ID Theft

The University of Wyoming is an equal opportunity/affirmative

action institution.

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ID THEFT:Protect Yourself!

Bill TaylorUniversity of Wyoming

Community Development Area Educator

UW Community Development Education

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ID theft

ID theft criminals use your personal information to apply for credit or government benefits Your name Your birth date Your Social Security number Your address Your bank account or credit card

numbers


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What can be done with a false ID?

Open credit cards, buy goods Take out loans Get cell phones Open bank accounts Seek employment Open credit accounts Pay bills


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It pays to prevent ID theft

Victims spend an average of 600 hours recovering from ID theft, often over a period of years.

It is estimated that every victim of ID theft spends $1,400 in out-of-pocket expenses to clear their names

Have you ever been the victim of identity fraud?


5 Yes N

o

0%0%

1. Yes2. No


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Credit card fraud Keep an eye on your credit

cards at all times

Unscrupulous employees might steal the information from your credit card and use it to make counterfeit cards

Shred all credit card statements, receipts and solicitations before throwing them away


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Dumpster diving

Crooks look in garbage cans and elsewhere for discarded credit card statements and receipts to obtain the card numbers

These papers can be used to steal your identity and set up credit in your name

Shred sensitive papers


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Phishing

A term used for emails that claim to be from your bank, a reputable business or a government agency

Criminals ask for personal information such as Social Security numbers or account numbers to steal funds and/or steal identities


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Nigerian letters

E-mails that ask recipients to provide their bank account number to help them share in a big pot of money

If you respond to these letters you will lose your money


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Are you already a victim?

Check your credit report Look for

Accounts you don’t recognize Inaccurate information


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Credit reports Check your credit reports regularly. Free credit reports can be obtained

once a year from each of the 3 credit reporting agencies

Have you obtained your credit report within the last year?


12 Yes N

o

0%0%

1. Yes2. No

Have you found a mistake in your credit report?


13 Yes N

o

0%0%

1. Yes2. No


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Credit reporting agencies

Equifax, 800-525-6285, www.equifax.com

Experian, 888-397-3742, www.experian.com

TransUnion, 800-680-7289, www.transunion.com


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Free credit reports

Annual Credit Report www.annualcreditreport.com (877) 322-8228 Annual Credit Report, Request Service,

PO Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281


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Social Security number (SSN) Memorize your Social Security number

(SSN) Don’t carry your Social Security card Don’t print your SSN on your driver’s

license or bank checks Keep all papers listing your SSN hidden or

locked away Shred all documents with SSNs before you

throw them away


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Financial information Check bills, bank and credit card

statements Report any unauthorized transactions

immediately

Track statements, new credit cards or check orders in the mail

Call the companies immediately if you notice Unauthorized transactions Missing credit cards or checks


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Cards and account numbers Shield ATM keypads when entering

passwords Memorize your PINs Watch your cards while they are with

sales clerks or waiters Lock your own mailbox

Use US post boxes for outgoing mail that contains account numbers


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Phone and Internet

Don’t answer callers or e-mails asking for personal information Remember, you may be overheard on a

cell phone

Always make sure you are dealing with reputable companies


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Marketing

Read your bank’s privacy notice Stop or ‘opt out’ of pre-screened

credit offers (888) 5OPT-OUT


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Monitor your mail

Missed bills, credit card statements, etc. may signal trouble


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Always question … Charges, bills or collection calls that

are not yours Complain immediately

Denials of credit when you have good credit Get a free copy of the credit report used

to make the decision Check for mistakes or fraud


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Password accounts

Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts

Don’t use easy-to-guess names and numbers

Ask businesses not to use SSN or mother’s maiden name


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Warning signs of fraud Be suspicious if you hear

You’ve won a prize or free gift

You’ve been selected to receive a special offer

You must act immediately or lose out

You must pay for shipping your prize or free gift

You must give your credit card number and expiration date to verify that you are a credit cardholder


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Warning signs of fraud (cont.) You’re asked for personal information

You’re asked to donate to an agency whose name sounds like a well known charity

You’re one of only a chosen few to receive this offer

A courier will come to your home to get your payment

Little risk and large, short term profits


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Protect your assetsNever

reveal your financial information to someone who calls you on the phone

allow strangers to come into your home

believe that a stranger will use your money for a good purpose

assign power of attorney to people you don’t know very well

sign contracts that have any blank lines in them


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Protect your assets (cont.)

Financial exploitation is often committed by a person that is trusted by the victim

Keep all important financial documents under lock and key in your home

Store valuables in a bank safe deposit box


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What can you do?

1. Do not give your telephone calling card, credit card, or bank account numbers to strangers by telephone or mail unless you initiated the order for goods or services.

2. Do not be pressured by salespeople into buying NOW.

3. Do not pay to receive a free gift.4. Shut the door. Hang up the phone.

ID Protection Service

Consider subscribing Amount of protections varies

depending on company Types of services

Request credit reports and request a fraud alert for each

Remove you from preapproved credit card offers


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ID Protection Service (cont.)

Types of services (cont.) Check criminal databases for illegal

activity attached to your name Monitor any address changes attached to

your name Assist with lost or stolen wallet Legal assistance Liability insurance (for fraudulent

charges and expenses to recover identity)


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ID theft clean up Document the crime File a police report with your local police

department Get a copy of the police report

Contact appropriate state and federal law enforcement agencies

Complete a free ID Theft Affidavit from the FTC www.ftc.gov/idtheft


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Victims - be watchful Dispute fraudulent accounts immediately

Close all affected accounts Follow up your phone call with a written request

Get letters stating disputed accounts have been closed

Create new passwords for all of your accounts Avoid easy-to-guess passwords


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Resources

Consumer Action www.consumer-action.org 415-777-9635

Identity Theft Resource Center www.idtheftcenter.org 858-693-7935

National Consumers League www.nclnet.org/ 202-835-3323


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Resources (cont.) National Fraud Information Center (part of National

Consumers League)

www.fraud.org

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse www.privacyrights.org/identity.htm 619-298-5681

Wyoming Attorney General attorneygeneral.state.wy.us 307-777-7841

AARP www.aarp.org/ 888-687-2277

Resources (cont.) Wyoming Adult Protective Services

dfsweb.state.wy.us/aps.htm 307-777-3602

North American Securities Association www.nasaa.org/home/index.cfm 202-737-0900

National Association of Attorneys General 202-326-6040


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Resources (cont.)

FTC ID Theft Clearinghouse / ID Theft Hotline www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

US Department of Justice www.usdoj.gov/ 202-514-2000

Federal Bureau of Investigation www.sfbi.gov/; denver.fbi.gov 307-772-2380

Resources (cont.) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

www.fdic.gov/consumers/theft/index.html 877-275-3342

United States Postal Inspection Service Postalinspectors.uspis.gov/ 800-372-8347

United States Secret Service www.secretservice.gov/ 307-772-2380


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The University of Wyoming is an equal opportunity/affirmative

action institution.

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