Who Is This?!

By Bailey Hoover

Foreword

Deter

Detect

Defend

Deter, Detect, Defend Brochure

ID Theft: What It’s All About

Deter

• Safeguard Information-– Shred personal finance

documents/paperwork– Protect your social security number– Don’t give out personal info over:

• Phone• Mail • Internet

Deter- (cont.)

– Never click on unsolicited email links– Don’t use obvious passwords– Keep personal info secure at home

Detect

• Be alert to:– Bills not arriving as expected– Unexpected credit card/bank statements– Denials of credit, unexpectedly– Calls about unknown purchases

Detect- (cont.)

• Inspect:– Your credit reports

• Equifax, Experian, & TransUnion: give free reports

– Financial statements• Review regularly

Defend

• Place a ‘Fraud Alert’, if necessary• Review reports carefully

– Equifax- 1-800-525-6285– Experian- 1-888-397-3742– TransUnion- 1800-680-7289

Defend- (cont.)

• Closing accounts– Call fraud departments– Use the ID Theft Affiant

• Ftc.gov/idtheft

– Ash verification of closure of account– Keep copies of documents/record– File police report– Report to Federal Trade Commission

Worst of Both Worlds

• Identity Theft in the Real World

• Identity Theft in the Virtual World

Details of Theft in Real World

• What the Thief Wants• Where They Find It• How They Use Them• How to Stop It

Details of Theft in Virtual World

• What Thieves Want• Where Thieves Find Identities• How to Defend Yourself

What the Thief Wants

• Social Security cards• Driver’s licenses• Account numbers• PIN’s• Passwords

Where They Find It

• Wallets or purses• Mailboxes• Glove compartments• Trashcans• You, yourself

How They Use Them

• Purchasing major items• Open credit card accounts• Change mailing addresses• Buy cars, take out auto loans• Establish telephone services

How They Use Them (cont.)

• Open bank accounts, using bad checks

• File for bankruptcy• Apply for jobs under your name• Give names to cops for an arrest

How to Stop It

• Purse/Wallets-– Don’t carry Social Security cards around

• Credit/Debit Cards-– Don’t carry more credit cards than

necessary– Cancel cards not in use– Don’t write your PIN down

• (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion)

How to Stop It (cont.)

– Write ‘check photo id’ in signature block– Check bills & bank statements carefully

• Your Mailbox-– Take outgoing mail to post offices– Pick up incoming mail ASAP

• Your Glove Compartment– Remove personal identifying documents

How to Stop It (cont.)

• Your Trash- – Purchase a home paper shredder– Shred any documents containing

personal information

• You, yourself– DON’T give out personal information– Secure important documents with info– Ordering new checks, send to the bank

What Thieves Want

• They want to create new identities• They use your information to do so

Where Thieves Find Identities

• Bank account information• Electronic tax returns• PDA data• Insurance information• Spreadsheets/Word documents

How to Defend Yourself

• Use Unique passwords• Use passwords whenever possible• Change passwords regularly• Never set to ‘Remember My

Password’• Don’t write passwords down• Use anti-virus software

How to Defend Yourself (cont.)

• Keep your O.S. updated• Install a firewall• Be careful with Wi-Fi• Beware of phishing• Make sure website is secure

End of the Line

• Now you realize identity theft• Thieves stop at nothing to steal• Use these tips to stay safe

Works Cited

Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission. ‘Deter, Detect, Defend, Avoid ID Theft.’ www.ftc.gov

Better Business Bureau, Inc. ‘Protecting Your Identity In the Virtual World.’ September 2008.