This document provides information about identity theft, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you become a victim. It defines identity theft as the illegal use of someone's personal information without their consent. It discusses how thieves steal information like Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and credit card numbers. The results for victims can include financial losses, wasted time fixing the problem, and stress. Technological advances have increased opportunities for identity theft by making more financial transactions electronic. The document provides tips for protecting yourself such as shredding documents, being wary of phishing scams, and monitoring your accounts. It also outlines steps to take if you are victimized, like placing fraud alerts on credit reports and filing police reports.

1. Objective 7.03 Understand ways to
avoid identity theft.

2.  What is identity theft?
 How does one protect himself or herself from
being a victim of identity theft?
 What should I do if I am victimized?

3.  A type of fraud
 Illegal use of a
consumer’s personal
identification, credit,
or account information
 Information that
thieves steal:
 Date of birth
 Bank and investment
account numbers
 Social Security number
 Internet passwords
 Credit card information,
credit cards
video link- phishing scams

4. video link: how stuff works-id theft

5.  Resultsof identity
theft for victims:
 Financial losses of
actual transactions
 Loss of time and
money trying to
correct problem
 Substantial stress
dealing with long
term actions to
correct

6.  Technological
Advances Increase
Opportunities for
Exposure to Identity
Theft
 Electronic funds
transfers (EFT) enable
financial transactions by
computer
 Direct deposits and
withdrawals online
 Pay-by-phone transfers
 Point-of-sale transfers
(debit card)
 Online banking:
Account numbers, date
of birth, passwords in
cyberspace

7.  Provides protection Electronic Funds Transfer
for : Definition:
carrying out financial transactions
 ATM, debit cards, by computer rather than using checks or cash
cash cards Examples:
 If loss is reported: direct deposit payroll check
Automatic draft of monthly utility bill
 Within 2 days=$50
maximum
 Within 60 days, $500  Who is your best
maximum, and
advocate?
 After 60 days, may be
liable for all charges  YOU ARE!
 It is important to
pay attention to
your financial
transactions!

8. video link- problems & solutions
video link- credit card swipes

9.  Many businesses have  Other businesses use personal
legitimate reasons for information, such as your
obtaining personal name, address, credit card
information number, and information
 Payroll, human resources, about purchasing preferences
personnel department and patterns for other
 Social security, bank account #s purposes
 Some websites use online  Marketing other products
profiling  Food Lion MVP card -send
 Security of websites coupons, special ads
 Cautions about use of the
Social Security number
 Partial # only printed on
receipts, etc.
 Do not carry in your wallet

10.  What personal • Making purchases
information are you with a check, credit
carrying in your or debit card
wallet now? • Applying for a credit
 Driver’s license card or loan
 Social security card • Online or telephone
 Credit cards shopping
 Debit cards
• Paying bills through
 Health Insurance card
the mail or online
 Check book
 Student ID card • Going to the doctor

11.  Obtaining personal information
submitted on the Internet
 Posing as representatives of
banks, Internet service
providers, or government
agencies to get one to provide
personal information on the
telephone or by email
 Looking over the shoulder when
one is writing checks or using
teller machines video link - ATM skimming device
 Using phones with cameras,
videos to photo & re-enter PIN
codes
 Using “ATM skimmers” to
capture credit card number
from the magnetic strip
 Using card readers to swipe a
card and capture the card
number

12. 
Pass this info on:
 This has been verified by the FBI (their link is also included below). Please pass this on to everyone
in your email address book. It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call. Most of us
take those summonses for jury duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty that a
new and ominous kind of fraud has surfaced.
The caller claims to be a jury DUTY coordinator. If you protest that you never
received a summons for jury duty, the Scammer asks you for your Social Security
number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the
arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo; your identity was just
stolen.
The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma , Illinois , and Colorado , AZ
and more. This (swindle) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to
try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system.
The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning
consumers about the fraud.
 Check it out here:
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm
 And here:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp
Yep! It's true

13.  Good Afternoon –

 It’s a good time to remind everyone about SCAM or PHISHING email. Phishing refers
to the process of tricking recipients into sharing sensitive information with an
unknown third party. Those who PHISH make an email appear legitimate.
 Security Reminders-

 1) CCS does not send out email asking for private information (i.e., social
security numbers, credit card numbers, etc…). Sometimes we have “vendor”
looking logo email asking for the end user to provide information. If you receive,
delete the email.
 2) CCS does not send out email regarding changing of a password. Delete the
email.
 3) Never share your password.
 4) When in doubt about whether or not to respond to an email, DON’T until you
have verified legitimacy. Ask a technology facilitator or call the IT Help Desk (704-
786-9805, ext. 2).


 Dr. Katherine Propst
 Assistant Superintendent
 Cabarrus County Schools

14.  Stealing wallets or purses
containing identification
information, credit cards,
or checkbooks
 Stealing mail, which may
include bank, credit card,
payroll, and tax
information
 Completing a change of
address card to have mail
sent to another address
 Going through trash from
homes/businesses to find
identification, bank, or
credit information
 Obtaining personal
information from one’s
home mail or body…theft

15.  Make charges to your accounts and credit cards
 Open new credit accounts to make purchases

16.  To sign up for services
such as telephone,
cellular telephone, or
wireless service, and
utilities  Get a job using your
information
 Open a bank account
and write “bad”  Rent an apartment
checks  Obtain cash with bank
 The predator is stripping cards
whatever money is in  Obtain your tax
your account!
refund from IRS
 Write checks on one’s
bank account
video link- identity theft in Florida

17. Shred documents with personal information before discarding!

19.  Report missing
credit cards and
identifying
information to three
credit-reporting
agencies
 Report missing
credit cards to
credit card company
 Verify your credit
card charges upon
receipt of your card

20.  Contact your bank
if you are missing
ATM cards or
checks
 Reconcile your
bank statement to
verify all
withdrawals are
for your
authorized
transactions

21.  Report missing
Social Security
numbers or card to
the Social Security
Administration
 Seek other help
from the Federal
Trade Commission
and the Identity
Theft Resource
Center
 Don’t carry your SS
card in wallet!

22.  Issue a “stop payment”
if checks or credit cards
are lost or stolen
 When establishing
accounts at financial
institutions, make sure
they are insured by
agencies that protect
deposits in case the
institution fails
 Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC)
 Savings Association
Insurance Funds (SAIF)
 National Credit Union
Administration (NCUA)

23.  Definition: Method by which
individuals can avoid
receiving unsolicited product  I want to “OPT OUT”…
or service info; usually
associated with
telemarketing, e-mail  To remove your phone # from
marketing, online marketing telemarketing lists use National
or direct mail Registry or state registries
 https://www.donotcall.gov/
 Make an informed choice
about sharing personal  To remove your personal
information---“opt out” information from financial
institutions/insurance company
lists
 Before clicking “I agree” -  Individual company privacy
Read your online site statements have phone #s to
agreement, you often give up contact
your right to “opt out” and
your information is broadly
circulated to marketers

24. •Use anti-virus and
anti-spyware software
and update them
regularly
•Do not click on links •Set web browser
found in pop-up ads security to medium-high
or high
•Only download
software from trusted •Keep operating system
websites and web browser
software updated
•Clear hard drives
before discarding,
selling, or trading in
computer equipment

25. •When shopping online, Look for “https” or a picture of a lock after the
URL or in the bottom right hand corner indicating the site is
secure
•Enter the website address yourself rather than following a link from
an email or internet advertisement
•Use a credit card instead of a debit card when making online
purchases

26. •Do not give out personal information
from unsolicited contacts
•Unsolicited = callers who contact you
•Do not give out any personal
information unless making a purchase
(when you contacted company)
•Choose security questions with
answers only you would know

27. • Watch for clues that
might indicate a  If it is suspected that a
computer is infected computer is infected with
with spyware. spyware, immediately:
• Examples:  stop shopping, banking or
• a stream of pop-up ads doing any other online
activity that involves user
• random error messages
names, passwords, or other
• sluggish performance sensitive information
when opening programs
 confirm that the security
or saving files
software is active and current
 run software to scan the
computer for viruses and
spyware, deleting anything
the program identifies as a
problem

28. Should the password be
 Email, Debit Cards, Banking “I don’t know”?
documents, other
 Keep your username and
password protected
 Change passwords
 Create a Password
 Combination of words, numbers,
and symbols
 UNIQUE
 Upper and Lower Case
 Cannot be easily found
 Do not use obvious names,
birthdays, addresses, SS#
etc.

29.  When entering your
Password in public
places:
 “Securely” type in PIN # at
 ATM
 Point of Sale (POS) register
 Public Online outlets
 How does predator get
victim’s information?
 Phones with video cameras
can replicate your
keystrokes
 “Nosy” customers in line
 Dumpster Diving
 Predatoroften works
with partner who “lifts”
debit card for use with
password later

31.  YOU are your own
best ADVOCATE!
 Verify your credit
card statement
charges
 Reconcile your bank
account
 KNOW WHAT YOU
SPEND!
 Request credit
reports from credit
bureaus

32.  Respond immediately
 Keep a record of related
phone calls, letters, and
Emails
 Request a “fraud alert”
with three major credit
bureaus
 Equifax
 TransUnion
 Experian
 Renew “fraud alert” every
90 days with credit
bureaus

33.  Obtain a credit report
from each major credit
bureau and check for
accuracy
 Close all accounts that
have been involved in the
theft
 Open new accounts with
NEW unique passwords
and new PIN numbers
 File a police report

34.  Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
 oversees compliance with these acts
 Financial Services Modernization Act (1999)
 requires companies involved in financial
activities to send privacy notices to customers
 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act
(1998)
 Requires websites directed to children under
thirteen to post their privacy policy, parental
consent and ability to monitor is required
Link to Children's online privacy law

35.  New industry
booming to
assist
consumers
with
themselves
from this
fastest
growing crime

36.  Why do you
think identity
theft grew
significantly
during the
recession?
 Desperation
 No income to
pay bills
 Time Available
video link: Stolen_Futures - 10 minute- if time allows