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IdentityTheft by federal trade comission
- 3. What is identity theft, and how can it hurt you? Someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission to buy things with your credit cards open new accounts (credit cards, loans) to get medical care using your benefits
- 4. How to protect against identity theft Protect your Social Security number Shred documents before discarding Use strong passwords online
- 5. How to spot identity theft Read account statements and bills Read explanations of medical benefits Keep track of bills and mail
- 6. How to spot identity theft Get and review your credit reports Go to AnnualCreditReport.com Or call 1-877-322-8228
- 7. What to do if identity theft happens Contact business where charges were made or accounts were opened. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports Get your credit reports Report at IdentityTheft.gov and get a personalized recovery plan.
- 8. Start a conversation Share what you know, your strategies and ideas Get more information at ftc.gov/PassItOn
Editor's Notes
- Welcome, introductions. Hand out materials if you have some. Just by being alive, we’ve all been exposed to a certain number of scams. Each of us probably has some strategies for dealing with them, ways to spot them, and ideas for avoiding them. I hope we can share some of those experiences today, because together, we can be stronger than the scammers.
- Today we’ll talk about identity theft, something we’ve all probably heard about, and some people here might have experienced. The Federal Trade Commission gets more consumer reports about identity theft than any other issue. Identity theft happens any time someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission. The person could be someone you know or an unknown scammer. The information they steal might include your: name and address credit card or bank account numbers Social Security number, or medical insurance account numbers They could use this information to run up charges on your existing credit cards or take money from your bank account. Or, they could use your Social Security number, license, or other identifying information to open new credit card accounts, apply for loans, or even take out a mortgage in your name. A thief who gets your Medicare or health insurance number can get medical care in your name and file a claim with your name and number. An identity thief can even file a tax return in your name and get your refund. DISCUSSION Has anyone here experienced identity theft, or know someone who has?
- Here are a few things you can do — or may be doing already — to protect your information from identity thieves. Safeguard your Social Security number. Ask why someone is asking for it and give it out only when you must. Never give your personal information to someone who calls, emails, or texts you — especially someone who contacts you out of the blue. It could be a scammer trying to steal your information. Scammers call and send email and text messages pretending to be a government agency or business you know. They make up stories — like saying you’re eligible for a refund, or there’s a problem with your account — to try to trick you into giving your Social Security number or account number. But the government doesn’t reach out and ask people for their Social Security numbers or account information. And if you think there’s a problem with your accounts, use a number you find yourself to contact the bank or business. Shred your bills, account statements, credit card offers, and other documents that list personal information before you throw them away. Take your outgoing mail to a locked mailbox so a thief can’t grab your bills and personal checks. And when you set up an online account, create a password that is long and strong. Usually that means a password that has at least 12 characters including letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using common words in your password. And use different passwords for different accounts; don’t re-use the same password on multiple sites. That way, if a hacker gets your password for one account, they can’t get into your other accounts. DISCUSSION Does anyone here have other ideas for protecting personal information?
- Despite our best efforts to protect our information, sometimes identity theft can happen. To check for signs that someone is mis-using your information, start by regularly reading your account statements and bills. Look for withdrawals from your bank account that you didn’t make or statements from accounts you didn’t open. Review your bills to see if they show purchases you don’t recognize. If your statement shows a charge for three big screen TVs last month, you’ll know if that’s right or not. If you get a notice or explanation of benefits from your health insurance provider, check for medical services you don’t recognize. You know when you go to the doctor and which procedures you’ve had. If your medical statement says you got an MRI, you know if that’s right or not. Take note of when you usually get monthly bills and statements in the mail. If you don’t get mail when you expect it, it could mean an identity thief has taken over your accounts, forwarded your statement to a different address, and is running up charges you don’t see. DISCUSSION Has anyone spotted a sign of identity theft on a statement or bill?
- It’s also a good idea to check your credit reports. Your credit report will give you a good idea of what’s happening in your name. It shows any mortgages, loans, or credit you have. Mistakes on your credit report might be signs of identity theft. To get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three big credit reporting companies, visit AnnualCreditReport.com. Under federal law, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each company every 12 months. The three nationwide credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — have a centralized website, toll-free telephone number, and mailing address so you can order your free annual reports in one place. Don’t contact the three credit bureaus individually. Use this information to get your free annual credit reports: Go to AnnualCreditReport.com Call 1-877-322-8228 Check your credit report for signs that someone is misusing your information. Look for changes like a new loan or credit card account; changes to your address, phone number or other personal information; or public records that show you filed for bankruptcy. Discussion Has anyone ordered their free credit reports recently? Did you order online or by phone?
- If you find out that someone is using your information, act quickly. The sooner you stop the thief, the better. If you know where the thief used your information, contact that company directly. For example, if your credit card is being misused, contact your credit card company. If you find fraudulent withdrawals from your bank account, contact your bank immediately. Next, contact one of the three credit bureaus and place a one-year fraud alert on your credit reports. Find the contact information for the credit bureaus at IdentityTheft.gov. While you’re at IdentityTheft.gov, file an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission. IdentityTheft.gov is the government’s one-stop resource for anyone who’s experienced identity theft. At IdentityTheft.gov, you can get a personalized, step-by-step recovery plan based on the type of identity theft that occurred. It has plans to address more than 30 types of identity theft and will walk you through what to do to resolve the problems that identity theft causes.
- These are exactly the kinds of conversations we hope will happen as you connect with your friends and family. Because you have this life experience, and you know a lot about a lot of things — including spotting and avoiding these kinds of scams. I’ll bet you have someone in your life who might benefit from a little extra help or information. So pass it on. Talk with them. Share your experience. Give them a flyer or a bookmark to help remind them. Let them know where they can find more information on the FTC’s website — at ftc.gov/PassItOn.
- If you or anyone you know spots a scam, the Federal Trade Commission would like to hear about it. Please go online to ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP to report. By reporting fraud, you can help the FTC’s investigators identify scammers and stop them before they get someone’s hard-earned money. It really makes a difference.
- Thank you for taking the time to talk with me today, and for sharing your stories with the group. I hope it’s been useful. Are there any other questions? If you’re meeting in person: Remind people to take extra materials for themselves, friends, and family. Thanks!