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Keep It Safe

Identity Theft

If your wallet is lost or stolen, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suggests you:

1. File a report with the police as soon as possible.  Keep a copy of the report in case your bank or insurance company needs proof of the crime.
   
2. Cancel your credit cards immediately.  Get new cards with different numbers.
   
3. Report missing cards to the major credit reporting agencies:
   
   

   Equifax:	1-800-685-1111
   TransUnion:	1-800-888-4213
   Experian:	1-800-311-4769

   
   
4. Report the loss to your bank.  You might want to open new checking and savings accounts and stop payment on any lost checks.
   
5. Contact the major check verification companies to request that they notify stores that use their databases not to accept these checks.  You can also ask your bank to notify the check verification service with which it does business.   Three of the check verification companies that accept reports of check fraud directly from consumers are:
   
   

   Telecheck:	1-800-710-9898
   International Check Services:	1-800-631-9656
   Equifax:	1-800-437-5120

   
   
6. Get a new ATM card with a new number and password.                               
   

Even worse than getting your wallet stolen, however, is identity theft, or ID theft.  There have been many cases of ID theft.

With ID theft, thieves take personal information about you, such as your Social Security number, credit card numbers or other information.  They might take it from your wallet, purse, mailbox, trash or any other means.

The thieves might call your credit card companies and pretend to be you.  They might ask to change the mailing address on your credit card account.   Then they use your credit card number to charge goods and services.

They might even open a new credit card account using your name, birth date and Social Security number.  If they use your name and Social Security number, the charges can show up as a delinquent account on your credit report since they will not pay the bill.  The thieves could even open a bank account in your name and write bad checks.

How to reduce the risk of ID Theft:

The following points are recommendations from the Federal Trade Commission to minimize the risk of identity theft:

• Before you reveal any personal information, find out how it will be used and whether it will be shared with others.
  
• Pay attention to your statements.  If your bills don't arrive on time, contact your creditor.  A missing credit card bill might mean that the identity thief has changed your billing address and is using your account.
  
• Guard your mail from thieves.  Pick up your mail from your mailbox as soon as possible.  Place outgoing mail in post office collection boxes.
  
• Do not give out personal information over the phone or through the mail unless you have initiated the contact and know with whom you are dealing.   Thieves may pose as bankers, government officials or others to get you to reveal your Social Security number or bank account number.
  
• Keep items with personal information safe.  When you throw away receipts, credit card applications and old checks or statements, make sure to shred them.
  
• When you make up your Personal Identification Number (PIN) for your credit, ATM or debit card, don't use something a thief might guess, such as a birth date, Social Security number or phone number.
  
• Order a copy of your credit report every year.  Catch mistakes and fraud before they ruin your personal finances.

What to do if you are a victim of ID Theft:

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends the following actions if you believe you are a victim of identity theft.  You can also call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).

Take action immediately!  Keep records of your conversations and all correspondence.

• Contact the fraud department of the three major credit reporting agencies.  Tell them you are an identity theft victim.  Ask them to place a "fraud alert" in your file.  Ask for a copy of the credit report.   They must give you a free copy of your report if it is inaccurate because of fraud.
  
• Contact your creditors about any accounts that have been changed or opened fraudulently.  Ask to speak with someone in the security or fraud department.
  
• File a report with your local police.  Get a copy of the police report so you have proof of the crime.

For more information regarding identity theft, visit the following Web sites:

www.consumer.gov/idtheft (you can also call 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338)

www.fraud.org (you can also call 1-800-876-7060)