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For an article on how people are deceptively gaining access to personal information online, please be sure and read the article entitled Email "Phishing" Scams.Please note that I am not a professional advisor or an
expert on this subject and that the following suggestions have been put together in a "do unto others" spirit. After seeing what someone close to me has gone through in trying to deal with being the victim of an
identity thief, I consider these to be very sound suggestions...
1. Never give your Social Security Number to family or friends, and make sure it is protected at all times when they are around.
This is my number one suggestion. Unbelievably, over half of all identity thefts are committed by a friend or family member (or one of the aquaintances they've brought around). Keep in mind that with your social security number, most of your family and maybe some friends
would already know all the rest of the pertinent information they'd need to get other crucial forms of ID like birth certificates, a actual copy of your social security card, and state ID's and driver's licenses.
It is not difficult to keep this one from happening, You simply have to phsyically protect your social security number, period.
Shred all documents that contain it as soon as they are no longer needed, and for the documents that are needed, protect them in a secure location. I hear you already, you're saying, "My family and friends would
never do that to me!" But I'm here to tell you friend, that nobody
plans on it happening. People's life circumstances change and cause them to do things you'd never suspect they would. The friend I was talking about that has gone through this had his identity stolen
by his own brother, in fact, the only living immediate family member he has left. We're talking infractions like stolen cars, bank accounts gone bad for thousands and thousands of dollars, loans, medical
bills, felony and other legal charges, welfare fraud...and the list goes on. All were completely unexpected, and NONE are detectable until after they occur...if you're lucky enough to know where to look for your theif
...and even then, it's a hit and miss effort at seeing if they've done in anything in that area. This crime is usually only prosecuted about 1 in every 700 occurrences.
People usually say that this is because victims are unwilling to press charges on a friend or family member...but in my friend's case, it was exactly the opposite. At every occurrence he learned of (several by
way of police showing up to arrest him for things his brother did in his name!), he would desperately and persistently try to get some prosecutor, some bank, etc. to press or help press charges. Their answer, in four
states - consistently and across the board - was "Sorry, we can't help you - it's not worth the costs and time it would take to try and prove it...and it's very difficult to prove."
2. NEVER have your SS# printed on your checks or on anything else (including ID's).
Some states had a requirement that they must be on ID's before, but most (if not all) have lifted that requirement in response to rampant identity fraud and theft. 3.
Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine.
Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel just in case the need would arise. Don't forget to keep the photocopy in a safe and secure place!
~~~~~~~ What To Do If Your Identity Has Been Stolen
~~~~~~~Cancel your credit cards and any other accounts that have (or may have) been used fraudulently immediately and ask for a confirmation number and write it down.
If they say they can't give you one, confirm the date, time and person's name that you're speaking with and write it down (this makes them more diligent about seeing that everything gets recorded properly). If you photocopied your cards as suggested in Step #3 above, the numbers are usually on the cards.
File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen and keep copies of the report(s).
Call the toll-free fraud number of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report.
Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening additional accounts in your name. As soon as the credit bureau confirms the fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will automatically be notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports should be sent to you, the victim, free of charge.
Note: There are two different types of fraud alerts, so read up and save yourself some time! An initial alert stays on your credit report for at least 90 days.
An extended alert stays on your credit report for seven years.
You can have an extended alert placed on your credit report if you've been a victim of identity theft and you provide the consumer reporting company with an identity theft report.
Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.comExperian (TRW)
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com TransUnion Corp
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834
1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com
Call the Social Security Administration (fraud line) at 1-800-269-0271. If you had bank accounts, call the ChexSystems REAL PERSON phone number (don't push anything) and report that your identity has
been stolen at 1-800-513-7125
FYI, ChexSystems is owned by Deluxe Corporation and many (most) banks report negative account activites to them. Tip: I hear that if you indicate that you have been denied an account at
a bank or credit union within the past 60 days, then you are eligible to receive your ChexSystems report free. Otherwise there may be a charge.
You can order your chexSystems report here (it will show you a list of bad accounts and a list of "inquiries resulting from a transaction initiated by you. These include applying for a credit card
or completing an application at a financial institution." they keep these on file for 90 days to 2 years - you may be able to catch the thief in the act if heor she has applied for anything recently).
https://www.consumerdebit.com/consumerinfo/us/en/chexsystems/report/index.htm
Here's a link where you can file an online id theft alert with chexsystems (i'd order the report above and get it first if you're going to)
https://www.consumerdebit.com/consumerinfo/us/en/chexsystems/theftaffidavit/index.htm
Read the FTC's ID Theft FAQ at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm
Be persistent!
This is a frustrating situation to deal with, and many times you must endure initially being treated like you're a deadbeat who's trying to get out of paying the bills. Remember that you get more flies with honey...be nice, but be persistent...don't give up! The phrase "I'm sorry, that's simply not acceptable" is straight, to the point and curteous and if you keep repeating it with an even temper, people usually give in and begin to really listen to and try and address your needs.
~~~~~~~ Return to Client Resources
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