[your name, organization]

Protecting Your Identity:What to Know, What to Do

What is Identity Theft?

• When someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud or other crime– Name– Social Security number– Date of birth– Credit card number– Bank account numbers

Identity

Warning Signs

How do you know if your identity was stolen?

• mistakes on accounts or your Explanation of Medical benefits

• regular bills go missing• notice from the IRS• calls or mail about accounts in your minor child’s name• Calls or mail about debts or bills that aren’t yours

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Passwords• University study of “office workers”

– 16% used their name as password– 11% used favorite football team– 12% used the word “password”

• Never use a word that could be in any dictionary, names of places, or any proper nouns

• Never use any of the above spelled backwards• Never use any of the above simply followed by a digit• Include upper and lower case, numbers, special

characters

How does identity theft happen?

Identity thieves will:

• Dumpster diving

• trick you into revealing information

• Good old fashioned stealing

• pretend to offer a job, loan, or apartment to get your information

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Phishing

(fish´ing)

The act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the user to visit a Web site where they are asked to update personal information, such as passwords and credit card, social security, and bank account numbers, that the legitimate organization already has. The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user’s information.

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Reduce Your Risk

Identity protection means treating your personal information with care.

Make it a habit.

• Do NOT carry your SSN card with you• Memorize PINs and passwords• Beware of promotions that request sensitive information• Question how SSN or other sensitive data will be used if

it is requested by legitimate sources– It may not be needed!

Protect your sensitive information

• Shred pre-approved credit offers, receipts, bills, other records that have SSN

• Do not provide CC#, SSN, etc. out over email

• Do not click on links in unsolicited emails

Reduce Your Risk

How does identity theft happen?

• Your right to a free credit report every 12 months

• To order:annualcreditreport.com

1-877-322-8228

Reduce Your Risk

Read your bank, credit and account statements, and Explanation of Medical benefits.

• Look for charges you didn’t make.

• Be alert for bills that don’t arrive when you expect them.

• Follow up if you get account statements you don’t expect.

Reduce Your Risk

Respond quickly to notices from the Internal Revenue Service.

• If someone has used your Social Security number on a tax return, contact IRS’s Specialized Identity Theft Protection Unit – 1-800-908-4490

Reduce Your Risk

Protect Your Personal Information.

• Keep your important papers secure.

• Be careful with your mail.• How many of you write checks and put them in your

mailbox with the flag up? Or has a family member who does?

• Don’t overshare on social networking sites.

Reduce Your Risk

Be alert to online impersonators.

• Do you know who is getting your personal information?

• Don’t click on links in emails.

• Contact customer service.

Reduce Your Risk

Protect your computer.

• Use anti-virus software, anti-spyware software, and a firewall. Look for http, or a padlock in the corner!

• Create strong passwords.• Use different characters, numbers, upper & lower case.• How many of you have a password that contains some sort of

personal information about you? (someone’s name, birthday, address, etc?”

• Keep your computer’s operating system, browser, and security up to date. • Guards against software that installs itself on your computer.

Reduce Your Risk

Protect your computer.

• Lock up your laptop.• Don’t use an automatic login feature that saves your

user name & password. ALWAYS LOG OFF!!• What if your laptop is stolen?!

• Read privacy policies.• Is a company selling your information to a third party?

What to do if someone has stolen your identity?

• Act fast to limit the damage.

• Take these steps immediately.

If your identity is stolen…

STEP 1: Place an initial fraud alert on your credit report.

• Contact any one of the three nationwide credit reporting companies.

• Equifax 1‑800‑525‑6285• Experian 1‑888‑397‑3742• TransUnion 1‑800‑680‑7289

If your identity is stolen…Step 2: Order your credit reports.

• Contact each of the three credit reporting companies.

• ID theft victims get a copy of their reports for free.

• Read your reports carefully and correct any errors.

If your identity is stolen…

Step 3: Create an Identity Theft Report.

• Gives you rights that help you to recover more quickly.

• File a complaint with the FTC.

– Ftc.gov/complaint or 1-877-438-4338. – This will become your FTC Affidavit.

• File a police report.

Your FTC Affidavit and police report make an Identity Theft Report.

Contact the FTC

• File an identity theft complaint with the FTC:– ftc.gov/complaint– 1-877-ID-THEFT– 1-877-438-4338

• Learn more identity theft:– ftc.gov/idtheft

• Order free materials:– bulkorder.ftc.gov

– http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/media/game-0005-id-theft-faceoff

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Identity Theft Quiz(test your “Identity Quotient”)

• I receive several offers of pre-approved credit every week (5)

• Add 5 points if you do not shred them• I carry my Social Security card in my wallet (10)• My driver’s license has my SSN on it (10)• I do not have a PO Box or locked, secured mailbox (5)• I use an unlocked, open box at work or at home to drop

off my outgoing mail (10)• I carry my military ID in my wallet at all times (10)• I provide my SSN whenever asked, without asking

questions as to how that information will be safeguarded (10)

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Identity Theft Quiz(test your “Identity Quotient)

• Add 5 points if you provide you SSN orally without checking to see who might be listening

• I am required to use my SSN at work as an employee ID or at school as a student ID number (5)

• My SSN is printed on various documents frequently seen in the workplace (timecards, etc.) (10)

• I have my SSN and/or driver’s license number printed on my personal checks (10)

• I am listed in a “Who’s Who” guide (5)• I carry my insurance card in my wallet and either my

SSN or that of my spouse is on that card (10)

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Identity Theft Quiz(test your “Identity Quotient)

• I have not ordered a copy of my credit report for at least 2 years (20)

• I do not believe that people would root around in my trash looking for credit or financial information or looking for documents containing my SSN (10)

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How did you score??

• 100+ - You are at a high risk• 50 - 100 – Your odds of being victimized are about

average but higher if you have good credit• 0 - 50 – You are in good shape. Don’t let your guard

down!

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, www.privacyrights.org