Title: Identity Crisis
1Identity Crisis
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
2- Considerations and Definitions
3Questions To Consider
How many personal identifiers are in your wallet
or purse? How many financial identifiers?
If the volume of mail I get at home drops off
substantially, I should check . . . . ?
Where is a security alert placed and who does
it? What about a security freeze?
What can I do, personally, to prevent or limit
being a victim of identity crime?
4Definition and Types
- Identity Crime is defined as
- Theft or misuse of personal or financial
identifiers in order to gain something of value
and / or facilitate other criminal activity.
- Types of Identity Crimes include
- Identity Theft
- Credit card / Access Device Fraud (skimming)
- Check Fraud
- False Identification Fraud
- Passport / Visa Fraud
5Scope and Current trends
6Scope
- ID Crime often facilitates
- Mail theft fraud
- Illegal Narcotics / drugs
- Organized crime
- Financial fraud (money laundering)
- Mortgage fraud
- Weapons trafficking
- Homicide
- Terrorism
- Wire fraud
- Computer crime / internet intrusions
7Scope
- ID Crimes often begin with
- Wallet / Purse theft
- Muggings
- Computer intrusion
- Mail theft
- Dumpster diving (theft of trash)
- Theft of business documents or info
- Theft from medical facilities, hotels, etc.
8Types of Identifiers
- Personal
- Name and Date of Birth
- Social Security Number
- Address and phone numbers
- Drivers license and passport numbers
- Mothers maiden name pet name etc.
- Financial
- Credit card numbers
- Bank account numbers
- PIN numbers
- Insurance account numbers
9Current Trends
- Use of current / latest technologies.
- Scams include
- Over hearing cell phone conversations.
- Reading others faxes or email.
- Hacking into computers.
- Telephone and e-mail scams.
- Careless online shopping and banking.
- Magnetic Strip Scanners
10www.idtheftcenter.org
11Top 10 Consumer Fraud Complaints
- Internet Auctions 16
- Shop-at-Home/Catalog Sales 8
- Internet Services/Computer Complaints
6 - Foreign Money Offers 6
- Prizes/Sweepstakes and Lotteries 5
- Advance-Fee Loans and Credit Protection 3
- Business Opportunities/Work at Home Scams 2
- Telephone Services 2
- Other (Miscellaneous 12
12Legal aspects of Identity crime
13Protect Yourself
- From Business and Commerce Code Chapter 20,
added definitions - Security Alert
- Security Freeze
14Security Alert
Security alert" means a notice placed on a
consumer file that alerts a recipient of a
consumer report involving that consumer file that
the consumer's identity may have been used
without the consumer's consent to fraudulently
obtain goods or services in the consumer's name.
15Security Freeze
"Security freeze" means a notice placed on a
consumer file that prohibits a consumer reporting
agency from releasing a consumer report relating
to the extension of credit involving that
consumer file without the express authorization
of the consumer.
16Prosecuting Needs
- Reporting ID Crime to Police
- Making a written report is vital because credit
bureaus require a police report. - You should complete an Identity Crime Incident
Detail Form. - You should immediately begin gathering bank,
credit card statements, letters from creditors,
merchant account statements, etc. - You should obtain credit reports from the three
major Credit Bureaus.
17Need For Immediacy in Reporting Relation to time
of theft and when the theft was reported
18Statistics
- Texas was ranked 4th in the nation for percentage
of victims in relation to population. - There were 26,624 victims of Identity Theft in
Texas in 2005 - City No.
- Houston 3,735
- Dallas 1,908
- San Antonio 1,760
- Fort Worth 1,105
- Austin 858
19Costs of I.D. Theft in the last year
- 4.6 of the Population
- 9.91 Million U.S.Citizens
- Average loss for financial institutions
4,800.00 - Total loss 47.6 billion
- Average loss for individual victims 500.00
- Average time spent resolving issues 30 hours
20www.consumer.gov/theft
21Credit Reporting Agencys
22How do I get my Free Credit Report
23Experian
24TransUnion
25Equifax
26Credit Report Example
27Other Scams
- Online Business
- Processing Medical Insurance Claims
- Social Group Clubs
- Pigeon Drop Scam
- Lottery Tickets Scam
- Nigerian Royal Family
- Home Repairs
- Envelope Stuffing
28NO Call List
29Telemarketers
- Do not get stuck on the phone
- Never provide credit card information over the
phone. - Always ask for mail correspondence if you do wish
to make a purchase or to make denotation. - Remember they are calling you, feel free to say,
Thanks but, NO Thanks
30Personal protection
31Prevention Personal Awareness
- Do not give out personal identifier information
over the phone or Internet. - Stay informed about your personal financial
records with frequent checks of credit history,
bank records, i.e., extra or unknown
transactions. - Limit personal information on necessary public
distribution items (checks, business cards). - Purchase a home cross-cut shredder.
- Consider Identity Theft Insurance.
- Limit types of information you provide to
everyone - (license plates, kids names, last names)
32Internet Safety
33www.idcrimes.com
We provide services relating to victims of
specific types of crimes involving Identity
Theft. We can assist you in the process of
restoring your credit and ensuring the secure
reacquisition of your personal information.