

74. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Opt in to your financial institution’s offer to have alerts sent to your cell phone or e-mail in case of suspicious activity.

75. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Never give out any financial or identifying information on the phone unless YOU initiated the call and YOU can confirm the identity of the person you are speaking with.

76. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Store all important information in locked, secure areas. Password identifying and financial information on your computer.

77. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Limit what you carry in your purse or wallet. No Social Security Card Few Credit Cards No lists of passwords No Checkbook

78. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Do not allow your mail to get into the wrong hands. Use certified mailboxes to deposit your mail. Avoid letting mail build up in your mailbox when you are gone. If possible, use a locking mailbox.

79. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Shred Receipts and Statements Bills Preapproval notices ANYTHING with any identifying information

80. Indiana FCRV DAT/Safety Program 2009 Avoid clicking on “links” from internet sites that you have not personally opened.

81. Be Vigilant Be Wise Beware Be safe

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83. INFORMATION FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS OBTAINED FROM 1.AARP program on preventing identity theft. (www.aarp.org/learntech/personal_finance/identity_theft.html) 2.The Identity Theft Resource Center 3.Ultimate Guide to Identity Theft Protection 4.idExperts INFORMATION FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS OBTAINED FROM 1.AARP program on preventing identity theft. (www.aarp.org/learntech/personal_finance/identity_theft.html) 2.The Identity Theft Resource Center 3.Ultimate Guide to Identity Theft Protection 4.idExperts