Talking through Identity Theft A Webinar for the Blind and Visually Impaired
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Transcript of Talking through Identity Theft A Webinar for the Blind and Visually Impaired
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TALKING THROUGH IDENTITY THEFT
A WEBINAR FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
July 31, 2013
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• Identity theft basics
• What is identity theft?
• How do you protect yourself, friends, and family?
• What should you do if identity theft occurs?
• Special topics
• Medical identity theft
• Public benefits identity theft
• Child identity theft
• Senior identity theft
What we will discuss
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BASIC IDENTITY THEFT
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What is identity theft?•When someone uses the personal information of someone else to pose as that consumer, in order to:
• fraudulently obtain goods or services, or
•conceal their true identity
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How information is misused
Government Benefits 46%
Credit Card 13%
Utilities 10%
Bank 6%
Employment 5%
Loan 2%
Other 19%
Attempted Id Theft 7%
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The impact of identity theftDenial of credit
Denial of medical care
Denial of pubic benefits
Loss/denial of employment
Arrest
Time and expense
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PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM IDENTITY THEFT
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How does identity theft happen?• Lost or stolen wallets
• Dumpster diving or stolen mail
• Theft by family, friends, advisors, assistants, or caregivers
• Corrupt insider
• High-tech identity theft (data breaches, phishing, malware)
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Deterring identity theft• Empty your purse or wallet
• Shred
• Select assistants, advisors, and caregivers carefully
• Don’t give out your personal information unless you are sure who you are dealing with
• Monitor accounts
• Get your free annual credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com
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• Keep anti-virus software up-to-date
• Be careful using social networks
• Use difficult to guess passwords
• When online shopping make sure site is secure
• Don’t click on links in unsolicited emails
Online safety
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WHAT TO DO IF IDENTITY THEFT OCCURS?
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Four steps 1) Contact Consumer Reporting Agencies
2) Contact companies
3) File a complaint with the FTC
4) File a Police Report
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Step 1: Contact CRAs• Contact by phone or online:
• Equifax 1-800-525-6285 www.equifax.com• Experian 1-888-EXPERIAN www.experian.com• Transunion 1-800-680-7289 www.transunion.com
• Place fraud alerts on credit reports
• Obtain credit report free of charge
• Consider credit freeze
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Fraud Alert•One call
•Creditors must take “reasonable steps” to verify identity
•90 days or 7 years
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Credit Freeze• Write each bureau
• No one can apply for new credit – must thaw the report by contacting each bureau again
• Possible fee
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Step 2: Contact companies where thief committed fraud• Contact fraud department
• Instruct company to immediately close or freeze the accounts that have been fraudulently opened or used
• Send written dispute including an Identity Theft Affidavit
• Request letter from company describing results of their actions
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Step 3: File a complaint with the FTC• The FTC provides hotline phone counselors:
Call: 877-438-4338TTY: 866-653-4261
• The FTC has web-based complaint filing system:• https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
• Online you can print complaint as “ID Theft Affidavit”
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Step 4: File a Police Report•Call the local police as soon as possible
•Note: for children, police report may not be as critical -- Uniform Minor’s Status Declaration may suffice
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SPECIAL TOPICS
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Medical identity theft•Thief uses your identity or health insurance to receive care
•Thief’s medical records may become merged with victim’s records
•May be difficult to remedy
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How to assist victims• Report theft to local law enforcement
• Request medical records and privacy policy
from regular provider
• Request medical records and privacy policy
from each provider that gave care to the thief
• Write providers requesting correction
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Government benefits identity theft
• Thief files a tax return using your Social Security number to get a tax refund
• Thief claims your child as dependent on tax return
• Thief uses your Social Security number to get a job and earn money you will be asked to pay taxes on
• Thief applies for public benefits using your personal information
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Resolving benefits identity theft• Get a copy of your earnings record from the Social Security Administration
• Mark impostor activity• Provide corrected earnings statement to Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• Request that Social Security Number be flagged
• IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit: 800-908-4490
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CHILD IDENTITY THEFT
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•Clean credit is appealing to identity thieves
•Child’s information readily available
•Theft of child’s identity can go undetected for long periods of time
Children are vulnerable to identity theft
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•Protect what you have
•Be careful what you share
•Talk with children
•Safely dispose of personal information
Deterring child identity theft
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Monitoring a child’s credit• Children should not have active credit files with CRAs
• No need to check child’s credit every year unless child’s information is at risk
• Order credit report close to child’s 16th birthday, so you can clear up any errors before child needs credit
• Ask for “manual search”
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Contacting CRAs for a child• Explain that child is a minor (under age 18) who cannot legally enter into any contract
• Provide Uniform Minor’s Status Declaration and/or birth certificate
• Ask CRA to immediately remove all accounts, application inquiries and collection notices from child’s file
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SENIOR IDENTITY THEFT
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Identity theft and seniors• Three common perpetrators:
• Relative• Caregiver• Scammer
• Seniors may be more vulnerable • Many people have access to their information• Many seniors have built wealth over their lifetimes
• Considerations when the thief is a relative or caregiver
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Reporting for seniors•Affidavit can be signed by personal representative. Attach copy of Power of Attorney or Guardianship Letter
•Any interested person may make a law enforcement report
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CONSUMER EDUCATION RESOURCES
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Consumer Education Resources
Consumer.govJust the basics, plain & simple• Website• Print• Read-along audio• Simplified video• Resources for community leaders
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Consumer Education Resources
•Each topic includes:• What it is• What to know• What to do
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Consumer Education Resources
Want to learn more?Download or print materials from FTC.gov/idtheft
• Taking Charge: What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen
• Safeguarding Your Child’s Future• Identity Theft: What To Know, What To Do• Make It A Habit bookmark
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Consumer Education Resources
Other consumer issuesconsumer.ftc.gov
Order free materials:bulkorder.ftc.gov
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Disclaimers•Views expressed in this presentation are not necessarily those of the Commission or any Commissioners.
•Any answers to questions are my own opinion and not the Commission’s or any Commissioner’s.