Ways to Prevent Identity Theft

From A to Z: Your Identity Theft Resource

Ways to prevent identity theft is a common concern.

That's why understanding the ways to prevent identity theft has growing importance.

What are the Key Questions on Our Mind?


What is identity theft?

Simply stated, identity theft (ID theft) happens when a person steals your personally identifying information, e.g. your name, Social Security Number and financial info like credit card numbers, to commit fraud or other crimes.

ID theft is serious business.

It may take hundreds of dollars and certainly a lot of time from your life to repair the damage done to you. That's why knowing the ways to prevent identity theft, now and in the future, are so very important.

How is Your ID Stolen?

Let's count the ways:

1. Garbage:

   It's not just going through your trash or recycle bin to get your "stuff." But, after it leaves the curb in front of your home, you can't control what happens to it after that or who is in a position to rummage through it.

   Always tear-up into small pieces or shred personal information prior to throwing it away. This is one of the "best" ways to prevent identity theft.

2. Skimming:

   When your credit card is out of sight, say at a restaurant, someone could swipe your card on their special electronic storage devise when processing your card for payment of your bill.

   (That's why credit card companies caution you about letting your credit card out of your site.)These electronic devises may be purchased over the Internet.

3. Phising:

   (pronounced "fishing") Occurs when people pretend to be a legitimate company or financial institution and use Internet scams to get you to reveal personal information.

4. Change Your Address: In addition to using your credit card or other financial info to their advantage, they may even divert your billing statement to another location by notifying the credit card company of your change of address.

   It may be just a month or two before you notice you're not receiving your statement...but the damage is done.

5. Just Old-Fashioned Stealing:

   Evil-doers steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit card offers; new check shipments or, even tax statements.

   Of course, they may also bribe employees of companies who have access to parts of your personal identity info.

   If your wallet or purse is stolen, please notify the police ASAP.

   They may know what individuals or gangs are operating in this area or with your description of the incident they may affect an arrest sooner.

   This is an excellent rule to follow as ways to prevent identity theft.

6. Pretexting:

   They may call your financial institutions using false pretenses to get your personal information.

What is done with my Stolen ID?After you read this "ways to prevent identity theft" will take on a whole new meaning.

After stealing your personal information, thieves can use it in a variety of ways:

• Open new credit card accounts in your name. When they don't pay the bills, your credit report is negatively affected.
• Start a new wireless phone account, or get utility services like electricity, heating or cable TV for their apartment and then not pay the bills.
• Take out a new loan in your name or open a new checking account at a bank different than the one you use and then write bad checks.
• Obtain a drivers license in your name but with their picture, or use your name and Social Security information to get government benefits, or even file a fraudulent tax return using your data.
• Purchase a car in your name, use a bad check to pay for it, or even give your information to the police during an arrest and then not show up in court resulting in an arrest warrant in your name.

How do I find out if my ID has been stolen?

Unfortunately, most consumers learn their ID has been stolen after the damage has been done.

Many people really don't check their credit card statements closely, so it may be a month or two before they notice something is wrong.

Or, out of the blue, you may find out when a "collection agency" contacts you concerning your past due accounts.

Remember, checking your credit card and bank statements monthly are sure ways to prevent identity theft.

Sometimes you only find out damage has been done to you when you apply for a car loan, refinance your home or apply for a mortgage.

Strange as it may sound, you may find out when you receive something in the mail about an apartment you never rented, a home you never bought or,even, a job you never held.

What should I do if I am a victim of ID theft?


If you become a victim of ID theft, take these five steps ASAP!

1. Visit your local police/sheriff office to file and sign a report. (Get a copy of it.) This starts your legal rights as of the hour and date of filing.
2. Place a "fraud alert" with the three credit reporting companies.

   This can help prevent any more accounts from being opened in your name but can not protect you from an ID thief using your existing credit cards or other accounts.

   Call these credit reporting companies then follow-up by snail mail.

   Please keep copies of everything and make notes about your phone calls, e.g., date, time, name of person you talked to and a summary of what was said.

   (a) TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790.

   (b) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; Fraud Dept., P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241.

   (c) Experian: 1-800-397-3742; Fraud Dept., P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013.

   You're entitled by law to order one free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting companies, once you have filed your fraud alert.

   Please do not underestimate the advantage you have in reviewing your credit reports as one of the "best" ways to prevent identity theft. Review them carefully.

3. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

   Dispute the fraudulent charges on your credit cards.

   Please follow-up with a snail mail letter and copies of supporting documents identifying where/when the fraud took place.

   Once you have resolved your ID theft dispute with a credit card company, ask for a letter stating that the company has closed the disputed account and discharged the fraudulent debts.

   A copy of this letter may then be sent to the credit reporting companies as "proof" of fraudulent charges to your account to insure any damage to your credit will be removed.

4. File a complain with the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov) or by calling them at 877-438-4338.

   Or, write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.

   When filing your complain with the FTC, you provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and prosecute them.

5. Lastly, please notify your states Attorney Generals office and file a complaint with them. This allows them to bring their fraud expertise into play and is another member of your team to go after the crooks.

How do I obtain my free Annual Credit Reports?

Early detection of a potential ID theft can make a huge difference. Also, the FTC and law enforcement officials state that "Obtaining and reviewing your free annual credit reports is #1 in the ways to prevent identity theft!"

To get your free reports please do not call the credit reporting companies.

To order your annual free credit report visit the

Federal Trade Commission

If you want to purchase your credit reports more often, just call each credit reporting company directly and they will send you your report.

They each charge $9.50 for this service.

In general, please remember the Internet has made it easier for an identity thief to use the information they stole because transactions can be made without any personal interaction.

This is both the blessing and the curse of Internet use and makes it more and more difficult to find ways to prevent identity theft.

Here is another resource called the

Privacy Rights Clearninghouse.


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