How thieves can steal your identity:
•
Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal
information on it.
•
2. Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing
your card.
•
3. Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages
to get you to reveal your personal information.
•
4. Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a
change of address form.
•
5. Old-Fashioned Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card
statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel
records, or bribe employees who have access.
How can I find out if your identity was stolen?
The best way to find out is to monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit
report on a regular basis. If you check your credit report regularly, you may be able to limit the damage caused
by identity theft. Unfortunately, many consumers learn that their identity has been stolen after some damage has
been done. (See #1 below)
If your checks are rejected by a merchant, it may be because an identity thief is using the magnetic Information
Character Recognition (MICR) code (the numbers at the bottom of checks), your driver’s license number, or
another identification number. The merchant who rejects your check should give you its check verification
company contact information so you can find out what information the thief is using. If you find that the thief is
using your MICR code, ask your bank to close your checking account, and open a new one. If you discover that
the thief is using your driver’s license number or some other identification number, work with your DMV or other
identification issuing agency to get new identification with new numbers. Once you have taken the appropriate
steps, your checks should be accepted.
To find out if the identity thief has been passing bad checks in your name, call: SCAN: 1-800-262-7771
You may find out when bill collection agencies contact you for overdue debts you never incurred.
You may find out when you apply for a mortgage or car loan and learn that problems with your credit history are
holding up the loan.
You may find out when you get something in the mail about an apartment you never rented, a house you never
bought, or a job you never held.
Take steps to respond to and recover from identity theft as soon as you suspect it.
Secure Other Vulnerable Forms of Information
• Place passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available
information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your
phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers. When opening new accounts, you may find that
many businesses still have a line on their applications for your mother’s maiden name. Ask if you can
use a password instead.
• Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or
are having work done in your home.
• Ask about information security procedures in your workplace or at businesses, doctor’s offices, or other
institutions that collect your personally identifying information. Find out who has access to your
personal information and verify that it is handled securely. Ask about the disposal procedures for those
records as well. Find out if your information will be shared with anyone else. If so, ask how your
information can be kept confidential.
•
Invest in a “cross-cut” shredder and shred any junk mail or personal information that you would
ordinarily throw away.
14