The document provides essential tips for protecting personal information from identity theft, emphasizing the importance of security measures such as shredding sensitive documents, using strong passwords, and regularly monitoring credit reports. It outlines common methods used by identity thieves to obtain personal information and advises on how to respond if identity theft occurs. Additionally, it highlights the significance of being cautious with personal data and using secure websites for online transactions.

1. 7 Do notpersonal information. Legitimate companies will
respond to email, text, and phone messages that
Tips to Avoid ask for
Identity Theft not ask for information this way. Delete the messages.
8 Password protect your home computers and mobile
devices, including your cell phone.
1 Review your credit card and bankstatementstatements
account PRIVACY &
for unidentified transactions. If a is late,
immediately call the sender. Shred all statements when IDENTITY THEFT
you are finished with them. Order your free report by
phone, 877-322-8228 or online,
www.annualcreditreport.com
Order a copy of your free annual report.
You are entitled to receive ONE FREE
credit report every 12 months from each
of the three credit reporting agencies. 9 Create passwordsand devicescharacters, and keep them
letters, numbers,
for
special
and accounts that mix
in a safe place.
You can choose to order all three at the
same time, or space them out over the If you shop or bank online, only use websites that
12 month period. protect your financial information with encryption. An
10 encrypted site has "https" at the beginning of the web
address; "s" is for secure.
2 Review yourunidentified orfrom all three major credit
bureaus for
credit reports
inaccurate information.
11 If you use a public wireless network, do notencrypted.
information to any website that is not fully
send
Your Guide To Debt Freedom
3 Do not give out personal information to anyone you
do not know or have not properly identified. 12
Use a firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware software on
your computer.
4 Do not leave any important documents in your Set your computer's operating system, web browser,
13 and security software to update automatically Educational Series
mailbox. Deposit your outgoing letters directly into an
official USPS mailbox.
5 Shred any credit card or pre-approved loan offers you There are a variety of commercial services that, for a fee, will Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp.
receive and all other documents containing personal monitor your credit reports for activity and alert you to 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization
information. Do not place them in the trash where changes to your accounts. Prices and services vary widely.
they may be stolen.
Many of the services only monitor one of the three www.dmcconline.org
6 Do not carry your social security card around with you,
and carry only a minimal number of ID cards and credit
major consumer reporting companies. If you’re
considering signing up for a service, make sure
cards, in case you lose your wallet or handbag. Keep
3310 N Federal Hwy, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064
you understand what you’re getting before
them at home in a safe place until needed. you buy.
Tel 866.618.DEBT (3328) / Fax 954.545.4510
DMCC 2013 Educational Series
Available Online.
www.dmcconline.org Educational Series

2. How will I know if my identity has been
stolen? Identity Theft
What is by the Numbers
Identity Theft It is not always immediately apparent when your
identity has been stolen, so it is imperative you
recognize the danger signs when they occur. Here are 1 35
Identity theft is a serious crime. It can some "red flags" that you should be on alert for: Number of identities stolen every three seconds¹ Percentage of increased likelihood of fraud
disrupt your finances, credit history, for Smartphone owners¹
and reputation, and take time, money, Mistakes on your bank, credit card, or other 11.6 Million
and patience to resolve. Identity theft account statements
happens when someone steals your Mistakes or unidentified medical claims on
Number of U.S. adult identity theft victims in 2011¹ 1, 2, 3
personal information and uses it your health plan statements Florida, Georgia and California rankings for
without your permission. Your regular bills and account statements do 9.5 the highest per capita rate of reported
not arrive on time How many times more likely you are to be an identity theft complaints²
Bills or collection notices for products or identity theft victim if you received a breach
How do thieves get my personal services you never received
notification¹
information? Calls from debt collectors about debts that do
not belong to you
1 Javelin Strategy & Research. 2012 Identity Fraud Survey Report. Feb. 2012.
Identity thieves have many ways to get a hold of Notices from the IRS of multiple tax returns 2 FTC Consumer Sentinel Network, 2011
your personal information. Some of the being filed for you
traditional ways are as follows: Unidentified accounts or inquiries on your
credit reports
going through trash cans and dumpsters for your Notices of a data breach at a company where
personal bills and documents you do business or have an account
stealing your information from businesses,
medical offices, or government agencies
misusing the name of a legitimate business and New Millennium
tricking you into revealing information
pretending to offer you a job, a loan, or an What should I do if my personal Methods
apartment requiring your information to "qualify"
stealing your wallet, purse, backpack, or mail
containing your personal information
information is lost or stolen?
for Identity Theft Pay attention daily to your bank
File a report with your local police or the police in the account and credit card accounts.
However, in this new millennium, cyberspace may community where the identity theft took place. If your Immediately report fraudulent
wallet, Social Security card, or other personal, financial,
PHISHING occurs when thieves email you transactions. to your bank or creditor
be the biggest source of personal information for asking for personal info using official to eliminate any liability.
identity thieves. See the New Millennium Methods or account information is lost or stolen, contact the letterheads of banks and credit agencies.
table in this brochure for some of the more common credit reporting companies and place a fraud alert on Usually masked as security departments
your credit file. Then, get a copy of the police report or of these institutions, they demand personal
ways thieves now steal your personal information.
information as they are claiming your accounts HI JACKING CALLER ID’s has become prevalent as
at the very least, the number of the report. It can help
may have been compromised. Never respond to these emails. technology has improved. Thieves have the ability to
you deal with creditors who need proof of the crime. Call or visit bank directly and inquire about your account. manipulate your caller ID and display fraudulent
What do identity thieves do with my SMISHING occurs when you receive a text on your phone
information hoping that you will give out personal
Do not wait until your identity is actually stolen and information . If in doubt, hang up and call your creditor or
information? informing you that you have been selected as a winner to bank directly alerting them to the call you received.
used. Monitor your credit reports, bank statements and
receive a product and you are required to respond to claim
other account statements for unusual activity. your prize. Never respond to these texts! Delete immediately! If
Once identity thieves have your personal POCKET SCANNER similar to a credit card skimmer can be
Immediately report to the credit bureaus and your you respond, a malware virus will be installed on your device installed on your smart phone. Thieves will go into a crowd
information, they can drain your bank account, run
account issuers any unidentified or fraudulent activity. to search for your private information and transmit it back to and put these skimmers close to a back pocket or purse
up charges on your credit cards, open new utility the sender. that may contain a wallet full of credit cards. The thief can
accounts, or get medical treatment on your health download the skimmer and go shopping. Consider buying
Depending on what information was lost or stolen, you
insurance. An identity thief might even file a tax SKIMMING occurs when a thief has installed a magnetic swipe a security wallet that has blocking material in the liner
may also want to take additional steps. For example, if reader into a credit card scanner usually on a ATM machine or
return in your name and get your refund. In some which will black the transmission of your information. This
your computer, cell phone or something else containing a gas pump at a service station. This skimmer will read and wallet will set off x-ray scanners at the airport!!
extreme cases, a thief might even give your name to store the information from your credit card while also
your passwords or pins was lost or stolen, you should
the police during an arrest. recording passwords and numeric codes you may enter to
immediately change them.
validate the use of the card. These are very difficult to identify!