Identity Theft One of America's fastest growing crimes

Objectives Understanding identity theft How to protect yourself from becoming a victim What to do if your identity is stolen

Understanding Identity Theft It can happen to anyone You might not even know that you are a victim until major damage has been done

Identity Theft When someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud and other crimes ◦Your name ◦Social Security Number ◦credit card number ◦Or other financial account information ◦without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. Federal Trade Commission estimates that roughly 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year year olds, most at risk, particularly college students

Why College Students? Live in dorms and share apartments which means more hands on their mail and personal information College students also ◦may live mobile lifestyles ◦change jobs frequently ◦have fairly clean credit records ◦are less likely to check their credit histories, which can allow identity theft to go undetected for a long time

What an Identity Thief can do Credit Card Fraud ◦Application Fraud ◦Existing Account Fraud Bank or Finance Fraud Government Documents Fraud Other Types of Fraud

10 Ways to Protect Yourself 1. Guard your SS#, PINs, passwords & Account #s 2. Monitor bank and credit card statements 3. Shred documents 4. Make sure websites are secure 5. Be cautious when sharing computers

10 Ways to Protect Yourself 1. Guard your laptop, cell phone, PDA and other technology against theft 2. Keep copies of cards and documents 3. Treat mail with care 4. Avoid phishing scams 5. Be cautious when using the ATM

How Thieves Can Steal Your Identity Skimming Phishing Spyware Old-Fashioned Stealing

What to do if Your Identity is Stolen Report the crime Close the accounts you believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently Order a copy and begin monitoring your credit report ◦Equifax ◦TransUnion ◦Experian Work with the Credit Bureaus to correct your credit report Keep good records Don’t give in