What You Should Know About Identity Theft
What is Identity Theft? 
You become a victim of identity Theft when someone steals key pieces of information about you. This might include your name, address, date of birth, social security number or even your mother's maiden name. Theft of these items enables someone to commit any number of acts of fraud, including taking over your financial accounts, opening new accounts, applying for credit cards and loans, social security benefits and use of rental services. The goal of identity thieves is to spend as much money as possible before you realize you have been victimized.
How Do Criminals Get Your Personal Information?
Stealing Your purse or wallet . Pilfering information from your mailbox . Obtaining a copy of your credit report . Sorting through your garbage . Off the internet . Watching your transactions at ATM machines and obtaining your PIN
How to Protect Yourself
- Never leave your purse or wallet unattended
- Obtain a mailbox that locks. Remove delivered mail promptly. Deposit any outgoing mail at your local post office
- Never give out personal information over the telephone
- Shred pre-approved credit applications, credit card bills and receipts.
- Don't carry extra credit cards in your purse or wallet when shopping. Sign new cards immediately. Save all credit card receipts to match against monthly statements. Shred them when you no longer need them.
- Never leave receipts at ATMs, bank counters, trash receptacles or at gas pumps.
- Request a copy of your credit history on an annual basis and review it for any unauthorized activity.
Information to Safeguard
Social Security Numbers, Birth Date, Driver's License Number, Credit Card Account Numbers, Your Mother's Maiden Name, PIN numbers and Access Codes, Passports, Employee Identification Cards, Firearm Owners Identification Cards.
What do you do if you are a Victim?
- Report the incident to the police. Insist on a report number
- Report all lost or stolen credit cards and checks to the appropriate bank immediately
- Contact the Federal Trade Commission at 877-438-4338 and log a complaint
- Contact the Social Security Administration's Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271
Report Identity Theft or Request a Credit History from:
- Equifax Credit Bureau Fraud Department: 800-525-6285
- TransUnion Credit Bureau Fraud Department: 800-680-7289
- Experian Information Solutions: 800-397-3742
Get a free copy of your credit report annually at www.annualcreditreport.com