Identity Crisis

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Considerations and Definitions

How many personal identifiers are in your wallet or purse? How many financial identifiers?

If the volume of mail I get at home drops off substantially, I should check . . . . ?

Where is a “security alert” placed and who does it? What about a “security freeze?”

What can I do, personally, to prevent or limit being a victim of identity crime?

Questions To ConsiderQuestions To Consider

• Identity Crime is defined as:– Theft or misuse of personal or financial

identifiers in order to gain something of value and / or facilitate other criminal activity.

• Types of Identity Crimes include:– Identity Theft– Credit card / Access Device Fraud (skimming)– Check Fraud– False Identification Fraud– Passport / Visa Fraud

Definition and TypesDefinition and Types

Scope and Current trends

• ID Crime often facilitates:– Mail theft & fraud– Illegal Narcotics / drugs– Organized crime– Financial fraud (money laundering)– Mortgage fraud– Weapons trafficking– Homicide– Terrorism– Wire fraud– Computer crime / internet intrusions

ScopeScope

• ID Crimes often begin with:– Wallet / Purse theft– Muggings– Computer intrusion– Mail theft– Dumpster diving (theft of trash)– Theft of business documents or info– Theft from medical facilities, hotels, etc.

ScopeScope

• Personal:– Name and Date of Birth– Social Security Number– Address and phone numbers– Driver’s license and passport numbers– Mother’s maiden name; pet name; etc.

• Financial:– Credit card numbers– Bank account numbers– PIN numbers– Insurance account numbers

Types of IdentifiersTypes of Identifiers

• Use of current / latest technologies.

• Scams include:– Over hearing cell phone conversations.– Reading other’s faxes or email.– Hacking into computers.– Telephone and e-mail scams.– Careless online shopping and banking.– Magnetic Strip Scanners

Current TrendsCurrent Trends

www.idtheftcenter.orgwww.idtheftcenter.org

Top 10 Consumer Fraud Complaints

• Internet Auctions 16 %• Shop-at-Home/Catalog Sales 8%• Internet Services/Computer Complaints 6%• Foreign Money Offers 6%• Prizes/Sweepstakes and Lotteries 5%• Advance-Fee Loans and Credit Protection 3%• Business Opportunities/Work at Home Scams 2%• Telephone Services 2%• Other (Miscellaneous 12%

Legal aspects of Identity crime

• From Business and Commerce Code – Chapter 20, added definitions:– Security Alert

– Security Freeze

Protect YourselfProtect Yourself

Security AlertSecurity Alert

“Security alert" means a notice placed on a consumer file that alerts a recipient of a

consumer report involving that consumer file that the consumer's identity may have been

used without the consumer's consent to fraudulently obtain goods or services in the

consumer's name.

Security FreezeSecurity Freeze

"Security freeze" means a notice placed on a consumer file that prohibits a consumer

reporting agency from releasing a consumer report relating to the extension of credit involving that consumer file without the express authorization of the consumer.

• Reporting ID Crime to Police• Making a written report is vital because credit

bureaus require a police report.– You should complete an Identity Crime Incident

Detail Form.– You should immediately begin gathering bank, credit

card statements, letters from creditors, merchant account statements, etc.

– You should obtain credit reports from the three major Credit Bureaus.

Prosecuting NeedsProsecuting Needs

Need For Immediacy in Reporting Need For Immediacy in Reporting Relation to time of theft and when Relation to time of theft and when

the theft was reportedthe theft was reported

8%

7%

8%2% 5%

22%

Less then 1 month 48%

Less then 1 month

1- 6 months

7-12 months

1- 2 years

2- 4 years

4- 5 years

over 5 years

Statistics• Texas was ranked 4th in the nation for percentage of

victims in relation to population.

• There were 26,624 victims of Identity Theft in Texas in 2005

• City No.• Houston 3,735• Dallas 1,908• San Antonio 1,760• Fort Worth 1,105• Austin 858

Costs of I.D. Theft in the last year

• 4.6% of the Population• 9.91 Million U.S.Citizens• Average loss for financial institutions:

$4,800.00• Total loss: $47.6 billion• Average loss for individual victims:

$500.00• Average time spent resolving issues: 30

hours

www.consumer.gov/theftwww.consumer.gov/theft

Credit Reporting Agency’sCredit Reporting Agency’s

How do I get my Free Credit ReportHow do I get my Free Credit Report

ExperianExperian

TransUnionTransUnion

EquifaxEquifax

Credit Report ExampleCredit Report Example

Other Scams

Online BusinessProcessing Medical Insurance Claims

Social Group ClubsPigeon Drop Scam

Lottery Tickets ScamNigerian Royal Family

Home RepairsEnvelope Stuffing

NO Call List

Telemarketers

• Do not get stuck on the phone

• Never provide credit card information over the phone.

• Always ask for mail correspondence if you do wish to make a purchase or to make denotation.

• Remember they are calling you, feel free to say, Thanks but, NO Thanks

Personal protection

• Do not give out personal identifier information over the phone or Internet.

• Stay informed about your personal financial records with frequent checks of credit history, bank records, i.e., extra or unknown transactions.

• Limit personal information on necessary public distribution items (checks, business cards).

• Purchase a home cross-cut shredder.• Consider Identity Theft Insurance.• Limit types of information you provide to everyone• (license plates, kids names, last names)

Prevention – Personal Prevention – Personal AwarenessAwareness

Internet Safety

www.idcrimes.com

We provide services relating to victims of specific types of crimes involving Identity Theft. We can assist you in the process of

restoring your credit and ensuring the secure reacquisition of your personal information.