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Identity Theft Prevention and Cure
September 2002
ID theft is the fastest-growing white-collar crime today, with more than 750,000 cases occurring in the U.S. each year (NY State Governor's Office statistic, fall 2002). You can take steps to help ensure that it doesn't happen to you -- but if it does, you can take steps to mitigate the damage and protect your credit rating.
Here is some helpful advice on Identity Theft Prevention and Cure, including important phone numbers you need to have on hand in case it ever happens to you.
PREVENTION:
1. DO NOT CARRY your Social Security Card in your wallet or anywhere else.
2. DO NOT CARRY a health insurance card if it displays your Social Security number as your member number.
3. DO NOT PROVIDE a photo ID that contains any sensitive information, such as your driver's license, if a retailer asks you for a photo ID when making a credit card purchase -- as many are beginning to do in order to avoid chargebacks on disputed purchases. Instead, offer a gym membership card if it has your photo, or some other photo ID that does not contain sensitive information.
4. DO SHRED all direct-mail offerings for pre-approved credit cards, loans, etc. Identity thieves go through garbage looking for these items.
5. DO PHOTOCOPY both sides of each license, credit card, etc., in your wallet. You will know what you had in your wallet if it's stolen and will have a record of all the account numbers and toll-free phone numbers if you ever need to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place but keep it where you can easily find it.
6. DO NOT ENTER your Social Security number, driver's license number, mother's maiden name, birthdate, or any other specific identifying information in any online form that is not on a secure website and/or does not also request a PIN number or password that you yourself have created.
7. DO MAKE SURE that when you complete an online form asking for personal info, the "http" in your browser address field has changed to "https" -- the "s" stands for "secure," meaning that the server you're accessing is now secure and your information is encrypted and -- theoretically anyway -- can't be hacked.
8. If you receive an e-mail request from your Internet Service Provider or any other online account stating that your "account information needs to be updated" or "the credit card you signed up with is invalid or expired and the information needs to be reentered to keep your account active," DO NOT RESPOND without checking first with the ISP or the account. THIS MAY BE A SCAM to steal your CC information.
9. NEVER SEND CREDIT CARD NUMBERS or EXPIRATION DATES, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, or any other personal info IN AN E-MAIL -- e-mail is the least secure of all electronic transmission methods.
10. KNOW YOUR LIABILITY LIMIT ON UNAUTHORIZED CREDIT CARD CHARGES. Federal law limits your liability on unauthorized charges to $50. In some states there is no liability at all.
CURE for the stolen wallet, compromised credit card or Social Security number:
1. CANCEL CREDIT CARDS immediately -- use the photocopies you made to call and cancel all CC accounts.
2. FILE A POLICE REPORT in the jurisdiction where your wallet was stolen. This proves to your credit card providers that you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
3. CALL THE SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUDLINE and the 3 national credit reporting organizations (telephone numbers are below) to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and must contact you by phone to authorize new credit. This will hopefully prevent a thief from applying for credit cards or bank loans in your name, racking up huge debts, and leaving you to pay them.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397- 3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration Fraud Line: 1- 800-269- 0271
Portions of the information in this article are from the U.S. Government's website on Identity Theft. You can find out more about Identity Theft Prevention & Cure at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/.
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