id theft: what you need to know - juliana harris
TRANSCRIPT
Juliana Harris,Senior Communications Coordinator
South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs
The State’s Consumer
Protection Agency
6 Divisions
Commission on Consumer Affairs
Administrator
Council of Advisors
Consumer Services & Education
Administration
Advocacy
Legal
Public Information
Identity Theft Unit
• Organizational Structure
Attempts to resolve consumer complaints against
businesses. DCA fields complaints from consumers, if they
have a problem with a household product or service a
business has sold them.
Receives approximately 400-500 written complaints and
about 4,000 phone calls each month.
The Division has consistently resolved about 85% of the
complaints in a satisfactory manner.
SCDCA
provides support for the other Divisions including
personnel, accounting, data processing and purchasing.
Processes regulatory filings for:
o Maximum Rate—creditors charging in excess of 18%
o Credit Grantor Notification—creditors grossing over $150,000 annual
o Motor Vehicle Dealer Closing Costs– Dealers charging a doc fee
SCDCA
Represents the public at large by intervening in insurance
rate cases/ filings. Includes workers’ compensation, auto,
home, etc.
Administers & enforces the following regulatory programs:
o Continuing Care Retirement Communities
o Discount Medical Plan Organizations
o Professional Employer Organizations
SCDCA
Helps the Administrator to administer and enforce the Consumer
Protection Code and various other laws that have been assigned to the
Department for Regulation.
Can investigate and bring enforcement actions, both administratively
and in court, for violations of the Consumer Protection Code.
Some industries the Department regulates:
• Mortgage Brokers
• Pawn Brokers
• Prepaid Legal
• Preneed Funeral
SCDCA
Serves as the main consumer education portal for
consumers, business and media.
Launched SCDCA-TV on YouTube and uses Twitter.
Make presentations and sponsor webinars on ID Theft, debt
collection, foreclosures, credit and other popular topics.
The Division also disseminates press releases and
consumer education brochures.
SCDCA
Celebrated Second Anniversary October 1, 2015!
Takes scam reports, ID Theft reports and conducts
outreach.
Education. Guidance. Enforcement.
Receives security breach notices.
• FTC’s #1 complaint in 2014 was ID Theft. (13%)
• SC ranks #30 in nation for volume of ID Theft Complaints.
• Billions in financial losses each year.
SC Stats: ID Theft Complaints:
2014 – 30th
2013 – 17th
2012 – 17th
2011 – 20th
2010- 29th
2009- 28th2008- 29th
2007- 30th
35% Government Documents/Benefits Fraud
Unlawful use or counterfeit of gov’t issued documents
14% Phone or Utilities Fraud
Obtaining these services with false info
13% Credit Card Fraud
Opening a line of credit with false info
* From FTC Consumer Sentinel 2014 Report
Friends & Family
Pretexting
Phishing
Skimming
Pre-Approval Offers
Unscrupulous employees @ businesses with which you have
a relationship
Dumpster Diving
Hacking/Security Breach
Scams
The copying of electronically transmitted data on
the magnetic strip of a credit card, to enable valid
electronic payment authorization to occur between
a merchant and the issuing financial institution.
ID thieves steal credit/debit card numbers by using
a special storage device when processing your
card.
Cameras to view password entry
Card electronic strip readers
Keystroke Capturers
SKIMMING - Electronic card strip readers
Sending authentic-looking but fraudulent e-mail designed to trick a person into giving out personal information.
“Spear phishing” scam artists have some inside information, such as the
consumer’s name or knowledge of who the consumer does business with, which they use to seem more legitimate in their request for personal data.
E-mails that appear to be from American Airlines claiming to:
have an e-ticket attached; or
that the consumer needs to change an account password.
• Similar to phishing, but uses text messages on
cellphones and smartphones
• 2 common types:
1. Receive an urgent text that appears to be from a
trusted source (bank, credit card company): “card
stolen” or “account frozen”; instructed to call
number or go to particular website to “verify
account” = thieves steal info
2. Same as above, but message contains
attachment: virus or malware
Fraud Alert
Security Freeze
Monitor your financial
and personal
statements
Lasts 90 days.
Alerts businesses that may be viewing your report to take extra steps to verify your identity.
Entitles you to another free credit report from each of the three CRAs.
ONE call that’s all!
Free for SC residents to place OR lift.
Stops anyone from accessing your credit report.
o No new lines of credit in your name
Thaw when you want to apply for new credit.
Place with EACH of the three credit reporting
agencies (CRAs).
800-680-7289 or http://freeze.transunion.com
You will have to make an account to place the freeze with
TransUnion online.
To apply for new lines of credit or ANY
good/service that requires the business to
run a credit check:
o YOU WILL NEED YOUR PINS.
Keep them together and in a secure place.
www.annualcreditreport.com
1-877-322-8228
Review it at least once a year!
Dispute errors or old information.
May offer to “lock”, “flag”, or freeze your credit.
Place fraud alert.
Troll black market internet sites that traffic PII.
Research before you buy.
Remember, state and federal law allows you to do many of
these things for free!
Account balance falls below X amount.
o Charge of more than X amount.
Banks and credit unions often offer these for free.
o Get texts, e-mail or calls.
Contact your financial institution for more
info.
Transcripts are free:
o outline most of information included on a tax return
submitted with the requestor’s information.
o review the document for signs that someone is
• reporting earnings
• filing taxes, in their name.
To request a transcript, visit www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Return-
Transcripts, call 800-908-9946 or use the IRS2Go mobile
app.
Eligible to sign up whether retired or still working
o review benefit and payment information;
o address and phone number on record; and
o Establish direct deposit accounts.
Review regularly to catch possible identity theft
quickly.
For more information on this program, visit
www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Your SSN can be used to get:
o Medical benefits
o Government benefits
o Tax refund
o Credit
o Jobs
That’s why you must monitor your:
o credit reports
o bank statements
o credit card statements
o explanation of benefits from insurance
provider
Mistakes on your financial statements.
Bills don’t arrive on time.
Bills or collection notices for things you never purchased.
Unexpectedly denied a loan.
You don’t get your tax refund and end up owing the IRS.
Dispose of sensitive materials appropriately.
Don’t disclose personal info to someone you don’t
know.
o On the phone
o Online
o Through the mail
Be cautious when shopping online.
Don’t carry things like your SS card, birth certificate.
Monitor your credit reports! 877-322-8228
Opt out of pre-screened credit offers. Call: 1-888-5-
OPTOUT (1-888-567- 8688).
http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft
You can order publications for free from the FTC.
www.consumer.sc.gov or 800.922.1594
Check out our YouTube channel.
Youtube.com/scdcatv
Look to Twitter for recent scam
alerts and the latest consumer
news. @SCDCA
Visit Facebook for updates and
educational materials.
Facebook.com/scdca
To receive news releases and
other publications contact:
Juliana Harris
Senior Communications Coordinator
803.734.4296
