Credit and Identity Protection Resources

Why should I be concerned about Identity Theft?

Reports of Identity theft have risen in the last few years. Identity theft occurs when someone illegally uses key pieces of your personal information to obtain credit, merchandise, or services. Identity theft can lead to damaged credit and leave the victim dealing with the pains of trying to reestablish their financial well being.

While numerous variations of the crime exist, an identity thief can fraudulently use personal identifying information to:

Open new credit-card accounts
Take over existing credit-card accounts
Apply for loans
Rent apartments
Establish services with utility companies
Write fraudulent checks
Steal and transfer money from a bank account
File bankruptcy
Obtain employment

The problem that exists for most victims of identity theft is straightening out a damaged credit history. According to a survey conducted by Privacy Rights Clearinghouse and the California Public Interest Research Group, victims reported spending from $30 to $2,000 on costs related to their identity theft. The average loss was $808 from an incident not including lawyer fees.

How to Minimize the Risk of Identity Theft

There are several things you can do to minimize your risk.

Only carry the ID and cards you need at any given time
When you recieve a new credit card immediately sign it with permanent ink.
When making purchases on the Internet, ensure that the site is using an SSL certificate. This is usually indicated by a URL beginning with https and a image of a lock on the lower status bar of the web browser.
Never use a link to a Website from an email message; always manually type a URL.
Never write a PIN number, Social Security Number, or passcode on any of your credit cards.
Be alert when making a purchase in person, keep your eye on the cashier while your card is being processed.
If you apply for a new credit card and it does not arrive within a reasonable time, contact the issuer.
If you are out of town, have someone you trust collect you mail or have the post office hold the mail until you return.
Keep your Social Security card in a safe place such as a safe at home or safety deposit box. Do not carry it in your wallet.
Do not give out personal or account information to anyone without verifying their identity; never give personal information to telephone or door-to-door solicitors.
Check your credit file periodically for accuracy.

What if I suspect Identity Theft?

If you suspect you may be the victim of Identity Theft, you should consider placing a fraud alert on your file with the three major credit bureaus. A fraud alert is a free service provided by the credit bureaus that requests that any creditor contact you by phone at a designated number before opening a new account. The length of the fraud alert varies with each credit bureau, but you may ask the fraud alert to be exteneded after the initial request has expired. You should also obtain a copy of your credit report to review it for any inconsistencies with your credit history. In most cases the credit bureau will provide a free credit report when you request a fraud alert. In the future you may request additional copies of your credit report for a small fee.

A free credit report is also availble from www.annualcreditreport.com.

Credit Bureaus
	Place a Fraud Alert	Order a Credit Report	Address
Equifax www.equifax.com	1-800-525-6285	1-800-685-1111	P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian www.experian.com	1-888-397-3742	1-888-397-3742	P.O. Box 949 Allen, TX 75013-0949
Trans Union www.transunion.com	1-800-680-7289	1-800-916-8800	P.O. Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92834

What do I do if it appears that I am the victim of Identity Theft?

If you discover that your personal information is being illegally used, such as applying for loans or credit cards you can follow these steps:

If you find accounts on your credit record that appear to be fraudulent contact the creditors or financial institution immediately and request the account to be closed.
If you believe your Social Secuirty number has been used contact the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
If you believe your personal information is being used for fraudulent or criminal purposes, file a report with the police. Keep a copy of the police report in case you need proof of the crime to show the bank, credit card company, or others.
If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, you can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by Internet: www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ Telephone: 1-877-438-4338.
Keep records of your interactions with creditors, banks, police etc. Make a note of the date and time you speak with them and the name of the individuals you speak with.