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Identity Theft

In the News
Articles are appearing weekly on the growing problem of identity theft in the US. If you have been a victim you know the time, money, embarrassment and agony that occurs trying to restore your credit and financial reputation. Identity theft often occurs when your mail is stolen and credit card, bank, Social Security number and other personal data is used to make unauthorized purchases in your good name. However it can also occur when data is stolen from your computer or other electronic files.

Sadly, when this happens to you the burden is on you to prove yourself innocent, and to do so takes time. Just restoring your credit rating can take months and your ability to borrow or even conduct normal business activities can be seriously curtailed.

Information abounds on various Web sites on the subject, and many vendors provide help in reestablishing your credit if you are a victim. One of the best places to start is with information from the Federal Trade Commission. At this link you'll learn how to prevent, report, and resolve identity theft.

As of December 1, 2004 California residents can now obtain a FREE annual report from the three major credit agencies. By taking the time to do this you can see your credit rating with the three agencies and determine if any information is incorrect. You can do it on line at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp. You can also contact the individual agencies directly:

• Experian
• Equifax
• TransUnion

Never provide your Social Security number to anyone unless it is a financial institution or governmental agency that requires it. Merchants do not, even if they ask for it.

1. Never put your outgoing mail in an unlocked box. Never use the red flag on your own box if you do use it for outgoing mail; it's a flag saying to thieves, "come and get it."
2. Shred all documents that contain your Social Security, bank, or credit card numbers. Use a cross-cut shredder, not a strip shredder.
3. Check your credit reports annually to make sure no transactions have occurred that you did not authorize. You can do it for free at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp.

What the Oakland Police Say
The following is a reprint from a brochure on Identity Theft published by the Oakland Police Department. It summarizes a great deal of information in one reference piece. We are grateful to the OPD for providing this information for your use:

California Penal Code Section 530.5
Unauthorized Use of Personal Identifying Information
(a) Every person who willfully obtains personal identifying information, as defined in subdivision (b), of another person without the authorization of that person, and uses that information for any unlawful purpose, including to obtain, or attempt to obtain, credit, goods, services, or medical information in the name of the other person without the consent of that person is guilty of a public offense.

Identity Theft involves acquiring key pieces of someone's identifying information, such as name, address, date of birth, social security number and mother's maiden name, in order to impersonate them. This information enables the identity thief to commit numerous forms of fraud which include, but are not limited to, taking over the victim's financial accounts, opening new bank accounts, purchasing automobiles, applying for loans, credit cards and social security benefits, renting apartments, and establishing services with utility and phone companies.

What to do if you become a victim:

• Set up a folder to keep a detailed history of this crime.
• Keep a log of all your contacts and make copies of all documents.
• Contact all creditors, by phone and in writing to inform them of the problem.
• Notify the US Postal Inspector if your mail has been stolen or tampered with:
  •  US Postal Inspection Service - Local Post Office (See phone listing under Federal Government)
• www.usps.gov/postalinspectors
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission to report the problem:
  • www.ftc.gov - The FTC is the federal clearinghouse for complaints by victims of identity theft.  The FTC helps victims by providing information to help resolve financial and other problems that could result from identity theft. Their hotline telephone number is 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).
• Call each of the three credit bureaus' fraud unit to report identity theft. Ask to have a "Fraud Alert/Victim Impact" statement placed in your credit file asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts.
• Request that a copy of your credit report be sent to you.

• Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery.
• Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection mailboxes or at your local post office.  Do not leave in unsecured mail receptacles.
• Never give personal information over the telephone, such as your social security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, credit card number, or bank PIN code, unless you initiated the phone call.  Protect this information and release it only when absolutely necessary.
• Shred pre-approved credit applications, credit card receipts, bills and other financial information you don’t want before discarding them in the trash or recycling bin.
• Empty your wallet of extra credit cards and IDs, or better yet, cancel the ones you do not use and maintain a list of the ones you do.
• Order your credit report from the three credit bureaus once a year to check for fraudulent activity or other discrepancies.
• Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank counters, trash receptacles, or unattended gasoline pumps. Keep track of all your paperwork. When you no longer need it, destroy it.
• Memorize your social security number and all of your passwords. Do not record them on any cards or on anything in your wallet or purse.
• Sign all new credit cards upon receipt.
• Save all credit card receipts and match them against your monthly bills.
• Be conscious of normal receipt of routine financial statements. Contact the sender if they are not received in the mail.
• Notify your credit card companies and financial institutions in advance of any change of address or phone number.
• Never loan your credit cards to anyone else.
• Never put your credit card or any other financial account number on a postcard or on the outside of an envelope.
• If you applied for a new credit card and it hasn't arrived in a timely manner, call the bank or credit card company involved.
• Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
• Closely monitor expiration dates on your credit cards.
• Contact the credit card issuer if replacement cards are not received prior to the expiration dates.
• Beware of mail or telephone solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards designed solely to obtain your personal information or credit card numbers.

Internet and On-Line Services

• Use caution when disclosing checking account numbers, credit card numbers or other personal financial data at any Web site or on-line service location unless you receive a secured authentication key from your provider.
• When you subscribe to an on-line service, you may be asked to give credit card information.  When you enter any interactive service site, beware of con artists who may ask you to "confirm" your enrollment service by disclosing passwords or the credit card account number used to subscribe. Don't give them out!

Credit Bureaus
Equifax
PO Box 74021, Atlanta, Georgia 30374-0241

• To order your report, call 1-800-685-1111
• To report fraud, call 1-800-525-6285

Experian
PO Box 949, Allen, Texas 75013-0949

• - To order your report, call 1-888-397-3742
• - To report fraud, call 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion
PO Box 390, Springfield, Pennsylvania 19064-0390

• - To order your report, call 1-800-916-8800
• - To report fraud, call 1-800-680-7289

• Alert your financial institution(s) to flag your account(s) and contact you to confirm any unusual activity.  Request a change of PIN and a new password.
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• If you have any checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently, report it to the following companies:

• National Check Fraud Service - (843) 571-2143
• SCAN- (800) 262-7771
• TeleCheck - (800) 710-9898 or 927-0188
• CheckRite - (800) 766-2748
• Crosscheck - (707) 586-0551
• Equifax Check Systems - (800) 437-5120
• International Check Services - (800) 526-5380
• Contact the Social Security Administration's Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
• Contact the local office of the Department of Motor Vehicles to see if another license was issued in your name. If so, request a new license number and fill out the DMV's complaint form to begin the fraud investigation process.
• Obtain description of suspect (if known).
• Obtain witness information.
• What is the financial loss to you? Attach all supporting documentation.

 Direct Marketing Association

• Direct Marketing Association mail preference list
• P.O. Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY. 11735
• Direct Marketing Association telephone preference list
• P.O. Box 9014 Farmingdale, NY. 11735
• To opt out of direct marketing lists:
• (888) 5opt-out (567-8688) or 800-353-0809

INFORMATION WEB SITES
Federal Trade Commission
www.ftc.gov
Calif. Dept. of Consumer Affairs
www.dca.ca.gov
Privacy Rights Clearing House
www.privacyrights.org
U.S. Government Accounting Office
www.gao.gov
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
www.usps.gov/postalinspectors
State Department of Motor Vehicles
www.dmv.ca.gov
International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators
www.iafci.org (go to links section)

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