division of family & consumer sciences strengthening families, farms, communities & the...
TRANSCRIPT
Division of Family & Consumer Sciences
Strengthening Families, Farms, Communities & the Economy
The Organization of Professional Employees of the USDA www.OPEDA.org
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Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
While identity theft can happen to anyone, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk. This program is being offered to help you be a protected USDA employee and a responsible consumer.
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Identity Theft Overview
• What is identity theft?
• How does it occur?
• How to protect personal information
• What steps to take if your identity is stolen
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What is Identity Theft?• ID theft occurs when someone
wrongfully uses your personal information in an illegal manner to obtain cash, credit, loans, services, rentals, mortgages, employment or to commit a crime in your name.
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A Growing Crime
• Identity Theft was the #1 category in the Federal Trade Commission, “Consumer Sentinel Network” for calendar year 2014.
Source: https://www.ftc.gov/reports/consumer-sentinel-network-data-book-january-december-2014
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How Identity Theft Occurs
• Identity thieves….– Steal a purse or wallet– Randomly use SSN’s– Find personal information in homes– Complete false change of address forms– Obtain personal information from worksites
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How Identity Theft Occurs
• Identity thieves can…– Take your trash– Fraudulently obtaining your credit report– “Skim” your credit or debit cards– Shoulder surf– Steal your mail
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presentation
How Identity Theft Occurs• Identity thieves can…
– Steal your personal information through e-mail or phone by claiming to be a legitimate company and stating that there is a problem with your account
• “Phishing” if done online• “Pretexting” by phone
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Phishing
• Forward spam that is phishing for information to:– [email protected]
• Federal Trade Commission
– https://www.us-cert.gov/report-phishing• Department of Homeland Security
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How Identity Theft Occurs
• Often by people you know– Family, neighbors, co-workers
• Are ½ of all known ID thieves
• Usually done offline– 2/3 of cases are offline
• Theft of wallet or trash• Credit card or other account
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How does the thief work?• An ID thief uses your information to:
– Obtain new credit cards– Forge checks or debit cards and drain
accounts– Open new bank accounts– Receive utilities – File a bankruptcy case– Commit crimes
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What is at risk?• An Identity Thief can use your:
– Social Security number– Driver’s license number– Credit/Debit card number– Telephone number– Or other account numbers
without your permission
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What is at risk?• Identity Theft can damage your credit
rating and you could be:– Denied a job offer– Denied a loan– Denied housing– Denied utilities
• Your wages garnished
• Your driver’s license revoked
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Minimize Your Risk
• Protect your Social Security Number:– Do not use on checks, insurance or other
cards– Memorize your number– Ask why when required to give your
number• How will it be used?• How will it be protected?• Is it necessary?
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Minimize Your Risk
• Safeguard personal information:– Place passwords on your
• Credit/Debit cards
• Bank accounts
• Phone or online accounts
– Have your photo placed on your credit and debit cards
– Use an “active duty” alert if you are deployed military
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Use Passwords• When placing passwords on your
accounts, do not use:– Mother’s maiden name– Your birth date– Last four digits of your SSN– A series of consecutive numbers– Your phone number– Your street address or zip code
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Protect Your Information• Do not provide personal information
over the telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless:– You placed the call, letter or e-mail.– You know the company is reputable and
the request legitimate.– Guard against “phishing.”
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Protect Yourself• If you receive a call claiming you won a
prize:– Do not provide or confirm any personal
information.– Do not provide credit card information. – Ask for the phone number and ID of the caller.– Do not send money.
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Protect Your Computer• Update your virus protection software
– Install updates for your operating system.• Protect against intrusions and infections such
as “pharming.”
– Do not open files, click on hyperlinks or download programs sent to you by strangers.
• Protect against spyware.
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Protect Your Computer
– Use a firewall program – Check for website security
• Lock icon on browser’s status bar• URLs that begin with https:
– The “s” stands for security
– Do not store financial info on laptops• Use a strong password
– Upper & lower case and numbers
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Protect Yourself
• If donating or discarding a computer, clean it of all personal information.– You must do more than just delete files
• If donating, buy or download a program that “shreds” or “wipes” files
• If discarding, physically remove the hard drive and damage or destroy it
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Guard Your Wallet or Purse
• Do not:– Hang your purse over the back of a chair
or put it in a shopping cart.– Carry more credit cards than you need.– Carry your passport, visa, or original birth
certificate.– Carry your passwords or PINS.– Carry your SSN or card.
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Protect Yourself• If your purse/wallet is
stolen and keys taken:– Change the locks on your
• Home• Vehicles
• Do not give a thief the opportunity for more access to your personal information.
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Protect Yourself• Do not post personal information on the
Internet.• Review your credit and bank statements
each month, report fraudulent activity immediately.
• Shred documents with any personal information.
• Be careful with key cards.
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Protect Yourself• If you have applied for a new credit
card, watch the mail and calendar.– If it does not arrive within a few weeks, call
the credit card company.• To opt-out of receiving pre-approved
credit card offers:– Call 1-888-5-opt-out
• 1-888-567-8688
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Protect Your Mail
• Use a locking mailbox or post office box for incoming mail.
• Do not leave mail lying around.• Do not allow mail to pile up.• Use the U.S. Post Office or postal
mailbox for outgoing mail.• Have new checks delivered to your bank.
visit www.OPEDA.org to download the complete presentation
Protect Yourself• Be careful with personal information at
home or when traveling:– Use a telephone where your conversations
cannot be overheard.– Make sure no one is looking over your
shoulder at ATMs or pay phones.
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Protect Your Credit Cards• Shield your credit cards from view.• Sign new cards when they arrive.• Total receipts, do not leave empty
spaces where additional amounts can be added.
• Keep receipt copies to compare with your monthly statements.– Do not leave in shopping bags.
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Protect Your Credit Cards• Watch out for shoulder surfers with
camera cell phones.– They can take a picture of your credit card
which gives them:• Your name• Credit card type• Credit card number • Expiration date
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Protect Your Bank Accounts
• When ordering checks:– Use initials for your first name.– Use your work phone number.– Use a PO Box instead of your home
physical address.
• Do not put full account numbers on the memo line.
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Protect Your Account Numbers
• Cross out your credit card or bank account number on receipts when submitting for reimbursement to:– Charitable or professional organizations– Employers– Tax preparers– Product rebates
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Get a Copy of Your Credit Report
• To obtain a free copy of your credit report:
Order online: www.annualcreditreport.com
Call toll-free: 877-322-8228
Mail the Annual Credit Report form printed from www.ftc.gov/credit to: Annual Credit Report Request Service PO Box 105281 Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
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Check Your Credit Reports• To correct any errors on your credit
report contact: Equifax – www.equifax.com
1-800-685-1111
Experian – www.experian.com
1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
TransUnion – www.transunion.com
1-800-888-4213
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Secure Documents
• Keep vital information in a secure place
• Have a list of your credit card and bank account numbers
• Photocopy credit cards • Keep copies of credit card and bank statements
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Discovering Identity Theft
• It takes 14 months on average before victims discover the theft.– Fraudsters often divert bills to another
address.
• Victims who bank electronically find out faster.– Paper statements – 114 days– Online – 8 days
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Discovering Identity Theft• FTC Report
– 54% of victims found out by monitoring accounts.
– 26% alerted by companies they did business with.
– 8% found out by being refused credit.
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Discovering Identity Theft• Time = Money
– Credit company or being denied credit• Average loss = $12,021
– Through paper statement review• Average loss = $ 4,543
– By electronic statements• Average loss = $ 551
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If You Are A Victim
• Alert credit card companies and bank immediately!
• File a police report.
• Stop payment on outstanding checks.
• Change passwords or PINS.
• Request new ATM cards.
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If You Are A Victim• Contact all of your creditors:
– Close all affected accounts.– Request that creditors indicate that your
accounts were “closed at the customer’s request.”
– Have creditors contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts.
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If You Are A Victim• Contact the three credit reporting
agencies:– Place a “Fraud Alert” in your file– Add a “victim’s statement” to your file– Complete an ID Theft Affidavit– Request a free copy of
your credit report
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If You Are A Victim
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – www.consumer.gov/idtheft– 1-(877)-ID-THEFT is the FTC’s hotline for
identity theft victims to file complaints and to get information to repair their credit
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If You Are A Victim
• You may also need to contact:– Department of Motor Vehicles
• If the fraud involved your driver’s license
– Internal Revenue Service• If tax fraud in your name
– Passport Office• If the fraud involved your passport
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If You Are A Victim• You may also need to contact:
– Social Security Administration• If the fraud involved your SSN• 1-800-269-0271• www.ssa.gov
– U.S. Postal Inspection Service• If someone stole your mail or changed your
mailing address• 1-202-268-2284 • www.usps.gov
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If You Are A Victim
• You may also need to contact:– U.S. Secret Service
• If credit card fraud was committed (www.ustreas.gov/usss)
– U.S. Trustee’s Office• If a fraudulent bankruptcy case
was filed in your name or withyour Social Security Number
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If You Are A Victim
• Keep a record of your contacts:– Maintain a “paper trail” of all
correspondence regarding the theft• Written• Telephone
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Identity Theft Summary
• What is identity theft?
• How does it occur?
• How to protect personal information
• What steps to take if your identity is stolen
visit www.OPEDA.org to download the complete presentation
Protect Yourself
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Authors
Marilyn C. Bischoff, Family Economics Specialist
Marsha A. Lockard, Extension Educator
Barbara D. Petty, Extension Educator
Contact Information
Susan Shockey, PhD, CFCS, CPFFE
National Program Leader
202-690-2674
Visit www.OPEDA.org to download the complete presentation