Helpful Advice for Consumers
Legal Disclaimer:
The following material is provided as a service to our readers and as such is provided for informational purposes only and not intended as legal advice.
Dealing With Identity Theft
How do thieves steal your identity?
Identity theft starts with the misuse of your personally identifying information such as your name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information. For identity thieves, this information is as good as gold. Skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:
- Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
- Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
- Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
- Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form.
- Old-Fashioned Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access.
- Pretexting. They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources.
How can you find out if your identity was stolen?
The best way to find out is to monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report on a regular basis. If you check your credit report regularly, you may be able to limit the damage caused by identity theft. For more information, visit the Detect Identity Theft section.
Unfortunately, many consumers learn that their identity has been stolen after some damage has been done.
- You may find out when bill collection agencies contact you for overdue debts you never incurred.
- You may find out when you apply for a mortgage or car loan and learn that problems with your credit history are holding up the loan.
- You may find out when you get something in the mail about an apartment you never rented, a house you never bought, or a job you never held.
Are you a victim of identity theft?
If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, you should request the national credit bureaus to place a fraud alert in your file to warn potential creditors against approving applications. Fraud alerts are active for at least 90 days. Visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft for detailed information on reporting identity theft.
If you have received wrongful billing and you suspect identity theft, download and fill out the ID Theft Affidavit. When you have finished completing the
affidavit, mail a copy to each creditor, bank, or
company that provided the thief with the nauthorized
credit, goods, or services you describe. Follow instructions within the document.
Other documents and websites that may be of interest or help
FTC Overview of the Identity Theft Program, Oct. 1998 - Sep. 2003
Test Your Knowledge about Identity Theft -- Take the OnGuard Online Quiz
