Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. In 1999,
13% of Americans had been victimized by identity theft. Victims
can expect to spend upwards of $1,000 and 200 hours of work to clear
their good name and credit rating.
 What
is identity theft?
When one person steals another's personal information and uses
it fraudulently. It is usually a financial crime. In 1998, identity
theft became a federal crime. Forty-seven states have also passed
anti-identity-theft laws. Identity theft is an easy crime to commit
and difficult to investigate and prosecute.
Common techniques for collecting personal information include stealing
wallets, handbags, and mail (especially pre-approved credit card
offers). Dumpster diving (going through a business or individual's
trash) is another popular method where thieves are looking for discarded
mail, personnel files, and documents. Unscrupulous employees of
retail stores, gas stations, restaurants and so forth can sell or
use personal information from credit cards, drivers licenses, and
so on. Other methods to gather personal information include theft
from mailboxes and calling potential victims posing as a legitimate
figure seeking information. The most important and frequently used
information identity thieves can obtain is a social security number.
How does one protect themselves from identity theft?
(1) Don't carry one's social security card; (2) regularly monitor
one's credit histories; (3) destroy discarded mail with any personal
information on it; (4) never carry ATM or credit card personal identification
numbers (PIN).
Here's what you can do to minimize your risk of having your personal
information used fraudulently:
By clicking on some of the links below you will be transferred
to another company's website. USUCCU is providing these links as
a service to you and is not responsible for the content or accuracy
of the information provided on these sites. Please be aware that
other web sites may obtain or use information about you differently
than us. We recommend you read the privacy policies of any web site
you visit before using their services.
- Request copies of your credit reports annually from:
Equifax (800-685-1111),
Experian
(888-397-3742),
TransUnion (
800-888-4213).
- Scrutinize monthly credit and charge card bills to ensure you
made the purchases. Keep and file receipts.
- Don't give people information that does not pertain to the transaction
at hand.
- Don't leave credit cards lying around anywhere. Don't carry
more plastic than you need.
- Pick complicated passwords and PIN numbers. These make it harder
for thieves to figure out. Never use a name or a word from the
dictionary as a password. Don't carry or keep pass words or PIN
numbers where they can be used in conjunction with any stolen
cards, receipts, computer transactions, etc.
- Don't carry your Social Security card. Memorize the number and
keep the card in a secure place.
- Don't carry health insurance cards. Instead carry photocopies
with ID numbers blanked out.
- If an expected bill does not arrive, find out why. It may have
been intercepted.
- Buy a crosscut paper shredder and thoroughly destroy discarded
credit card offers and other discarded mail with any personal
information on it.
- Call 888-567-8688 and ask that your name be removed from pre-approved
credit card lists.
- Don't give any personal information over the phone unless you
initiate the call.
- Don't give any account numbers or PINs through the email.
- Review the USUCCU Privacy
Policy for more on what we do to keep your information safe.
- Reconcile your banking accounts monthly.
Resources you can use:
What can you do if you suspect you are a victim (or attempted
victim) of stolen identity?
- Report the incident to the police.
- Get copies of your credit report. Deal with fraud units. Ask
to have a fraud alert placed on your file. This warns creditors
to contact you before credit applications are approved. If your
credit reports contain any bogus accounts, you will need to contact
the creditors directly and provide them with police reports and
supporting documents to prove you are not the person who opened
the account.
- Contact credit card companies about false charges as soon as
you are aware of them. Most have policies in place and maximum
liability caps for cardholders.
- Alert the Feds. Report the incident to the Federal
Trade Commission's (FTC) identity theft hotline, a consumer-assistance
and information center (877-id-theft).
- Notify the US Postal Service. If you suspect your mail has been
stolen, report it. It is a federal crime. Check http://www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect
for advice on mail safety.
- Cancel your driverÍs license and request a new one be issued.
Identity theft often begins with a stolen wallet. How can you
minimize your risk?
Carry only what you need in your wallet like a drivers license,
one credit card, one ATM card, etc. Keep a record at home of credit
card numbers as well as appropriate phone numbers to call if they
are lost or stolen.
What do most people carry in their wallets that help identify
thieves carry out their dirty deeds?
- Medical insurance cards: These typically carry the medical record
number (often a Social Security number).
- Bank debit or ATM card (with or without PIN): It's bad enough
for a thief to have the card itself... combine the card with the
assigned PIN and the thief can clean out an account. Some banks
will not assume liability if a PIN was used to perpetrate the
crime. They consider the PIN to be an electronic signature of
the customer authorizing the transaction.
- Credit card: With this card or just the number off the card,
a thief can make orders across the country by phone, through the
Internet, and so on.
- Driver's license: Altered duplicates are easy to make with the
right software. The license then can be used as "picture
identification" to carry out a number of bad deeds.
- Checkbook: The checks can be used and/or the routing and transit
numbers off the checks can be used to originate fraudulent ACH
transactions.
- Store receipts: These might have the credit card number (see
3 above).
- AT&T or calling cards: The thief may use the card or sell
it and rack up thousands of dollars in calls, especially if the
PIN is with the card.
- Other cards or personal information: Any card or document containing
social security numbers, credit card numbers, account numbers,
addresses, and so forth can be used to perpetrate fraud.
If you are a member of USU Charter Credit Union and you suspect
that you may be a victim of identity theft, contact the Credit Union
immediately.
The number to call is 753-4080 (800-248-6361) extensions 3006,
3007 or 3029.
Or leave a message at info@usuccu.org
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