identity theft: prepare and protect yourself
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Identity Theft: Prepare and Protect Yourself. What is Identity Theft?. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. They use information such as your: Name, Social Security number, or Credit card number(s) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Identity Theft:Prepare and Protect Yourself
What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal
information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other
crimes.
They use information such as your: Name, Social Security number, or Credit card number(s)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates roughly 10
million Americans have their identities stolen each year.
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Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.• Agawam • MA • 1-800-897-2200
How Do Thieves Steal Identities?
Dumpster Diving: Search trash for
bills or other paperwork containing
personal information.
Skimming: Steal credit/debit card
numbers using special storage devices
when processing your card.
Phishing: Pretend to be financial
institutions or companies
communicating via e-mail or pop-up
messages to get you to reveal your
personal information.
Changing Your Address: Directing
your billing statements to another
address.
Burglary: Steal wallets and purses;
mail, personnel records, or bribe
employees who have access.
Pretexting: Use false pretenses to
obtain your personal information from
financial institutions, telephone
companies, and other sources.
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Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.• Agawam • MA • 1-800-897-2200
How Thieves Use Your Identity
Change the billing address
on your credit card so that
you no longer receive bills,
and then run up charges
on your account.
Open a phone or wireless
account, or run up charges
on your existing account.
Use your name to get
utility services like
electricity, heating, or
cable TV.
Get financing in your
name.
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Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.• Agawam • MA • 1-800-897-2200
How Thieves Use Your Identity
Use your name to get
government benefits.
Gain employment
using your Social
Security number.
Provide your personal
information to police
during an arrest.
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Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.• Agawam • MA • 1-800-897-2200
Protect Yourself
Shred financial documents and paperwork containing personal information before you
discard them.
Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number
on a check.
Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet.
Don’t use obvious passwords.
Keep your personal information in a secure place.
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Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.• Agawam • MA • 1-800-897-2200
Be On The Lookout…
Signs you may be a victim include:
Mail or bills that do not arrive as expected
Unexpected credit cards or account statements
Denials of credit for no apparent reason
Calls or letters about purchases you did not make
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Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.• Agawam • MA • 1-800-897-2200
Do Some Detective Work
Visit
www.AnnualCredit
Report.com or call
1-877-322-8228, to
order your free
credit reports each
year.
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Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.• Agawam • MA • 1-800-897-2200
If You Become A Victim
Place a “Fraud Alert”
on your credit
reports, and review
the reports carefully.
Equifax:
1-800-525-6285
Experian:
1-888-397-3742
TransUnion:
1-800-680-7289
Close accounts.
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Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.• Agawam • MA • 1-800-897-2200
If You Become A Victim
File a police report.
Report your
complaint to the
FTC.
Online:
ftc.gov/idtheft
By phone:
1-877-438-4338
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Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.• Agawam • MA • 1-800-897-2200
Questions?
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.• Agawam • MA • 1-800-897-2200