Dealing With Identity Theft

Identity Theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. It is a felony in California to use the personal identifying information of another person without authorization of that person for any unlawful purpose including to obtain credit, goods, services or medical information. (Penal Code Section 530.5). The Department of Justice has launched a new Identity Theft Registry. This assists, victims who are wrongful identified as criminals due to the use of their identities by the actual perpetrators. Registration for the registry requires the submission of an application along with fingerprints and court verification that the individual is a victim of identity theft. Once registered, victims may have the Department of Justice notify any individuals or agencies they designate that they are a victim of identity theft. For more information regarding registration go to http://www.ag.ca.gov/idtheft/general.htm or call (toll-free) 1-888-880-0240. The number is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

How can someone steal your identity?

Any person who knows your name, address and telephone number, and any other personal information such as your mother’s maiden name or your Social Security Number, CAN BECOME YOU. Identity theft occurs when someone unlawfully uses your personal information to commit fraud or theft of property, money, services or anything else of value. Think of the information you provide when applying for a credit card. If you have established credit it can be astonishingly easy.

If you have recently been the victim of identity theft:

• File a report with the police department.
• Immediately contact the fraud units of the three credit reporting bureaus listed below, and all creditors with whom your name has been used fraudulently.
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report the incident at (877) 438-4338. The FTC maintains a site at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
• If you have checks stolen, or bank accounts set up fraudulently, report it to the seven check verification companies listed below,
• Contact your bank, stop payment on all outstanding checks, cancel your checking and savings accounts and obtain new account numbers.
• Give the bank a secret password for your account (not your mother's maiden name).
• Write a form letter that can be mailed or faxed whenever you receive an inquiry about fraudulent checks written from your bank account. The letter should give a brief description of what happened, check numbers and check manufacturer (obtained from your bank), bank account number, case number (assigned by the police or law enforcement agency with jurisdiction), the name of the detective handling your case, and the name and phone number of the customer service representative at your bank.
• If your ATM card has been stolen or compromised, get a new card, account number and password.
• If someone has submitted a fraudulent change-of-address to the post office to illegally receive credit cards in your name, notify your Postal Inspector, find out where the fraudulent cards were sent, and tell the Postmaster for that address to forward all mail in your name to your own address. You may also need to talk to the mail carrier.
• If someone else obtains your Social Security number, call the Social Security Administration (SSA) at (800) 269-0271. As a last resort, the SSA may allow you to change your number.
• If you have a passport, notify the passport office in writing to be on the lookout for anyone ordering a new passport using your Social Security number.
• If your long distance calling card has been stolen, or you find fraudulent charges on your bill, cancel the account immediately and open a new one. Provide a password that must be used any time the account is changed.
• If your driver's license number is being misused –– to write bad checks, for example –– contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to see if another license has been issued in your name. If so, put a fraud alert on your license and request a new number immediately.
  

Credit Reporting Bureaus:

EQUIFAX

PO Box 740241
Atlanta GA
To order credit report
To opt out of marketing lists:
(888) 567-8688

EXPERIEN

P. O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
To order credit report: (888) 397-3742
To opt out of marketing lists: (800) 353-0809
To report fraud: (800) 301-7195 or (888) 397-3742

TRANS UNION

PO BOX 390
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
To order credit report: (800) 888-4213
To opt out of marketing lists:
(888) 567-8688
To report fraud: (800) 680-7289

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

(800) 269-0271

Check Verification Companies:

CheckRite (800) 766-2748

ChexSystems (800) 428-9623

Equifax (800) 437-5120

National Processing Co. (800) 526-5380

Scan (800) 262-7771

TeleCheck (800) 710-9898

CrossCheck (800) 552-1900

Consumer Credit Counseling Service

(800) 388-2227

Steps you can take to protect yourself from Identity Theft

• Periodically check your Credit Report. Call immediately if you discover any irregularities.
• Purchase a shredder, and shred all personal information before throwing it away.
• When using ATM's and Phone Cards, particularly in public places like airports, bus stations, etc. be careful of people looking over your shoulder to obtain your PIN.
• Cancel and destroy all credit cards that you no longer use.
• Do not carry credit cards that you do not normally use in your purse or wallet.
• Do not carry your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport.
• Never give anyone your credit card number or personal information over the telephone unless you initiated the call.
• Do not print your Social Security Number, telephone number, or other unnecessary information on checks.
• Carefully check your credit card and bank statements for charges you did not make.
• Use an unlisted telephone number, or use an initial instead of your full first name.
• If you live in a state that uses your Social Security Number as a driver’s license number, request a state assigned number through your Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Passwords and PIN’s: Use non-consecutive numbers other than your date of birth or the last four of your Social Security Number.
  

Opt-Out

You can "Opt-Out" of Pre-Approved Credit or Insurance Offers "Every day your mailbox may contain an interesting offer of pre-approved credit or insurance. These offers give you numerous choices and opportunities. However, while millions of Americans welcome these choices, others prefer not to receive such offers." "Your rights as a consumer include the ability to 'Opt-Out', which prevents consumer credit reporting companies from using your credit file information for pre-approved offers of credit or insurance. The consumer credit reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion, want to help companies give American consumers the choices they want." To go to the "Opt-Out" web site, click here > > >