Scary Things You Should Know About Your Privacy and Identity Theft

Presented by Diana Midge

Coors Credit Union

Common Scams:How to Spot and Stop Them

• Advance Fee Scams

• You’re a Winner! – Lottery scams

• Internet selling scams – checks for more

• Money-making Schemes

• Bogus Charity

Almost all scams are sprinkled with Identity Theft

Phishing

• A bogus email asking you to verify personal information

• False web links are often built into an email

• Mimic a legitimate and reputable company

• Requires a quick response with a persuasive premise

New Phishing Scam!!

•Victim receives “Urgent” phone call from financial institution

•Asked to call immediately to clear up a problem

•Capitalizes on your panic about yourmoney and account

•Asks you to verify personal information

Pharming

Hackers redirect Internet traffic

from one website to another

identical looking site with Static

Domain Spoofing by slightly

changing the name.Examples:

www.mybank.com to www.mybanks.com

www.ncua.gov to www.ncua.com

How Your Personal Information is Obtained

Dumpster Diving

Thieves search trash bins for

unshredded credit card and loan

applications containing SSN’s, bank

and/or credit card statements with

account numbers.

Internet Sources

Thieves find information via public records sites and fee-based information broker sites, accessing your credit report fraudulently.

Example: posing as your

employer, landlord or a

loan officer.

How Your Personal Information is Obtained

Mail Theft

Thieves steal newly issued credit cards, check orders, statements, tax or benefit information from unlocked mail.

They also look for credit card checks that may be included monthly in statements.

How Your Personal Information is Obtained

What Happens to Your Information?

Imposters use your personal information to:

• Open new bank and credit accounts in your name

• Max out these accounts and not make payments

• Sell your information to a third party

• Give your information to law enforcement during arrest – criminal ID Theft

• Give your information to receive medical care or services – medical ID Theft

Protect Yourself

NEVER

• Give personal information over the phone

• Leave mail in unsecured receptacles

• Print SSN’s and/or Drivers License number on personalized check

• Send personal information via email

• Throw away credit card solicitations or bank statements without shredding

ALWAYS

•Use a secured mail receptacle, post office or electronic Bill Payment service

•Opt out for credit solicitations

•Shred solicitations receipts and other documents with personal information before throwing away

•Use only secured sites when shopping on-line

•Review your credit report once a year

Protect Yourself

What to Do if You Are a Victim

• Contact any credit card companies or financial institutions that may have been compromised

• File a police report

• Fill out an Affidavit of Forgery

• Place a fraud alert on credit report with all 3 credit bureaus

• Notify the DMV and/or SS administration if your license and/or SS card are stolen

Identity Theft Contact Numbers

•Federal Trade CommissionFraud Hotline: 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338)

www.consumer.gov/idtheft

•Social Security AdministrationFraud Hotline: 1-800-269-0271

www.ssa.gov

•Free Annual Credit Reportwww.annualcreditreport.com

Credit Bureaus

•ExperianCredit Report and Fraud Hotline

1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397- 3742)

www.experian.com

•EquifaxCredit Report 1-800-685-1111

Fraud Hotline 1-800-525-6285

www.equifax.com

•TransUnionCredit Report 1-800-888-4213

Fraud Hotline 1-800-680-7289

www.transunion.com

Opt Out Numbers

•Pre-approved credit card offersCall: 1-800-5-optout (1-800-567-8688)

www.optoutprescreen.com

•TelemarketingCall: 1-888-382-1222

www.donotcall.gov

•Direct Mailwww.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html

•Emailwww.dmaconsumer.org/offmaillist.html