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
TALKING THROUGH IDENTITY THEFT
A WEBINAR FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
July 31, 2013
• 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
BASIC IDENTITY THEFT
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
How information is misused
Government Benefits 46%
Credit Card 13%
Utilities 10%
Bank 6%
Employment 5%
Loan 2%
Other 19%
Attempted Id Theft 7%
The impact of identity theftDenial of credit
Denial of medical care
Denial of pubic benefits
Loss/denial of employment
Arrest
Time and expense
PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM IDENTITY THEFT
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)
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
• 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
WHAT TO DO IF IDENTITY THEFT OCCURS?
Four steps 1) Contact Consumer Reporting Agencies
2) Contact companies
3) File a complaint with the FTC
4) File a Police Report
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
Fraud Alert•One call
•Creditors must take “reasonable steps” to verify identity
•90 days or 7 years
Credit Freeze• Write each bureau
• No one can apply for new credit – must thaw the report by contacting each bureau again
• Possible fee
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
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”
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
SPECIAL TOPICS
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
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
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
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
CHILD IDENTITY THEFT
•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
•Protect what you have
•Be careful what you share
•Talk with children
•Safely dispose of personal information
Deterring child identity theft
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”
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
SENIOR IDENTITY THEFT
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
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
CONSUMER EDUCATION RESOURCES
Consumer Education Resources
Consumer.govJust the basics, plain & simple• Website• Print• Read-along audio• Simplified video• Resources for community leaders
Consumer Education Resources
•Each topic includes:• What it is• What to know• What to do
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
Consumer Education Resources
Other consumer issuesconsumer.ftc.gov
Order free materials:bulkorder.ftc.gov
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.