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The MONEY INSTRUCTION BOOK a Wealth-Building Course in Personal Finance. PowerPoint Presentation. The MONEY INSTRUCTION BOOK a Wealth-Building Course in Personal Finance. PowerPoint Presentation.

Copyright 2005 by Paul Richard, RFC - All Rights Reserved. PowerPoint Presentation by P. William ZivanchevCopyright 2005 by Paul Richard, RFC - All Rights Reserved. PowerPoint Presentation by P. William Zivanchev

Institute of Consumer Financial

Education

Identity Theft: A Special Identity Theft: A Special ReportReport

What you should know What you should know about identity theftabout identity theft

How you can protect How you can protect yourself yourself

What to do if it happens to What to do if it happens to youyou

QUIZQUIZ

BONUS BONUS SECTIONSECTION

This Special Report on Identity Theft is made available as a public service by This Special Report on Identity Theft is made available as a public service by the nonprofit ICFE. It is intended for educational purposes and no the nonprofit ICFE. It is intended for educational purposes and no endorsement of any product and/or commercial company is intended.endorsement of any product and/or commercial company is intended.




Education

Identity Theft, What Is It…

Identity Theft tops the list of consumer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) according to its annual report, detailing consumer complaints about identity theft, and listing the top 10 fraud complaint categories reported by consumers.

The dollar loss consumers attributed to the fraud they reported grew from $160 million in 2001 to $343 million in 2002.

Pamphlet Free from the Pamphlet Free from the FTCFTC




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Identity Theft Understand it…

How the bad guys are getting good data in early 2005.

Phishing 2.4%

Dumpster Diving 2.8%

Spyware 6.4%

Mail theft 7.8%

Friends/Relatives 9.6%

Clerk/Sales People 10.6%

Skimming 11.9%

Lost/stolen cards 28.% Source: Javelin Strategy & Research Pleasanton, CA 2005 Identity Fraud Survey Report




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Identity Theft Understand it…

It helps to understand prevention It helps to understand prevention better by understanding how Identity better by understanding how Identity theft is committed.theft is committed. It is simply done It is simply done by co-opting a name,by co-opting a name, Social Security number, Social Security number, credit card number,credit card number, or some other piece of personal or some other piece of personal

information of another individual for the information of another individual for the thief’s own use.thief’s own use.




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Identity Theft, What for…

Once Identity thieves fake an identity, they:Once Identity thieves fake an identity, they: Open new credit card accounts. Open new credit card accounts. Change mailing addresses to existing accounts.Change mailing addresses to existing accounts. Establish utility services in your name; e.g. Cellular Establish utility services in your name; e.g. Cellular

phones, cable, gas and electric etc…phones, cable, gas and electric etc… Open bank accounts and write bad check against Open bank accounts and write bad check against

that account in your name.that account in your name. File bankruptcy to avoid debts, evictions and File bankruptcy to avoid debts, evictions and

foreclosures.foreclosures.




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Identity Theft, What Happens…

When Identity Theft happens, the victims will suffer from ruined credit.

Frequently, the way some people learn their identity has been stolen is from their credit reports, when they see new accounts listed they did not open.

Identity Theft may affect some or all of the following: IRS, DMV, Passport, SSA. USPS, credit/debit cards, bank accounts, insurance, utilities, the Internet and bankruptcy.




Education

Identity Theft, What to do… File a written police report. Notify all creditors by phone and follow-up with a certified

letters. Close all credit card accounts “closed at the consumer’s

request”. Stop payment on any fraudulent checks. Get a new ATM card and PINs. Contact the three major credit reporting agencies. Report fraudulent use of SS number to National Fraud

Hotline. Notify the utilities, and service providers. Notify the US Postal Service. Notify the Department of Motor Vehicles.




Education

Identity Theft, What Next…

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft,

contact:

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report what happened. You can call the FTC's ID

Theft Hotline-1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338), or use the FTC's online ID Theft Complaint form for

up-to-date information about how to work with credit bureaus and law enforcement agencies to reclaim your identity.




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Social Security Administration Contact the SSA for a replacement card if your Social Contact the SSA for a replacement card if your Social

Security card was lost or stolen. Security card was lost or stolen. A new Social Security number in certain circumstances.A new Social Security number in certain circumstances. To help correct your earnings records.To help correct your earnings records.

Office of the Inspector General Contact the SSA to report Social Security number Contact the SSA to report Social Security number

misuse that Involves buying or selling Social Security misuse that Involves buying or selling Social Security cards.cards.

It may involve people with links to terrorist groups or It may involve people with links to terrorist groups or activities.activities.

Identity Theft, What Next…




Education The Federal government and numerous states have passed laws prohibiting identity theft. Anyone who intentionally uses the Social Security number of another person to establish a new identity or defraud the government is breaking the law.

The Social Security Administration says: "The SSA is making sure that Social Security numbers are less accessible by strengthening the processes for issuing new Social Security numbers and replacement Social Security cards. Additionally, the SSA is working with other federal agencies to find ways to detect and prevent identity theft."

Identity Theft, What Next…Identity Theft, What Next…




Education To get more information about Social Security numbers and identity theft, order free, the following publications

FTC Information

ID Theft-When Bad Things Happen To Your Good Name

When Someone Misuses Your Number (05-10064)

Social Security-Your Number and Card (05-10002)

Identity Theft, What Next…Identity Theft, What Next…




Education

Identity Theft, In Conclusion…

Just because the new FACTA law addresses Identity Theft in more detail than the previous Fair Credit Reporting Act, it does not mean consumers should let their guards down. To avoid becoming an identity theft victim, stay alert and review your credit reports semiannually.




Education

More information…

Find more information about identity theft from the following:

http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/

http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html

http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/id_intro.htm

http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idquiz.pdf

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/misused/idtheft.html

This Special Report on Identity Theft is made available as a public service by This Special Report on Identity Theft is made available as a public service by the nonprofit ICFE. It is intended for educational purposes and no the nonprofit ICFE. It is intended for educational purposes and no endorsement of any product and/or commercial company is intended.endorsement of any product and/or commercial company is intended.




Education

Identity Theft Risk Assessment Quizas taken from

Identity thieves use many ways of getting your personal financial information so they can make fraudulent charges or withdrawals from your accounts. Do you know how you can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft? Take this simple quiz, and see how you score:

When I keep my ATM cards and credit cards in my wallet, I never write my PIN (Personal Identification Number) on any of my cards.

Yes or No.

Reason: If you lose your ATM or credit card, identity thieves or other criminals can have instant access to your bank or credit-card account.

Yes No




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When I leave my house, I take with me only the ATM and credit cards I need for personal or business purchases.

Reason: If your wallet or purse is lost or stolen, and you’re carrying fewer cards, you’ll have to fewer calls to banks and credit-card companies to report the losses, and the odds of fraudulent charges in your name will be lower.

Yes No




Education


When I get my monthly credit-card bills, I always look carefully at the specific transactions charged to my account before I pay the bill.

Reason: Someone who gets your credit-card number and expiration date doesn’t need the actual card to charge purchases to your account. If you don’t look closely at your credit-card statement each month you might not have any recourse if fraudulent transactions go through and you don’t dispute them promptly with your credit-card company. As soon as you see unauthorized charges on your statement, contact the credit-card company immediately to report them.

Yes No




Education


When I get my monthly bank statements, credit-card bills, or other documents with personal financial information on them, I always shred them before putting them in the trash.

Reason: Some identity thieves aren’t shy about “dumpster diving” – literally climbing into dumpsters or rooting through trash bins to look for identifying information that someone threw out. Buying and using a shredder on your home or office is an inexpensive way to frustrate dumpster divers and protect your personal data.

Yes No




Education


When I get mail saying I’ve been pre-approved for a credit card, and don’t want to accept or activate that card, I always tear up or shred the pre-approval forms before putting them in the trash.

Reason: If you throw out the documents without tearing them up or shredding them, “dumpster divers” can send them back to the credit-card company, pretending to be you but saying that your address has changed. If they can use the account from a new location, you may not know the account’s being used in your name until you see it on a credit report.

Yes No




Education


If the volume of the mail I get at home has dropped off substantially, I always check with my local post office to see if anyone has improperly filed a change-of-address card in my name.

Reason: Some identity thieves may try to take over your credit-card and bank accounts, and delay your discovery of their criminal activities, by having your mail diverted to a new address where they can go through it without your knowledge. Your local post office should have on file any change-of–address cards, and can respond if you find that someone is improperly diverting your mail.

Yes No




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If I think that I may be a victim of identity theft, I immediately contact:

• The Federal Trade Commission to report the situation and get guidance on how to deal with it.• The three major credit bureaus to inform them of the situation.• My local police department to have an officer take a report.• Any businesses where the identity thief fraudulently conducted transactions in my name.

Yes No




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Reason: Identity theft is a crime under federal law, and under the laws of more than 44 states, that carries serious penalties including imprisonment and fines. To help law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) maintains a national database of com plaints by identity theft victims. The FTC, through a toll-free hotline (1-877-ID-THEFT), can also help you decide what steps to take in trying to remedy the situation and restore your good name and credit. Credit bureaus should also be notified so that they can flag your credit report. Local police, by taking a report and providing you with a copy, can help you show creditors that an identity thief has been conducting certain transactions in your name and without your permission.




Education


How did you score on this quiz? If you checked even two or three “No” boxes, it means that you need to take more of the precautions described in this quiz. Remember that identity thieves, unlike robbers or fraudsters, don’t have to have any personal contact with you in order to commit their crimes. The more you do to protect your personal information, the lower the odds that you’ll become a victim of identity theft. For more information about identity theft, go to: The Department of Justice’s Identity Theft Web-pages, at www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html ; and The Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Web-pages, at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Last updated 7/12/02Source: usdoj/crm/fraud/dlj

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