The document discusses the growing problem of identity theft in the United States. It defines identity theft and outlines some key statistics, such as over 340 million Americans having their identities stolen since 2005. It also discusses the different types of identity theft, including how thieves can steal identities to gain employment, file taxes, obtain loans and credit cards, or even be arrested for someone else's crimes. Lastly, it provides tips on how to deter, detect, and defend against identity theft by monitoring accounts and reports for fraudulent activity.

1. IDENTITY THEFT “ The fastest growing white-collar crime in America” According to the FBI

2. Identity Theft Privacy & Security Training Randall Chesnutt , CITRMS Avoid ID Theft USA Houston, Texas The Institute of Fraud Risk Management is the nation’s only professional certification program ( CITRMS ) specifically developed to train and equip professionals to understand and address Identity Theft and related fraud issues. This is the same organization that trains F.B.I

3. WHAT IS IDENTITY THEFT? It occurs when someone steals your personal information – e.g., credit card or Social Security number – and uses it fraudulently It can cost you time and money It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name

4. Identity Theft is in the News

5. Over 340 million American’s Identities have been reported lost or stolen since Jan. 2005 . – PrivacyRights.org The revenue from trafficking financial data has surpassed that of drug trafficking . – Secret Service March 2007 Identity Theft is Spiraling out of Control !

7. Indifference – Lack of Feeling Ignorance – Lack of Knowledge Inability – Lack of Training or Education Inaction – Lack of Respect FOUR AREAS OF NEGLECT

8. Drivers License Medical Financial What someone is subject to as a victim of Identity Theft, is only limited to the imagination of the person who has their information. Social Security Five Types of Identity Theft It’s not just about Credit Cards, it’s a Legal Issue ! Less than 28% Criminal

9. Driver’s License Identity Theft Your driving privileges could be suspended or revoked. You could be arrested during a routine traffic stop for crimes you did not commit. Thieves can open bank accounts , apply for credit cards and cash checks in your name . Our Driver’s License has become an unofficial National Identification Card !

10. In November 2004 David Joe Hernandez served four years in the Air Force. So it came as a shock when he returned home and found … Arrest warrant in Arizona for driving on a revoked license Responsible for 20 delinquent accounts for cell phone bills, credit cards, utility bill and hospital bills Linked to a string of felonies, including auto theft and drug charges State regulators began garnishing 60% of his wages to pay child support to a woman in Chicago he'd never heard of. Hernandez spent a year and a half trying to clear up the mess But things got worse. Driver’s License Identity Theft

11. Illegal Immigrants use your Social Security Number to gain employment or report income under your name. They take the income leaving you with the tax bill. They can file false income tax returns or even file for social security benefits using your number. Thieves and Criminals can use your SSN to apply for credit , obtain a Driver’s License and much more … 10 million Social Security Numbers are bought and sold every six weeks in the U.S. Social Security Identity Theft

12. Why you are at Risk

13. CHILDREN ARE A BETTER TARGET FOR IDENTITY THEFT THAN YOU. Children have a clean credit history and parents rarely have reasons to check their child’s credit report. This crime can go undetected for up to 15 years. Why your Children are at Risk ?

14. You could owe thousands of dollars for a procedure you never had. You could become uninsurable and be denied employment because of conditions that you do not have (AIDS, Diabetes etc…) There are over 52,000,000 people in the U.S. without Health Insurance . (US Census Bureau 2007) Stolen Health Insurance Card are being sold on the black market for $500-$600 each ! (AARP) Medical Identity Theft

15. Why you are at Risk

16. You could be arrested for crimes you didn’t commit. You could be denied employment because of fraudulent criminal records found during routine background checks. Security checkpoints at airports could become a nightmare for you. Thieves mask their criminal activity behind your identity Criminal Identity Theft occurs when an imposter gives another person’s name and personal information such as a driver’s license, date of birth or social security number to a law enforcement officer during an investigation or upon arrest. Criminal Identity Theft

17. Why you are at Risk

18. Victims of Financial Identity Theft are people who have had bank accounts wiped out, credit histories ruined and jobs and valuable possessions taken away . Thieves use your social security number to open new accounts and can change the billing address leaving you with the debt. Financial Institutions advertise zero liability for fraudulent activity on accounts if notified within 48 hours. What happens after 48 hours ? You could be responsible for debts you didn’t create ! Financial Identity Theft

19. Federal Trade Commission free report: 877.IDTHEFT consumer.gov/idtheft Financial Identity Theft Financial Identity Theft

20. Pg. 19 To Take Advantage of this Law You Must “ send your letter so that it reaches the creditor within 60 days. If an identity thief changes the address on your account and you didn’t receive the bill, your dispute letter still must reach the creditor within 60 days of when the creditor would have mailed the bill.” Credit Monitoring is the best way to alert an individual of possible Financial ID Theft. Financial Identity Theft Financial Identity Theft Financial Identity Theft

21. February 2004 ID Theft Victims Face Tough Bank Fights In 2003 , The Korinke family was sued by Homecoming Financial Network INC. , a division of GMAC, for $75,000, plus attorney fees. In 2001, an imposter got hold of a line of credit, switched the address , and the Korinkes never received the outstanding bills. Homecomings … claimed the Korinkes had been negligent. “The Korinkes were slow to discover and report the identity theft … as such, Korinke is liable for any and all sums attributed to his negligence.” Korinke’s attorney said “victims who don’t have the means to find a good lawyer, may be losing out in battles with financial institutions.” Financial Identity Theft

22. • FTC – 3% • Other Federal Agency – 5% • State Dept of Motor Vehicle Admin – 7% • State AG or State Consumer Agency – 8% • Lawyer – 12% • Credit Bureau – 22% • Local Police – 26% • Credit Grantor – 43% • Did Not Contact Anyone – 38% WHERE DO VICTIM GO FOR HELP

23. $500 : Credit Card Number with Pin $150 : Driver’s License $150 : Birth Certificate $100 : Social Security Card $25 : Credit Card Number With Security Code And Expiration Date $7 : Pay-Pal Account Log-On And Password USA Today, October 12, 2006 Criminals covet your identity Data and have perfected more ways to manipulate your identity than you can imagine. How Profitable is Identity Theft ?

24. The average dollar amount charged in Identity Theft: $92,893 Average number of checks written 74.6 The average number of credit card applications approved through Identity Theft: 8.4 - Sept 2003, Identity Theft Resource Center interviewed 2,000 victims The Cost to Individuals Identity Thieves don’t discriminate! A professional thief can assume your identity in just a few hours, but it can take years for you to repair the damage and restore your good name! Over 70% of the time you’ll need an attorney to resolve these issues.

25. 57% of victims had NEW ACCOUNTS opened in their name 62% had warrants issued for their arrest 82% found out through an adverse action Out of pocket cost to the average victim $1,865.27 Victims spent an average of 157.87 hours trying to clean up the mess.. 63% could not get their credit reports cleared 22% have their SSN tied to someone else’s 19% had their fraud alerts ignored *(Identity Theft Resource Center 2007) Latest Facts About this Crime

26. Pictures taken with cell phone camera after waiting several minutes for someone to respond. Identity Theft in the Workplace

27. Access to the computer, mail and other documents possible.

28. WHAT CAN YOU DO? DETER Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information DETECT Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements DEFEND Defend against identity theft as soon as you suspect a problem

29. DETER identity thieves by safeguarding your information . Shred financial documents before discarding them Protect your Social Security number Don’t give out personal information unless you’re sure who you’re dealing with Don’t use obvious passwords Keep your information secure

30. DETECT suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements. Be alert Mail or bills that don’t arrive Denials of credit for no reason Inspect your credit report Law entitles you to one free report a year from each nationwide credit reporting agencies if you ask for it Online: www.AnnualCreditReport.com ; by phone: 1-877-322-8228; or by mail: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. WE RECOMMEND WWW.MYCREDITKEEPER.COM Inspect your financial statements Look for charges you didn’t make

31. DEFEND against identity theft as soon as you suspect a problem. Place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports by calling any one of the three nationwide credit reporting companies: Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 Experian: 1-888-397-3742 TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 Review reports carefully, looking for fraudulent activity Close accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently File a police report Contact the Federal Trade Commission

33. QUESTIONS! Joe Orsak Randall Chesnutt Ron Hargrove