IDENTITY THEFT

Presented By:

Harry KohalPast President

Wisconsin Association Computer Crime Investigators

www.wacci.org

WHAT IS IDENTITY THEFT?

Illegally using another person’s name, Social Security number, driver’s license number, birth certificate, credit card, address, telephone number or any other form of identifying information to obtain credit, money, goods, services or anything else of value without that person’s consent.

SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

Fastest growing crime in America (300% yr.)

Perceived: low risk & high profit Further facilitates other crimes Increasing gang involvement 750,000 victims per year 80% goes unreported

Your Company Has an Identity TOO!

ChoicePoint --- 145,000 customers 11-9 -2/16/05

BofA --- 1,200,000 customers 2/25/05

University of Chicago -85 patients 2/20/05

Hospitals

YOUR COMPANY TODAY ? TOMORROW?

ARE YOU AT RISK FOR BECOMING AN IDENTITY THEFT

VICTIM?

Test Your Identity Theft Awareness

Source: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

ARE YOU AT RISK….?

You receive several offers of pre-approved credit every week. 5 Points

Add 5 more points if you do not shred them before putting them in the trash.

You carry your Social Security card in your wallet. 5 Points

You do not have a PO Box or locked, secure mailbox. 5 Points

ARE YOU AT RISK….?

You use an unlocked, open mailbox at work or at home to drop off outgoing mail. 10 Points

You carry your military ID in your wallet at all times. 10 Points

You do not shred or tear banking and credit information when you throw it in the trash. 10 Points

ARE YOU AT RISK….?

You provide your Social Security Number whenever asked, without asking how that information will be used or safeguarded. 10 Points

Add 5 Points if you provide your SSN orally without checking to see who may be listening.

You are required to use your SSN at work as an employee or student ID number. 5 Points

ARE YOU AT RISK….?

You have your SSN printed on your employee badge that you wear at work or in the public. 10 Points

You have your SSN or driver’s license number printed on your personal checks. 20 Points

You are listed in a “Who’s Who” guide. 5 Points

ARE YOU AT RISK….?

You carry your insurance card in your wallet or purse and either your SSN or that of your spouse is the ID number. 20 Points

You have not ordered a copy of your credit report for at least two years. 10 Points

You do not believe that people would go through your trash looking for credit or financial information. 10 Points

HOW YOU RATE

100 Points – High Risk 50 to 100 Points – Your odds of

becoming a victim are about average. Higher if you have good credit.

0 to 50 Points – Congratulations, you have a “High IQ.” Keep up the good work and don’t let your guard down.

YOUR COMPANY HAS THE SAME RISKS

Identity Theft Phone and Utility Theft Bank Fraud Employment Fraud Pornography/Child Porn Software Theft

ELEMENTS OF THE CRIME

Whoever intentionally uses or attempts to use any personal identifying information or personal identification document of an individual to obtain credit, money, goods, services or anything else of value without the authorization or consent of the individual and by representing that he or she is the individual or is acting with the authorization or consent of the individual.

PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION…..

Individual’s social security number Individual’s employer or place of

employment Identification number assigned to an

individual by his/her employer Maiden name of an individual’s mother Identifying number of a depository

account

PENALTY

Class D felony Fine not to exceed $10,000 or

imprisonment not to exceed 10 years, or both

HOW THIEVES OBTAIN PERSONAL INFORMATION

Theft of wallet or purse “Dumpster Diving” Inside sources Mail theft Online data Submitting change of address forms Finding personal information while inside your

home Shoulder surfing or eavesdropping

HOW THIEVES OBTAIN CORPORATE INFORMATION Theft of checks or other instruments “Dumpster Diving” Inside sources Mail theft Online data Submitting change of address forms Finding corporate information while inside

your company Shoulder surfing or eavesdropping

HOW THIEVES USE PERSONAL INFORMATION

Open credit card accounts (43%) Start up phone and/or utility service (21%) Bank fraud (14%) Employment (illegal aliens) (8%) Purchase vehicle w/ fictitious loan Evade citation, arrest, criminal record Illegal entry into U.S. Sky is the limit! Limited only to the

imagination & greed of the thief

WHAT TO DO IF YOU BECOME A VICTIM

Contact the fraud department from each of the 3 credit bureaus:

Experian, 888-397-3742Equifax, 800-525-6285Trans Union, 800-680-7289

Obtain a free copy of your credit report and review it

Place fraud alert and a victim statement asking creditors to contact you

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR COMPANY IS THE VICTIM

Contact Law Enforcement

Implement Your Disaster/Recovery Plan– Decide who will be informed and contacted– Media or Not? Work with Law Enforcement

WHAT TO DO IF YOU BECOME A VICTIM…..

Contact local law enforcement to report crime Contact creditors for any fraudulent accounts

opened or tampered Report crime to Postal Inspector if mail

involved Document and keep records of all

correspondence

VICTIM INFORMATION

Average age of victim – 40 yrs. Average number of months between date

ID theft occurred & date noticed – 12 ½ months

California highest number of ID Thefts (WI 22nd)

Washington D.C. highest per capita rate (WI 33rd)

INTANGIBLE IMPACT

Devastating affect on consumers lives Usually discovered when turned down

for loan or receive letter/call from a collection agency

Denied credit & financial services, utility service, employment, wages garnished, tax refunds withheld, etc.

INTANGIBLE IMPACT…..

Criminal record created resulting in failed background checks, DL’s revoked, arrested & detained on warrants

Average victim spends 1,000 hours and $1,000 or more (not incl. atty. fees) over 2 years to straighten out financial matters

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Manage Personal Information Wisely Determine how your information will be used

before providing Pay attention to billing cycles Guard mail from theft Put passwords on credit cards. Avoid using

mother’s maiden name, DOB, last 4 digits of Social Security #, or series of consecutive numbers

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF…..

Minimize the number of credit cards & ID you carry

Don’t give out personal information on telephone, mail or Internet unless you initiated contact or you are sure whom you are speaking with

Keep personal information in a safe place

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF…..

Shred discarded personal records & documents

Verify that your employment records are kept in a secure location

Order copies of your credit report yearly from each of the credit reporting agencies

AND -- DO THE SAME FOR YOUR COMPANY

THANK YOU

www.wacci.org

harry@customerconsultants.com