Identity Theft occurs when someone takes or uses another person’s personally identifying information such as their name, social security number, driver’s license or financial account information. If you have been the victim of identity theft, it could mean someone has used your name to:
- Make purchases
- Get credit cards
- Rent an apartment
- Obtain utilities without your permission
- Purchase a vehicle
- Get a loan
- Receive medical services
- Re-route your mail or
- Impersonate you during contact with law enforcement.
Identity Theft may also include someone writing checks using your name or financial account information. Your information could be wrongfully obtained if your checkbook is stolen or if someone obtained access to your checking account electronically. Use of an ATM card or credit card that you did not approve is also Identity Theft. In some cases, Identity Theft occurs within families to children, seniors, and domestic violence survivors.
How Might It Impact Me?
Being the victim of an Identity Theft can be a complicated and frustrating time in your life.
Even if you are able to resolve a financial Identity Theft issue with your bank, this use of your name and credit history can result in you getting collection letters for things you did not purchase. It can also result in unfavorable entries on your credit report, causing you problems in getting credit or paying a higher interest rate.
What Can I Do?
- File an Identity Theft Report with the Federal Trade Commission to obtain an Identity Theft Affidavit.
- File a report with your local county or city law enforcement agency. You do not need to know the name of the person who used your identity. You can show the police the information you have such as debt collection letters or other indications that you are the victim of this crime.
- Notify all three credit reporting agencies and every debt collector that has contacted you. The Federal Trade Commission has created letters in this booklet, that consumers can use to notify a debt collector or credit bureau of the theft of your identity. To use the letters, you must first report the crime of identity theft to your local city or county law enforcement agency.
You can also visit the National Identity Theft Victims Assistance Network to learn more.
Consumer Tips
If your information was compromised or you believe your information was compromised in a data breach, take the following steps to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft:
- Immediately contact your bank and/or credit card company and request a new card.
- Review and scrutinize debit and credit card transactions.
- Request a free credit report from the 3 credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to check for any unauthorized accounts and charges. Consumers should continually to monitor credit reports.
- Consider implementing a security freeze.
- Change all of your passwords and security questions and answers for any online accounts.
- Use strong passwords. A password should be at least 8 characters long, unique to each account, and contain upper and lower case letters, symbols, and numbers.
- Be cautious of unsolicited emails, texts or phone calls asking for personal information.
- Do not click links or downloading attachments in unknown or unsolicited emails or texts.
- Sign up for two-step email verification which requires a password and another step to verify your identity.
- Keep your financial information to yourself. Never give out credit card, checking or savings account information to anyone who calls you. Call the company yourself to make sure the inquiry is valid.