Citizen

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• Citizen Neighborhood
• Resources Department
• City of Scottsdale, Arizona

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The Problem

• The victimization rate makes this one of the most
  frequent crimes occurring in the USA.
• Victims typically lose 0 because of laws that
  limit credit card loss to 50 and debit cards to
  500. For those who do loose, the average in
  2005 was 422.
• Spend 40 hours clearing
  their name.

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2007 Survey

• The National Crime Prevention Council released a
  survey in February, 2007. It indicated that
  Identity Theft was the crime most people feared.
• Even though people feared ID Theft, few people
  where taking any steps to prevent it.

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Is this a Problem in Arizona?
Source US Federal Trade Commission
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Is this a Problem in Scottsdale?
Source US Federal Trade Commission
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Who are the Victims?
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What is ID Theft?

• Someone using your sensitive
  information to commit fraud or theft.
• A.R.S. 13-2008 Class 4 Felony
• A person commits taking the identity of another
  person if the person knowingly takes, uses,
  possesses, purchases, manufactures, or records
  any personal identification of another person,
  without the consent of that person, with the
  intent to obtain or use the other persons
  identity for unlawful purpose

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What is Aggravated ID Theft?

• A.R.S. 13-2009 Aggravated Identity Theft makes
  ID theft acts a class 3 felony.
• 5 or more victims (possession of information from
  5 people for an unlawful purpose).
• Dollar loss exceeds 3,000.
• ARS 13-2010 Trafficking in identities is a class
  2 felony.

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Drugs ID Theft

• Meth is the gas that fuels Identity Theft
  AnnieLaurie Van Wie, Deputy County Attorney,
  Maricopa County Attorneys Office, Arizona
• Crimes that are associated with ID Theft include
  forgery, fraud, burglary, computer tampering,
  trafficking, drug sales and use.

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How does this occur?

• Thieves get your personal information (name, DOB,
  SS or address)
• Steal records from employers
• Hack into computers or steal
  servers
• Dumpster diving
• Steal wallets and purses
• Steal mail
• Skimming credit cards

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How does Skimming occur?

• ATM Card Skimming

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How does this occur?

• ATM Capturing PIN numbers

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What do they do with this Information?

• Go on spending spree using your credit and debit
  cards.
• Open new credit card and checking accounts using
  your name, birth date, SSN. The delinquent
  notices show up on your credit reports.
• Create fake IDs with your
  information.
• Change mailing address on
  your accounts.
• Take out loans in your name.

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What happens to the Victim?

• 12 (1 in 8) get a wrongful criminal record
• Cant get credit, higher mortgage rates
• Higher cost of insurance
• 40 hours to clear their name

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Consequences For Everyone

• ID Theft supports drug use and the drug trade
• Promotes illegal immigration and people
  trafficking
• Used for money laundering
• Funding for terrorists

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How can I tell if I am a Victim?

• Routine check of your credit report.
• Failing to receive bills or other mail.
• Receiving credit cards that you did not apply
  for.
• Receiving notices and calls from collection
  agencies for merchandise you did not buy.
• Denial of credit.
• Receive calls from credit card
  issuers asking if you made
  uncharacteristic purchases.

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What do I do Now as a Victim?

• Contact your bank and close the accounts or
  changing account numbers, advising them of the
  fraud.
• Contact one of the 3 major credit bureaus to
  place a 90 day fraud alert then send letter to
  put a 7 year fraud alert on your file.
• Order copies of your credit reports.

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What do I do Now as a Victim?

• Use the ID theft affidavit from the FTC or
  acquire them from your bank.
• Ask the bank to notify the check verification
  services. You may notify them as well.
• File a report with the local Police Department.
• File a complaint with FTC.

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How Can I Protect Myself?

• Create passwords for credit cards, bank and phone
  accounts.
• Dont use your mothers maiden name, birth date,
  last 4 digits of SSN, phone or a pets name for
  passwords.
• Secure personal information in your home.
• Dont use SSN for Drivers
  License

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How Can I Protect Myself?

• Shred all documents containing your information.
• Drop outgoing mail in a USPS box, not your home
  box.
• Limit the number of credit cards you carry.
  Dont carry your SS card unless you have to.
• Ask if companies use encrypted servers for your
  personal information that they store (e.g.
  mortgage companies).

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How Can I Protect Myself?

• Regularly check your credit bureau report
• Dont leave your wallet or purse in the car
• Request your PEBES (Personal Earning Benefits
  Estimate Statement) report from the Social
  Security Administration
• Use the mail in a secure manner (only use
  official mailboxes, pick up your mail everyday)

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How Can I Protect Myself?

• Put a copy of your registration in your car that
  has your home address removed with white out
• Request that ID Issuers use a number OTHER THAN
  your SSN
• Check all bank and credit card statements
  promptly

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Changes to the Laws

• Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA)
  of December, 2003 states
• Consumers can get FREE CREDIT REPORTS from EACH
  credit bureau (Equifax, Experian, Trans Union)
  once a year (www.annualcreditreport.com - info on
  handout).
• Mortgage lenders are required to provide credit
  scores to applicants.
• All consumers can see their credit
  score for a fair and reasonable
  fee (currently 9)

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Changes to the Laws

• Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA)
  of December, 2003 states
• ID Theft victims need only notify one of the
  three credit bureaus and they must notify the
  other two.
• After notification, a 90-day fraud alert must
  accompany any credit report or credit score
  issued by all three bureaus.
• You can extend the fraud alert for 7 years if you
  provide a report from a law enforcement agency.
• Businesses where fraudulent accounts were opened
  have to give the victim account information to
  help clear their name. They must accept reports
  by the victim or the credit bureau.

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Protection on the Computer

• Maintain current virus protection software,
  spyware and a firewall.
• Dont download files from strangers.
• Use a secure browser https for financial
  transactions and personal information.
• Dont put any personal info on a
  social networking website like
  Myspace and Facebook.

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Protection on the Computer

• Try to not to store financial records on your
  laptop.
• Avoid automatic log-in features.
• Delete any personal info. Before disposing of
  PC.
• Dont respond to supposed inquiries from your
  bank, online service, or credit card processing
  service.

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Protection on the Computer

• Phishing - the on-line imitation of a company's
  branding in spoofed e-mail messages and web
  sites, created with the intent of fooling
  unsuspecting users into divulging personal
  information such as passwords, credit card
  numbers, PINs, etc.
• Vishing Phishing done on VoIP (Voice over
  Internet Protocol) phone systems.
• Pretexting tricking victims into giving
  personal information to be used in identity
  theft. Surveys are often used as pretexting.

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Dont Let This Happen To You!
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The Media Is Paying Attention
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Resources

• Handouts are available with phone numbers, and
  step by step procedures.
• Social Security Administration ssa.gov or
  800-772-1213
• Federal Trade Commission ftc.gov or
  202-326-2222
• FBI/National White Collar Crime Center nw3c.org

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Thank you for attending today!