Lyle Hansen M.S., AFC

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GUARD AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT /FRAUD

• Lyle Hansen M.S., AFC
• Jerome County Extension Office
• Luke Erickson M.S., AFC
• Madison County Extension Office

Adapted from Guard Against Identity Theft By
Marsha Lockard Owyhee County Extension Office
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Identity Theft Happens . . .

• When someone STEALS your
• Name
• Social Security Number
• Drivers License Number
• Credit Card Number
• E-mail Address
• Other personal information
• Then uses it to commit fraud or theft.

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Identity Theft Happens
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An Alarming Crime

• Identity Theft/Fraud is top consumer complaint in
  the U.S.
• Over 1.3 million complaints in 2010
• 6.1 million complaints since 1997
• Over 1.7 billion in total losses in 2010.
• Median amount paid 594

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An Alarming Crime
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Herman Munster?
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Idaho Statistics - 2010

• 5,403 Total Complaints
• 729 ID Theft Victims
• Location
• Boise area 1907 Fraud and 331 ID Theft Victims
• Idaho Falls 372 Fraud and 57 ID Theft Victims
• Coeur d Alene 534 Fraud and 84 ID Theft
  Victims

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How Do Thieves Do It? (What do you think?)

• Complete false change of address forms.
• Steal your purse or wallet.
• Obtain personal information at work.
• Find personal information in your home.

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How Do Thieves Do It? (Are there any you are not
familiar with?)

• Dumpster diving
• Steal your mail
• Pretexting
• Phishing
• Fraudulently obtain credit reports
• Friends and relatives

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How Do Thieves Do It?

• Recent schemes
• Hotel Scams

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The Identity Thief May . . .

• Go on spending sprees using your credit debit
  cards to buy big ticket items.
• Open new credit card accounts.
• Change mailing address on your credit card
  accounts.
• Take out loans to purchase a car or even a home
  in your name.

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The Identity Thief May (2) . . .

• Give your name to police during an arrest. If
  they are released and dont show up for court
  date, an arrest warrant could be issued in your
  name.

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Minimize Your Risk

• Protect your Social Security Number
• Do not use on checks, insurance or other cards,
  drivers license.
• Memorize your number and do not carry your card
  with you.
• Ask why when your SS is requested
• How will it be used?
• How will it be protected?
• Is it necessary?

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Minimize Your Risk (2)

• Carry only the credit cards you need.
• Keep a copy of all your important account and
  phone numbers.
• Write them down.
• Take a picture.
• Photocopy.
• Keep copy in a safe secure place.

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Minimize Your Risk (3)

• Obtain free credit report yearly.
• www.annualcreditreport.com
• One free credit report is available from each of
  the credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian,
  and TransUnion.
• 1-877-322-8228
• Mail Annual Credit Report Request form to
• Annual Credit Report Request Service
• P. O. Box 105283
• Atlanta, GA 30348-5283

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Minimize Your Risk (4)
POP QUIZ!

• What is the web address to order a free credit
  report?
• Freecreditreport.com
• is not free!

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Minimize Your Risk (5)

• Obtain free credit report yearly.
• www.annualcreditreport.com
• What is the difference between
  www.annualcreditreport.com
• www.annnualcreditreport.com
• The extra n directs me to freecreditreport.com
• Misspellling can cost you money!

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Minimize Your Risk (6)

• Remove your name from pre-approved credit card
  mailing lists. You can do this by going to
  www.optoutprescreen.com or calling
  1-888-5-OPTOUT.

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Minimize Your Risk (7)

• Stop telemarketers from calling your home and
  cell phone numbers. You can do this by going to
  WWW.DONOTCALL.GOV or calling 1-888-382-1222.
• Your phone numbers will be removed for LIFE (No
  Longer Only 5 Years)!

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Minimize Your Risk (8)

• Reduce unwanted mail!
• Register with the Direct Marketing Associations
  Mail Preference Service
• Free if you go to www.dmachoice.org
• 1 processing fee if you request by mail
• DMA choice
• Direct Marketing Association
• P.O. Box 643
• Carmel, NY 10512

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Minimize Your Risk (9)

• FREEZE Your Credit!
• Costs 6 Per Credit Bureau in Idaho
• Costs 6 to Thaw Unfreeze Credit
• One of the most successful tools to prevent
  financial Identity Theft!
• See handout Stop Identity Theft Cold by
  Freezing Your Credit!

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Minimize Your Risk (10)

• Do not provide personal information over the
  phone, through the mail, or over the Internet
  unless
• You placed the call or the letter or email
• And
• You know the company is reputable and the
• request is legitimate.

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Signs of Identity Theft
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Signs of Identity Theft

• See unauthorized changes in financial accounts.
• Fail to receive bills or other mail.
• Receive credit cards you didnt request.

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Signs of Identity Theft (2)

• Receive credit denial.
• Get calls from debt collectors.
• Recognize unusual credit report activity.
• Other Signs?

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If You Are a Victim . . .

• 1. File a police report immediately and get a
  copy!
• - Believe it or not, but the police usually will
  not be able to do anything.
• - So why file a report?

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If You Are a Victim (2). . .

• 2. Contact your creditor.
• Stop payment on checks.
• Request new ATM and credit cards.
• Change passwords or PIN numbers.
• Call your other creditors and notify them of the
  situation.

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If You Are a Victim (3). . .

• 3. Contact the 3 credit reporting agencies
• Add a victims statement to your file.
• Request a free copy of credit report, to check
  for additional affected accounts.
• Place a fraud alert in your files with caution.

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If You Are a Victim (4) . . .

• 4. Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• 1-877-IDTHEFT is FTCs hotline for ID Theft
  victims to file complaints get information to
  repair credit.
• www.consumer.gov/idtheft

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idahostwocenttips.com

• Sign-up to receive these financial tips by email!
• erickson_at_uidaho.edu

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Sign up for Free Scam Alerts

• www.consumerprotection.mt.gov

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Evaluation
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Questions
Luke Erickson M.S., AFC University of Idaho
Extension Educator, Personal Finance Madison
County Extension Office [phone]
erickson_at_uidaho.edu