Identity Theft checklist
How identity thieves get your personal information:
They get information from businesses or other institutions by: stealing records or information while they're on the job bribing an employee who has access to these records hacking these records conning information out of employees.
They may steal your mail, including bank and credit card statements, credit card offers, new checks, and tax information.
They may rummage through your trash, the trash of businesses, or public trash dumps in a practice known as "dumpster diving."
They may get your credit reports by abusing their employer's authorized access to them, or by posing as a landlord, employer, or someone else who may have a legal right to access your report.
They may steal your credit or debit card numbers by capturing the information in a data storage device in a practice known as "skimming." They may swipe your card for an actual purchase, or attach the device to an ATM machine where you may enter or swipe your card.
They may steal your wallet or purse.
They may complete a "change of address form" to divert your mail to another location.
They may steal personal information they find in your home.
They may steal personal information from you through email or phone by posing as legitimate companies and claiming that you have a problem with your account. This practice is known as "phishing" online, or pretexting by phone.
How identity thieves use your personal information:
They may call your credit card issuer to change the billing address on your credit card account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there's a problem.
They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, the delinquent accounts are reported on your credit report.
They may establish phone or wireless service in your name.
They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.
They may counterfeit checks or credit or debit cards, or authorize electronic transfers in your name, and drain your bank account.
They may file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they've incurred under your name, or to avoid eviction.
They may buy a car by taking out an auto loan in your name.
They may get identification such as a driver's license issued with their picture, in your name.
They may get a job or file fraudulent tax returns in your name.
They may give your name to the police during an arrest. If they don't show up for their court date, a warrant for arrest is issued in your name.
IDENTITY THEFT VICTIMS: What to do First?
If you are a victim of identity theft, take the following steps ASAP, and keep a record with the details of your conversations and copies of everything posssible.
1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports.
Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any new accounts in your name. Call the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to call one of the 3 companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374- 0241
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 ; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you are entitled to order free copies of your credit reports. If you ask, only the last four digits of your SSN will appear on your credit reports. Once you get your credit reports, review them for anything you did not do. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain. Check that information, like your SSN, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct. If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, get it removed. See Correcting Credit Reports to learn how. Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
PASSWORDS
Passwords are the number target of Hackers! Make you passwords strong and hard to guess. Do not use common things about yourself. Random is the best.
Click here to hear a funny Password thing from the movie Spaceballs: