Jeff loses his identity! Lesson 8: Identity Theft

Before we start …  Identity theft means someone is using your identity (your name, address, social security number, possibly your work history, etc.)  Usually this is to get credit  If you lose your debit or credit card, or think it was stolen, that is not identity theft. You should IMMEDIATELY call the phone number your bank gave you to report it missing and close the account.  You know the number because you were smart and stored it in your contacts list.

Meet Jeff Jeff has a credit card he uses to make purchases. He notices several charges on his bill he never made. He wonders if a thief has stolen his identity!

Identity theft occurs when someone fraudulently uses your personal identification information without your permission to obtain credit, take out a loan, open accounts, get identification, or pretend to be you in some other way.

Video: Deter. Detect. Defend. Avoid ID Theft C8pjXn-sWMhttp:// C8pjXn-sWM (10 minutes)

How Identities are Stolen Jeff did some research and found that identity thieves can obtain personal information through:  “Dumpster diving”  messages (phishing)  Voic or phone calls (vishing)

How Identities are Stolen Caller ID “spoofing” Video: Ohio Attorney General’s Office youtube.comyoutube.com (0:56) Text messages (smishing) Security breaches Grandparent scam youtube.com (3:21)youtube.com

Jeff learned a valuable lesson about the importance of protecting himself against identity theft Keep documents in a safe place Don’t carry around personal information (Social Security card, Medicare card) unless needed that day Protect Your Information

 Shred paperwork that contains account numbers or Social Security numbers before discarding  Only provide personal information if you initiate contact with a company or service.  If a company or government agency calls asking for personal information, call them back at a phone number you know is correct Protect Your Information

 Make sure the security software on your computer is updated  Be aware of the computer repair scam – consumers receive a call or claiming remote access is needed to fix a virus Protect Your Information

 Use complex passwords on your computer and phone  Request a credit freeze on your credit report    Protect Your Information

 Opt out of receiving pre-approved credit card offers   Monitor accounts and financial statements for unusual activity  Review your credit report   Look for unknown accounts and inquiries Protect Your Information

Are you a victim? What to do first. 1.Call any company that you know was involved in the fraud to freeze the accounts. 2.Place a fraud alert and get your free credit report. 3.Go to ftc.gov/complaint and fill out an online complaint form. 4.Print and save this report. This Identity Theft Affidavit will be needed to file a police report. 5.File a police report with your local police department. More at: identitytheft.govidentitytheft.gov

Are you a victim? What to do next. 1.Close any new accounts you see were opened in your name. 2.Also, ask these companies to remove charges that were made. 3.Contact one of the credit bureaus to make corrections to your credit report. 4.Optional: a.Extended fraud alert - 7 years b.Credit freeze – stops ALL access to your credit report until you remove it More at: identitytheft.govidentitytheft.gov Video: What To Do If You're A Victim of Identity Theft (1:13)

Other types of identity Theft  Child Identity Theft  Medical Identity Theft  Tax-Related Identity Theft

Child Identity Theft  Children’s identities are valuable because their credit history is clear and their Social Security number might not show up in credit databases.  Easily undetected for a long period of time  More at consumer.ftc.govconsumer.ftc.gov

Medical Identity Theft  Someone uses your health insurance for their own medical care.  Can be extremely dangerous because their medical records can get mixed in with yours.  More at consumer.ftc.govconsumer.ftc.gov

Tax-Related Identity Theft  Someone uses your social security number to get a tax refund or a job.  It may be someone with no social security number or someone with a bad history who is trying to get a new start.  More at consumer.ftc.govconsumer.ftc.gov

One more thing … What do you do if your debit card is lost or stolen? 1. Report the loss or theft IMMEDIATELY!  When your debit card is used, money comes right out of your account.  When you report the loss impacts your financial liability.  If you report the lost before any charges are made you owe nothing.  If 2 business days pass - $50.  If 60 days pass - $500.  After 60 days – possibility more than the balance of your account. 2. Follow up in writing. See more at consumerftc.govconsumerftc.gov

Be careful Be smart Be safe