division of family & consumer sciences strengthening families, farms, communities & the...

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.


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


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.


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


https://www.ftc.gov/reports/consumer-sentinel-network-data-book-january-december-2014

https://www.ftc.gov/reports/consumer-sentinel-network-data-book-january-december-2014

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



• 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


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


mailto:[email protected]


• 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


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


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


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


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?


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


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


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.”


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.


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.


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


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


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.


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.


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.


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


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.


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.


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.


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


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.


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


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


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


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


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


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.


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


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.


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.


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


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


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


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


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


If You Are A Victim

• Keep a record of your contacts:– Maintain a “paper trail” of all

correspondence regarding the theft• Written• Telephone


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


Protect Yourself


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

[email protected]

202-690-2674

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