Whos in YOUR Wallet

1
Whos in YOUR Wallet?

• Identity Theft
• Make the right moves to protect yourself

2
What Will We Talk About?

• What is Identity Theft?
• Methods Thieves Use To Steal Your Identity
• Precautions You Can Take
• What To Do If Youre A Victim

3
What Is Identity Theft?

• Catch all term for crimes involving illegal usage
  of another's identity.
• Class B felony in WA State. (10 years, 20,000)
• Most incidents involve financial fraud.

4
Is It A Problem?

• 1 in 28 were a victim in 2007
• WA ranks 13th in nation. Down from 9th and 7th

5
Identity Theft How It Happens

• Dumpster Diving
• Sifting through residential or commercial
  garbage.

6
Identity Theft How It Happens

• Pretexting
• Asking for or gathering your personal information
  under false pre-tenses.

7
Identity Theft How It Happens

• Skimming
• Scheme used to capture your personal information.
  Credit card number, drivers license, address,
  etc.
• Many high tech devices available for purchase on
  the Internet.
• Lets see how an ATM skimmer works.

8
Identity Theft How It Happens
9
Identity Theft How It Happens
10
Identity Theft How It Happens
11
Other Methods Used By Thieves

• Check Fraud
• Mail Fraud, Redirection
• Computer Spyware
• Data Theft
• Wireless Hacking
• Pharming
• Phishing

12
The Newest Scams

• Fake Web sites for campaign contributions
• Job recruiters asking for SSN
• Hotel internet hookups bugged to log keystrokes
• Fake IRS emails asking for SSN
• Smishing

13
Precautions You Can Take

• Leave your Social Security card at home
• Shield ATM keypads when entering passwords
• Be careful when handing over your credit or debit
  card

14
More Precautions

• Never throw away receipts or other documents with
  your information on it in public trash bins
• Buy a shredder and use it
• Install a locked mailbox at your residence. Or
  use a post office box

15
More Precautions

• Never give out personal information to an
  unsolicited email, caller, or Web site.
• Check your credit report frequently (3 times a
  year). www.annualcreditreport.com
• Check bills, banks, and credit card statements
  frequently. Be wary of statements that dont show
  up on time.

16
More Precautions

• Opt out of pre-screened credit offers.
• 888-5OPT-OUT or www.optoutprescreen.com
• Register with the do not call registry.
  www.donotcall.gov

17
What To Do If Youre A Victim

• Contact your Financial Institution. Close the
  account.
• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports. You
  only need to contact 1 of the 3 companies.
• Equifax 1-800-525-6285
• Experian 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
• TransUnion 1-800-680-7289
• File a police report.
• Possibly, request a security freeze.
• File a complaint with the FTC or Washington AGs
  Office. www.ftc.gov/idtheft

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What To Do If Youre A Victim

• Stolen Checks
• Close account.
• Notify financial institution and ask them to
  notify their check verification service.
• Mail Theft
• Contact US Postal Inspection Servicewww.postalins
  pectors.uspis.gov
• Phone Fraud
• Contact the Washington Utilities and
  Transportation Commission.
• Cellular fraud? Contact the FCC.

19
Resources

• FTC
• www.ftc.gov/idtheft/
• On Guard Online
• www.onguardonline.gov
• Privacy Rights
• www.privacyrights.org/identity.htm
• DFIs Web site
• www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/campaigns.htm

20
Questions?
Jeremy Lushene - Web master Communications
Consultant - 360.902.0506 / jlushene_at_dfi.wa.gov