Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person’s personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.
Fraud Prevention Best Practices
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- Change your password every 30-60 days.
- Online Banking
- Other personal information related accounts.
- Do not open emails from unknown sources or select links from unknown sources, which are embedded in the emails.
- Do not give out personal information to individuals (DOB, SSN, Bank Account info).
- Change your password every 30-60 days.
- Fraud Prevention measures
- Have a hyperlink to the Social Security Administrations website for fraud prevention. https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/security.html#h3
- Creating a (my Social Security) account to help keep track of records and identity fraud activity.
- Consideration for parents to block their children’s SSN, which will prevent fraud on their children and protect their children until they become of age.
- How to report identity fraud with the Social Security Administration.
- Advise citizens on how they can do free credit checks on themselves and get a copy of their credit reports.
- Have a hyperlink to the Federal Trade Commission’s fraud page.
- https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/
- Creating a (my Social Security) account to help keep track of records and identity fraud activity.
- Have a hyperlink to the Social Security Administrations website for fraud prevention. https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/security.html#h3
- Their website has a reporting system, which will give step-by-step process to report and help stop fraud.
- We can also request free publications from the Federal trade Commission, which we can hand out which cover (identity Theft, Phone Scams, and so on) and this is free to the department to order this literature as handouts. These are ordered at (bulkorder.ftc.gov).
- Scams
- Romance Scams
- Government impersonators.
- The government will never call you to tell you that you have a warrant and the only way to no go to jail is to purchase gift cards and then send the gift cards via text or email. (or any form of payment)
- Phone Scams/ Phishing Scams
- Never give your personal information to anyone who has contacted you via phone or email.
- Never give your personal information our via text message.
- Mail and check fraud through the mail. https://www.usps.com/
- When citizens go on vacation, guide them to stop their mail through the Postal Service.
- Encourage citizens to take any mail they are sending out containing personal information or check to the Post Office in person.
- Guide citizens on how to file a report with the Post Office for missing mail.
- Be sure to bring the following documents when filing an identity theft report with the Columbia Police Department
- Copy of credit report
- Details on the alleged fraud
- Amount of monetary loss
- When and how the citizen discovered the fraud (bring supporting documents.)
How Identity Theft is committed
- Shoulder Surfing – when a criminal watches you (over the shoulder) as you enter pin numbers, or credit card information at a place of business.
- Dumpster Diving – when criminals rummage through garbage cans or commercial dumpsters to obtain copies of your checks, credit card or bank statements, or other records that typically bear your name, address or even your telephone number.
- Theft – Criminals may simply steal your wallet or purse.
- Fraudulent Using personal information from pre-approved credit cards – Criminals may open credit card accounts or bank accounts in your name. ** Shred unwanted mail ** This can help avoid delinquent account reported on your credit report.
Prevention of Identity Theft
Limit the amount of confidential or personal information you carry in your wallet or purse. Do not carry bank account numbers, personal identification numbers, passports, birth certificates or Social Security cards.
Avoid carrying more blank checks than you actually need. A criminal can fraudulently used these sensitive information often pre- printed on your checks (address, bank account number, and telephone number). Do not have your Social Security Number pre- printed on your checks.
Keep good backup information about your accounts, in case your wallet or purse is lost or stolen.
When you go on vacation, take a long list of toll- free telephone numbers for your banking and credit card companies – not your card numbers – and keep the list in a safe place other than your wallet or purse.
Consider canceling any credit cards you don’t really need or haven’t used in six months.
Never provide personal information (Social Security number, credit card number, address, etc.) over the telephone unless you initiate the call and are familiar or acquainted with the business.
Shred all credit card applications you receive in the mail and don’t use.
Review your credit card bills and you’re checking statements as soon as they are received, to ensure that no fraudulent activity has taken place.
Obtain a copy of your credit report at least once a year to check for errors.
Be careful at ATMs, “Shoulder Surfers” can obtain your “Pin Number” and get access to your accounts.
Do not put checks in the mail from your home mailbox. Drop them off at a U.S. mailbox or the U.S. Post Office. Mail theft is common. It is easy to change the name of the recipient on the check with an acid wash.
When you order new credit cards in the mail, or your previous ones have expired, watch the calendar to make sure you get the card within the appropriate time. If it is not received by a certain date, call the credit card company immediately and find out if the card was sent. Find out if a change of address was filed if you don’t receive the card or billing statement.
Obtain a P.O. Box, or locked mailbox, if you can.
Do not put your telephone number on your checks.
Consider making your telephone number an unlisted number or just use an initial instead of your full first name in the directory.
Obtain credit cards and business cards with your picture on them whenever possible.
If someone you don’t know calls you on the telephone and offers you the chance to receive a “major credit card, a prize, or other valuable item, but ask you for personal information such as your Social Security number, credit card number, or mother’s maiden name, ask them to send you a written application form, if they will not do it, tell them you are not interested and hang up.
When you are traveling, have your mail held at your local post office, or ask someone you know well and trust to collect and to hold your mail while you are away.
If you’re monthly credit card or bank statements do not arrive at the normal time of the month, call the financial institution or credit card company immediately and ask about it.
What to Do if You Are the Victim of Identity Theft
Those persons who have been the victim of identity theft should take the following measures. When dealing with authorities and financial institutions, you should keep a log of all conversations, including dates, names and phone numbers. Confirm conversations in writing. Send correspondence by certified mail (return receipt requested). Keep copies of all letters and documents
Report the crime to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. Provide them with as much documented evidence as possible. Obtain a copy of the police report. Obtain the telephone number of your fraud investigator and provide it to creditors and others who require verification of your case.
Immediately contact the fraud units of the three credit reporting companies –
Eperian
P.O Box 2104
Allen, Texas 75013 – 2104
Fraud number – (800) 525 – 7195
Web site: www.eperian.com
Equifax
P.O. Box 105873
Atlanta, Georgia 30348
Fraud Number (800) 525- 6285
Web site: www.equifax.com
Trans Union Corporation
P.O. Box 34012
Fullerton, California 92834
Fraud number –(800) 680- 7289
Web site: www.tuc.com
Contact all creditors immediately with and inform them that your information has been used fraudulently – by phone and in writing. Obtain replacement cards with new account numbers for those that have been fraudulently used. Ask that old accounts be processed as “account closed at consumers request”. Carefully monitor your mail and credit card bills for evidence of new fraudulent activity. Report such fraudulent activity immediately.
If you have had checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently, report it to the check verification companies. Put stop payments on any outstanding checks you are unsure of. Cancel your checking and savings accounts and obtain new account numbers.
If you’re ATM card has been stolen or compromised, obtain a new card, account number and password. Do not use your old password. When creating a password, don’t use common numbers like the last four digits of your Social Security number or your birth date.
Social Security number and misuse. Call the Social Security Administration to report fraudulent use of your Social Security number. As a last resort, you might want to change your Social Security number. The SSA will only change it if you fit their fraud victim criteria. Order a copy of your Social Security Earnings and Benefit Statement and check it for accuracy.
If you have a passport, notify the passport office in writing to be on the lookout for anyone ordering a new passport fraudulently.