 Identity
Theft
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veryone should safeguard all their account numbers so they won’t
be a victim of identity theft. Identity theft happens when someone
pretends to be you by using your personal information when applying
for loans, credit cards, or leases. In some cases people may impersonate
you when receiving traffic violations or other legal contact.
The thief takes advantage of your good history or credit record,
leaving behind bad credit or misdeeds in your name. Losses to
consumer and institutions due to identity theft totaled $845 million
in 1997, according to the U. S. Secret Service.
How the thief gets
your personal information
- Stealing your purse or wallet
- Pilfering information such as bank statements
and pre-approved credit card applications from your mailbox.
- Posing as your employer, loan officer or landlord to get
your credit reports.
- Going through trash for credit card carbons or loan applications.
- Watching transactions at automated teller machines to capture
your PIN.
- Tricking you into providing it through a fraudulent e-mail
or other means/
How to minimize the risk
- Never carry your SSN in your wallet or diary or printed
on checks.
- Guard your SSN closely, giving it
out only to official authorities or businesses you trust.
Some firms will accept another identifier if you ask.
- Be careful how you dispose of documents. Ideally, shred
them.
- Exercise your right to stop your credit header being
sold, which will also stop pre-approved offers of credit.
Call the credit bureaus’ special toll free line (888) 567-8688.
- Don’t post personal information on the internet—for example,
on genealogical or college reunion sites.
- Check your credit report at least once a year.
Should you become a victim
- Obtain a copy of the fraudulent contract or application.
This is the key document that proves the person who signed
it isn’t you. Finding the company that issued it and the right
person to talk to isn’t always easy.
- Try to get past the gatekeepers to someone who is in charge.
- Contact the credit bureaus that hold your credit report.
Ask them to log the theft and remove the bad accounts from
your report, giving as much proof as possible. You may meet
difficulties, but by law, the bureau must correct any wrong
information.
- Have a "fraud alert" put on your credit report. This should
alert credit grantors to check a new application.
- Keep meticulous dated records of your attempts to clean
the record – letters, phone calls, and what were said.
- Never agree to pay any portion of the debt just to get the
debt collectors off your back. The balance will stay on your
record.
- Remember you are not a victim; do not let these people intimidate
you. Contact the police to fight back.
Where to go for help
To report identity theft and get help on how to restore your
credit: contact Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response
Center, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580,
or call, toll free, (877) 382-4357. www.consumer.gov/idtheft
for online info.
To report ID theft, get your credit record (free for fraud
victims) and to have it corrected, contact all of these:
Trans Union, Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P. O. Box 6790
Fullerton, California 92384
(800) 680-7289
Equifax
P. O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
(800) 525-6285
Experian
P. O. Box 1017
Allen, Texas 75013
(800) 301-7195
For law enforcement help: Call the Philadelphia Police Department
by dialing 9-1-1.
For consumer-oriented information: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse,
1717 Kettner Ave., Suite 105, San Diego, California 92101.
| Information
listed here is believed to be current at the time of publication.
However, some of the material presented here may have expired
since it was posted. Persons should contact a Philadelphia Police
representative whenever relying on dated material or information
that is subject to change. |
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