Scary Things You Should Know About Your Privacy and Identity Theft
Presented by Diana Midge
Coors Credit Union
Common Scams:How to Spot and Stop Them
• Advance Fee Scams
• You’re a Winner! – Lottery scams
• Internet selling scams – checks for more
• Money-making Schemes
• Bogus Charity
Almost all scams are sprinkled with Identity Theft
Phishing
• A bogus email asking you to verify personal information
• False web links are often built into an email
• Mimic a legitimate and reputable company
• Requires a quick response with a persuasive premise
New Phishing Scam!!
•Victim receives “Urgent” phone call from financial institution
•Asked to call immediately to clear up a problem
•Capitalizes on your panic about yourmoney and account
•Asks you to verify personal information
Pharming
Hackers redirect Internet traffic
from one website to another
identical looking site with Static
Domain Spoofing by slightly
changing the name.Examples:
www.mybank.com to www.mybanks.com
www.ncua.gov to www.ncua.com
How Your Personal Information is Obtained
Dumpster Diving
Thieves search trash bins for
unshredded credit card and loan
applications containing SSN’s, bank
and/or credit card statements with
account numbers.
Internet Sources
Thieves find information via public records sites and fee-based information broker sites, accessing your credit report fraudulently.
Example: posing as your
employer, landlord or a
loan officer.
How Your Personal Information is Obtained
Mail Theft
Thieves steal newly issued credit cards, check orders, statements, tax or benefit information from unlocked mail.
They also look for credit card checks that may be included monthly in statements.
How Your Personal Information is Obtained
What Happens to Your Information?
Imposters use your personal information to:
• Open new bank and credit accounts in your name
• Max out these accounts and not make payments
• Sell your information to a third party
• Give your information to law enforcement during arrest – criminal ID Theft
• Give your information to receive medical care or services – medical ID Theft
Protect Yourself
NEVER
• Give personal information over the phone
• Leave mail in unsecured receptacles
• Print SSN’s and/or Drivers License number on personalized check
• Send personal information via email
• Throw away credit card solicitations or bank statements without shredding
ALWAYS
•Use a secured mail receptacle, post office or electronic Bill Payment service
•Opt out for credit solicitations
•Shred solicitations receipts and other documents with personal information before throwing away
•Use only secured sites when shopping on-line
•Review your credit report once a year
Protect Yourself
What to Do if You Are a Victim
• Contact any credit card companies or financial institutions that may have been compromised
• File a police report
• Fill out an Affidavit of Forgery
• Place a fraud alert on credit report with all 3 credit bureaus
• Notify the DMV and/or SS administration if your license and/or SS card are stolen
Identity Theft Contact Numbers
•Federal Trade CommissionFraud Hotline: 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338)
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
•Social Security AdministrationFraud Hotline: 1-800-269-0271
www.ssa.gov
•Free Annual Credit Reportwww.annualcreditreport.com
Credit Bureaus
•ExperianCredit Report and Fraud Hotline
1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397- 3742)
www.experian.com
•EquifaxCredit Report 1-800-685-1111
Fraud Hotline 1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.com
•TransUnionCredit Report 1-800-888-4213
Fraud Hotline 1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com
Opt Out Numbers
•Pre-approved credit card offersCall: 1-800-5-optout (1-800-567-8688)
www.optoutprescreen.com
•TelemarketingCall: 1-888-382-1222
www.donotcall.gov
•Direct Mailwww.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html
•Emailwww.dmaconsumer.org/offmaillist.html
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