Identity Theft, Fraud, & Phishing

Identity Theft

Identity theft is one of today's fastest-growing crimes. Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information and identification. They may open credit card accounts, apply for loans, rent apartments, or purchase phone services—all in your name. In many cases, they request address changes so you never see the bills for their activity. These impersonators spend your money as quickly as possible. Most identity theft victims never know they have been taken advantage of until they apply for a loan or receive a call from a collection agency. Clearing your name and the effects of identity theft can be a nightmare and take a great deal of time. You can spend months or even years re-establishing your creditworthiness.

Some helpful tips to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft:

• Store personal information in a safe place. Shred financial information, bank checks, credit card offers or pre-approved credit applications, and credit card receipts before discarding them in the trash.
• Don't release personal information. Never disclose account numbers, social security numbers, or credit card numbers over the phone or email unless you know the person or organization you're dealing with.
• Guard against mail theft. Deposit outgoing mail into a secure, official U.S. Postal Service collection box. Promptly remove incoming mail after it has been delivered.
• Monitor account information and billing statements. Know your billing cycles and review monthly statements for unauthorized charges or withdrawals. Missing statements could indicate that someone has filed a change of address notice to divert your mail to his or her address. Consider turning off your paper bank statements and receiving statements online.
• Obtain and review copies of your credit report. Order copies of your credit report yearly to check for inaccuracies and fraudulent use of your accounts. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call 877.322.8228 to request a free credit report from the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies:
  • Equifax: Equifax.com | Phone: 888-766-0008
  • Experian: Experian.com | Phone: 888-397-3742
  • Trans Union: TransUnion.com | 800-680-7289

Steps to take If you become a victim of identify theft:

1. Notify the Credit Bureau. Contact one of the three credit bureau's fraud departments. The one you contact will notify the other two. Request that a "fraud alert" be placed in your file, as well as a victim's statement asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts or changing any existing accounts. To report fraud:
   • Equifax: Equifax.com | Phone: 888-766-0008
   • Experian: Experian.com | Phone: 888-397-3742
   • Trans Union: TransUnion.com | 800-680-7289
2. Request a copy of your credit report. Credit reports are free to fraud victims.
3. Notify financial institutions. Call the financial institution where the fraud occurred.
   1. Open new accounts and have affected accounts closed.
   2. Have new PINs and passwords issued.
   3. Consider contacting other financial institutions where you may have accounts.
4. File a police report with your local police department. Ask for a copy of the report, or at the very least record the date, time, and number of the report; the location of the department; and the name of the officer taking the report.
5. Call the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC's toll-free "Identity Theft Hotline" is 877-438-4338 and their website is Consumer.gov/IDtheft. A Consumer ID Theft Complaint Form can be obtained and completed.
6. Report any suspected stolen mail. Contact your local postal inspector and check the post office for unauthorized change of address requests.
7. Keep a record of events. Write down everyone you contacted. Record the time, title, and phone number of each person you spoke to. Also, note the substance of what was discussed and any report, case, or reference numbers. Keep copies of any reports or affidavits you send and any letters or information you receive.

Phishing

Internet "phishing" scams are one of the fastest-growing frauds today. Basically, the scam uses "spam" (unsolicited email) to bait consumers into disclosing sensitive personal information such as social security numbers, credit card numbers, personal identification numbers, passwords, and other private information.

These unsolicited emails give the appearance of being from legitimate businesses. In fact, fraudsters usually pick a business that the potential victim actually does business with. The fraudsters tell the email recipients they need to "update" or "validate" their billing information to keep their accounts active. To help set the hook, they even direct their potential victims to a website that imitates the look of the legitimate website with logos, colors, and designs to match. The consumers then submit their information to the impostor, who then uses the personal data to commit identity theft.

Tips to protect yourself against internet and email fraud (phishing):

1. Never click on links in unexpected email. If you get an email that warns you, with little or no notice, that an account of yours will be shut down or suspended unless you reconfirm your billing information, do not reply or click on the link in the email. Instead, contact the legitimate company cited in the email using a telephone number or web address you know as genuine. Always type in the web address to the website in the internet browser.
2. Make sure you are using a secure internet connection. Before submitting confidential information via the internet, make sure that the connection to the website is secure. First, look at the address bar at the top of your browser. If the website address begins with "https://", then you have established a secure connection. If it begins with "http://", the connection is unsecured. Second, look for a "lock" icon in your browser's status bar (bottom corner of your browser). The lock verifies that your connection to the website is secure.
3. Install updated anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Both viruses and spyware can leave your computer vulnerable to attack and intrusion. Anti-virus and anti-spyware software will keep your computer safe from malicious software that might have installed itself or tried to install itself onto your computer. Anti-virus and anti-spyware software is especially important if you are using a broadband internet connection like DSL, cable, or satellite.
4. Install a firewall. A firewall will prevent attacks on your computer from the internet by determining if a requested connection is malicious. A firewall is especially important if you are using a broadband internet connection like DSL, cable, or satellite.
5. Keep your internet browser, anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall up to date. Visit the manufacturer's website regularly and check for software and security upgrades.
6. Avoid emailing personal and/or financial information. Email systems are not encrypted and therefore emails should not contain confidential information.
7. Open emails only from known senders. You shouldn't open emails from a sender which is not known to you. Be especially careful about opening an email with an attachment. We advise that you shouldn't open attachments unless you are confident that you can trust the source.