take charge of your good name, don’t be a victim strategies to avoid identity theft and fraud...
TRANSCRIPT
Take Charge of Your Good Name, Don’t Be A Victim
Strategies to Avoid Identity Theft and FraudTeresa Muench [email protected] 1-800-708-4632
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/media/video-0060-your-source-truly-free-credit-report-annualcreditreportcom
QUIZ• Without looking, on a scrap of paper write down EVERYTHING
you have in your wallet and / or purse or that you left in your car that has ANY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION:• Cards• Checks• Bills• EVERYTHING• Bank statements• Financial receipts or statements
What is Identity Theft
• Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998
It’s a federal crime when someone, “knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit or aid to abet any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable state or local law.”
Identity Theft Statistics • 69% of Americans surveyed are concerned about their
credit card info being hacked
• 2012 financial losses totaled $25 billion some reports twice that high
• 519 million financial records were stolen
• 110 million Americans have had their data exposed
• FTC receives 6,000 complaints/week 290,000/year
ID Theft…Are You At Risk?• 1 in 28 e-mails contains a virus• 54,000 security attacks occur each hour• Dangerous Spam: often times infected with viruses or
aimed at defrauding businesses or consumers• Electronic Tax Filing• Phony holiday shopping websites• 31% of the victims know their perpetrator
How Do Identity Thieves Get Your Personal Information?
• Stealing wallets, purses, and mail• Hacking into an organization’s computers• Shoulder surfing• Stealing credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers,
tax information• Public WiFi• Stealing medical records
How Do Identity Thieves Get Your Personal Information?
• Change of address forms• Camera Phones• Outside sources you invite into your home• Dumpster diving• Diverting mail• Phishing/Smishing/Doxing• Corporate Computer Hacks• Information is everywhere!
To: [email protected] From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Subject: Verify Your eBay Account Date: Wed, 07 Jul 2004 04:37:52 +0200
Dear eBay user,
You are urged to establish your proof of identity with ID Verify - an easy way to help others trust you as their trading partner as our service quality is changing. The process takes about 5 minutes to complete and involves updating your information over a secure connection. When you're successfully verified, you will receive an ID Verify icon in your feedback profile. This feature applies to residents of the United States and U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and Guam), Europe (EU) , Japan and Australia.
Fee: Verification is free of charge and is valid until your name, home address or phone number change. Click here and ID Verify Now, help us improve the service we are providing to our customers.Note: After successful verification, you will not be able to modify your contact information for 30 days. Also, the ID Verify icon is used for 3 different verification processes. Verisign provides individual verification on eBay.com. GeoTrust, Inc. is used for the verification of certain businesses selling on eBay.com. Deutsche Post is used for the verification of German members on eBay.de. Warning: Failure to Verify your ID may result in Account Suspension.
Regards,
Safeharbor DepartmenteBay, Inc. Copyright © 1995-2004 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eBay User Agreement and Privacy Policy.
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To: [email protected]: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Subject: Don't lose your MSN Hotmail account! Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 09:01:01 -0100
Don't lose your MSN Hotmail account!
As a valued customer, we want to remind you that if you don't sign in to MSN® Hotmail® for 30 days, your account becomes inactive and:
• You will lose all messages and attachments in your Inbox and other folders• All of your incoming e-mail will be rejected• You will lose all contacts in your Address Book
This information cannot be recovered*, so make sure you sign in at least once a month.
To avoid this hassle, you can subscribe to MSN Hotmail Extra Storage, which exempts you from this inactivity policy and lets you enjoy more freedom. It's the smartest way to help prevent the loss of all the important information in your MSN Hotmail account.
Hotmail Extra Storage also includes:
10MB of Hotmail storage — five times the storage of a free Hotmail account Larger attachments — send and receive attachments of up to 3MB per message Virus scanning & cleaning — McAfee® Security virus solution scans incoming attachments**
There are multiple plans to choose from, starting at just $19.95*** per year.So sign up for Extra Storage today!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Other updates for Hotmail usersHere are a couple things you can do to improve the security of your MSN Hotmail account:Sign out of Hotmail when you finish a session or before you go to another Web page by clicking Sign Out in the upper right corner of any Hotmail page.Keep your browser and Internet software updated. Web browsers, such as Internet Explorer®, often provide updates that deliver enhanced security features and resolve security issues.
*An account can be reactivated (and retain the same alias) if the member signs into the account within 90 days of when the account first became inactive. However, the folder contents and Address Book entries cannot be restored.**Hotmail utilizes McAfee Security virus scanning solution to scan all attachments on incoming e-mail messages, and virus cleaning is provided for infected attachments for MSN Extra Storage subscribers. Please note: The McAfee.com virus scanner may not be able to detect all known viruses and variants, and not all viruses can be cured. The e-mail virus scanning service is not available when accessing Hotmail through Outlook® Express.***Annual fee plus applicable taxes. You must agree to the MSN Subscription Agreement to access the service. A valid major credit card is required. The then-current annual price for MSN Extra Storage will be automatically charged to your credit card until you cancel your subscription or select an alternative plan. Available only for personal non-commercial use. This offer applies to U.S. Residents only. Prices subject to change.
As a Hotmail member, you have received this e-mail to inform you of updates, changes to the Hotmail service, or special news and information from MSN. Our policy has always been to send e-mail messages only to announce such information, and we'll continue to honor this policy. If you do not wish to receive Hotmail member letters, you may close your Hotmail account. Thank you for being a Hotmail member. Read the MSN Privacy Policy.
Please do not reply to this e-mail, as this is an unmonitored alias. If you have general questions regarding your Hotmail account, please click Help in the upper right corner for Hotmail’s comprehensive online help.
Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399, USA
What Do Identity Thieves Do With Your Information?
• Credit Fraud: 26%• Phone / Utilities Fraud: 18%• Bank Fraud: 17%• Employment Related Fraud: 12%• Government Documents / Benefits Fraud: 9%• Other: 36%
• Illegal / Criminal• Medical• Internet / E-mail
What Do Identity Thieves Do With Your Information?
• Take out an auto loan in your name• Establish cell phone or utilities in your name• Use debit cards to drain your bank accounts• Open a bank account in your name and write bad checks
against that account• Give your name to police during an arrest• Get medical treatment• Commit a felony
How Do I Know If I Am A Victim Of Identity Theft?
• Unable to obtain credit• Don’t receive bills in the mail• Get calls from creditors• Receive credit cards that you did not
request
How Do I Know If I Am A Victim Of Identity Theft?
• Unauthorized charges on your credit card or debit card
• Unknown withdrawals from your checking or savings accounts
• Notice of unfamiliar entries on your credit report
• Explanation of Benefits for services you don’t recognize
How Can I Minimize My Risk?• Clean your purse and / or wallet• Only carry what you need in your
purse or wallet• Don’t carry:
• Social Security Card• Health Insurance Card (unless…)• Pay stubs• Bills and Receipts
• Homework:• Clean your purse and / or wallet• Photocopy both sides of ALL the
contents in the event it is stolen• Put the photocopy in a safe
How Can I Minimize My Risk?
• Don’t write your Social Security Number on checks
• Don’t write account numbers on checks
• Lock your purse and / or wallet when at work, traveling, or shopping.
• Only shop on-line with companies providing secure transactions
• Create effective passwords• Add extra security/passwords to your
accounts, if available
Passwords• Use passwords on credit card,
banking, utility, retirement accounts, webcams
• Avoid easily guessed passwords like:• Mother’s maiden name• Your birth date• Last four digits of your Social
Security Number• Phone Number• Street name
How Can I Minimize My Risk?• Know to whom you are giving the
information• Who initiated the call? If unsure, call
them back• Don’t be a courtesy victim• Thieves pose as:
• Bank Representatives• Internet Service Provider• Governmental Agents
• Don’t be scared or taken in by those with aggressive sales pitches or fraudulent investment “opportunities”
How Can I Minimize My Risk?• Only use reputable websites for online purchasing• Use one card for all online purchases• Clean up your social media accounts, strip away all personal
information• Make certain your firewalls and anti-virus programs are up to
date on your computers• Don’t click on text message links without knowing the sender
How Can I Minimize My Risk?• Review all medical bills for dates of service and doctor visits• Review insurance statements• Prescriptions labels
To Share or Not To Share
• Before revealing personal information, ask:• Is this information required by law?• Why do you need it?• Will my information be shared with others?• What happens if I don’t provide it?• Are there other alternatives?• How will you protect my information to
ensure it isn’t stolen?• Required by employers, financial
institutions, governmental agencies, and businesses for credit checks
To Share or Not To Share… That Is The Question
• Opt Out• Direct Mail:
• www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist• Unsolicited Credit Offers:
• www.optoutprescreen.com• 888-567-8688
• Telemarketing: • www.donotcall.gov• 888-382-1222• Home phone and cellular phone, separately• Re-up every five years
How Can I Minimize My Riskhttp://www.consumer.ftc.gov/media/video-0060-your-source-truly-free-credit-report-annualcreditreportcom
www.annualcreditreport.com
• Equifax: 800-525-6285; www.equifax.com P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374
• Experian: 888-397-3742; www.experian.com P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
•TransUnion: 800-680-7289; www.transunion.comP.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834
How Can I Minimize My RiskThe credit report contains information about:
• Where you work and live• Lines of credit in your name• Credit payment history• Whether you have been sued, filed for bankruptcy, been
arrested• Prevent Access to your Credit Reports
• Fraud Alerts (90-day) • 1-800-525-6285 - Equifax Fraud
• Credit Freeze (Lock & Unlock for approx $10 each)• Varies by State
The Benefits of Quick Discovery• 30-60: average number of hours victims spend
resolving their ID Theft problems• No out-of-pocket expenses were incurred by
67% of victims who discovered the misuse of personal information within five months of the start of abuse
• 76% of victims who discovered the abuse within one month spent fewer than 10 hours to resolve the problem
How Can I Minimize My Risk?
• Buy a cross shredder• Shred
• Receipts• Bills• Magazine address labels (outside AND
inside labels)• Pre-approved credit card offers• EVERYTHING
• Buy a safe and lock important papers inside
• Buy Identity Theft Insurance
A Word On Mail…• Pay attention to billing cycles
• Follow up with creditors if bills don’t arrive on time
• Guard your mail• Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes• Promptly remove mail from your mailbox• Consider using a secure or lockable mailbox at home• Consider opening a Post Office Box
• Homework: • Get a calendar and write down when bills arrive for one
month.
If You Are A Victim: Step #1• Contact one of the 3 major credit bureaus:
• Equifax: www.equifax.com 1.800.685.1111• Experian: www.experian.com 1.888.397.3742• TransUnion: www.transunion.com 1.800.916.8800
• Place a Fraud Alert on your credit report• Initial alert: remains for 90 days• Extended alert: remains for 7 years
If You Are A Victim: Step #2
• Close any fraudulent accounts by speaking with someone in the fraud or security department• Bank accounts• Credit and debit cards• Cell phone• Loans
• Follow-up in writing• Provide copies (not originals) of
documentation
If You Are A Victim: Step #3
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)• http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/
feature-0014-identity-theft• 877.ID.THEFT (or TTY 866.653.4261)
• Complete an Identity Theft Affidavit
If You Are A Victim: Step #4• File a police report
• Preferably in the community where the identity theft occurred
• Create ID Theft Report (police report + Affidavit) • http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0277-
create-identity-theft-report
If You’re a Victim
• Theft involving Social Security Number• Report to SSA’s Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271• Also call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to verify
earnings and request copy of Social Security Statement.
• Similarly, contact your State Retirement System, as necessary.
• Under certain circumstances, you can request a new SSN
Resolving Problems
• Additional Help• State Office of the Attorney General
• www.naag.org
• U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation• www.ifccfbi.gov
Resolving Problems
• Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)• Establishes procedures for correcting mistakes• Information providers (banks, creditors) responsible for
correcting inaccurate or incomplete information• Credit bureaus must investigate disputes, usually within 30
days• Disputed information that cannot be verified must be deleted• Erroneous information must be corrected• Inaccurate information must be deleted• Unauthorized charges to your credit card limited (in most cases) to $50 per
card• Disputes MUST be in writing• Include copy of police report with your dispute letter
Resolving ProblemsElectronic Fund Transfer Act
Provides protections for transaction involving ATM or debit cards or other means of electronic transfer.
Report theft/loss immediately! If you report within two business days, your liability is limited to
$50. If you report within 2 – 60 days, you may be liable for up to $500. You may be completely liable if not reported within 60 days.
NOTE: VISA and MasterCard have agreed to limit liability for unauthorized use of VISA and MasterCard debit cards to $50, regardless of time.
Resolving Problems
• Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction (FACT) Act of 2003 • Free credit report once a year• Notification before any negative information is posted
to your credit report• Access to any documents related to fraud• Requires merchants to truncate account numbers on
receipts by 2007
Resolving Problems
• October 2014 President Obama unveiled “Buy Secure”• FTC has new tools to help consumers• Easier way to report ID Theft and repair damage• Dept. of Justice, Commerce and Homeland Security now
providing info and resources• Public an private initiative• www.IdentityTheft.gov more comprehensive
NEA Member Benefits• Does not share information with third parties
• Vendors do not share information• Credit inquiries require member’s approval
• Data is protected via secure Internet link• Consumer information and resources available at
www.neamb.com• Wells Fargo https://www.wellsfargo.com/privacy_security/repairkit
• Discover • California Casualty
Conclusion
• Your Identity is an asset that deserves special protection
• Identity theft will continue as long as thieves exist• Prevent iD Theft as best as you can
• Physical & Computer Protection..SHRED IT!• Monitor Activity
• Review Credit Reports, accounts, mail, etc.• www.IdentityTheft.gov• www.neamb.com• Pass it on!
Resources
• www.IdentityTheft.gov• www.neamb.com• www.annualcreditreport.com
• Equifax: www.equifax.com 1.800.685.1111• Experian: www.experian.com 1.888.397.3742• TransUnion: www.transunion.com 1.800.916.8800
• Teresa Muench [email protected] 1.800.708.4632
Questions?