Identity Theft ProjectIdentity Theft Project

Erin L. CarawayErin L. Caraway

Jacob LockeJacob Locke

Identity TheftIdentity Theft

Identity theft is when Identity theft is when someone uses your someone uses your personally identifying personally identifying information to commit information to commit fraud or other crimes.fraud or other crimes.

Identity theft can Identity theft can result from stolen result from stolen items, such as your items, such as your name, Social Security name, Social Security number, or credit card number, or credit card number. number.

Identity theft is a Identity theft is a serious crime; victims serious crime; victims can resolve their can resolve their problems quickly.problems quickly.

Some spend their Some spend their hundreds of dollars hundreds of dollars and many days and many days repairing damage to repairing damage to their good name and their good name and credit record.  credit record. 

StatisticsStatistics

According to 2005 According to 2005 statistics, 1.8 million statistics, 1.8 million people have had new people have had new accounts and other accounts and other fraud, and 3.3 million fraud, and 3.3 million have had misuse of have had misuse of existing non-credit existing non-credit account or account account or account number.number.

In the 2006 statistics, In the 2006 statistics, it states that the it states that the estimate of total estimate of total losses from identity losses from identity theft is $15.6 billion. theft is $15.6 billion. Also the 2006 survey, Also the 2006 survey, found that 3.7% of the found that 3.7% of the survey population had survey population had experienced Identity experienced Identity Theft in 2005.Theft in 2005.

Federal Trade CommissionFederal Trade Commission

The FTC settles conflicts that touch the The FTC settles conflicts that touch the economic life of every U.S. citizen.economic life of every U.S. citizen.

When it was created, its purpose was to prevent When it was created, its purpose was to prevent unfair methods of competition in commerce.unfair methods of competition in commerce.

It has administered a wide variety of consumer It has administered a wide variety of consumer protection laws. protection laws.

Its work is performed by the Bureaus of Its work is performed by the Bureaus of Consumer Protection, Competition and Consumer Protection, Competition and Economics.Economics.

DETERDETER

In order to minimize In order to minimize your chances of being your chances of being an identity theft an identity theft victim, you need to victim, you need to make it more difficult make it more difficult for identity thieves to for identity thieves to access your personal access your personal information. information.

This can be done by This can be done by protecting your SSN, protecting your SSN, shredding your mail, shredding your mail, being careful while being careful while using the Internet, using the Internet, verifying your source verifying your source before giving your before giving your information, and information, and storing information in storing information in safe places.safe places.

DETECTDETECT

Monitoring your bank Monitoring your bank accounts and statements accounts and statements each month and checking each month and checking your credit report on a your credit report on a regular basis are some of regular basis are some of the best ways to detect the best ways to detect identity theft. identity theft.

Stay alert for signs of Stay alert for signs of Identity Theft.Identity Theft.

Signs of being an Signs of being an Identity Theft victim are: Identity Theft victim are: receiving credit cards receiving credit cards that you didn't apply for, that you didn't apply for, looking closely for looking closely for charges you did not charges you did not make, and getting calls make, and getting calls from businesses about from businesses about merchandise or merchandise or services you didn't buy.services you didn't buy.

DEFENDDEFEND

There are steps you There are steps you must take to recover must take to recover from Identity Theft: from Identity Theft:

1. place a fraud alert 1. place a fraud alert on your credit reports, on your credit reports, and review themand review them

2. close the accounts 2. close the accounts that you know have that you know have been tampered with been tampered with or opened or opened fraudulently.fraudulently.

3. File a complaint 3. File a complaint with the Federal with the Federal Trade Commission. Trade Commission.

4. File a report with 4. File a report with your local police or your local police or the police in the the police in the community where the community where the identity theft took identity theft took place.place.

Identity Theft TipsIdentity Theft Tips

1.1. Guard your Social Security Number.Guard your Social Security Number.

2.2. Monitor your credit report.Monitor your credit report.

3.3. Shred all old bank and credit statements Shred all old bank and credit statements and "junk mail" credit card offers before and "junk mail" credit card offers before trashing them.trashing them.

4.4. Do not carry extra credit cards or other Do not carry extra credit cards or other important identity documents except important identity documents except when needed.when needed.

Filing A ComplaintFiling A Complaint

In order to file a complaint you must In order to file a complaint you must complete the Identity Theft Complaint complete the Identity Theft Complaint Form.Form.

Free Credit ReportsFree Credit Reports

You can obtain free You can obtain free credit reports from credit reports from bureaus like: Equifax, bureaus like: Equifax, Experian, and Experian, and TransUnion.TransUnion.

Theses three bureaus Theses three bureaus have websites in have websites in which you can check which you can check your credit report.your credit report.

Doing this will not Doing this will not have an effect on have an effect on your credit score, your credit score, such as lowering it.such as lowering it.

Most bureaus offer Most bureaus offer toll-free support 7 toll-free support 7 days a week.days a week.

VideoVideo