POLICE: IDENTITY THEFT and FRAUD

Identity theft is a complex, ever-growing problem that can have a devastating impact on a victim’s life. The U.S. Department of Justice defines it this way: “Identity theft is a crime. Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another persons personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain”.

The purpose of this page is to provide residents with helpful information in a concise, useful format. In addition to information on how identity theft occurs, how to deter it, and steps to take to minimize the damage should it occur, links to additional resources are provided for further information.

Common Identity Theft Techniques

1. Shoulder Surfing: A thief will stand right behind you when you use an ATM or enter a PIN for a debit card at a check out counter. That person is trying to memorize your PIN and may even use a cell phone to photograph your card.
2. Dumpster Diving: A thief will rummage through your personal trash can when you leave it out on the curb for pick up or in commercial dumpsters or paper recycling bins. The thief is looking for personal information on documents such as bank statements, credit card statements and bills.
3. Skimming: A thief will use a special electronic device to scan and store credit card numbers when processing a credit card. This is particularly easy for a waiter or waitress to do when a credit card is used at a restaurant.
4. Phishing: A thief will send email or pop-up messages to your computer, pretending to be your bank, credit card company or a government agency, in an attempt to extract personal information. Smishing is the same tactic with the same goal, but the contact is initiated via a text message.
5. Hacking: A thief will hack into your email or other online accounts to access personal information.
6. Common Theft: A thief will steal wallets, purses and mail that contain personal information. The thief may also steal employer records or bribe employees to obtain the desired information.

Prevention Steps

1. Shred financial documents, including statements from banks, credit card companies, investment firms and the like. Anything that contains personal information should be shredded before being discarded.
2. Do not carry your Social Security card on your person or write your Social Security number on anything else you do carry. Be careful about with whom you share this number and for what purpose.
3. Never give out personal information unless you are certain who you are giving it to. This includes providing information in person, online, over the phone or through the mail. A good rule of thumb is to not give any personal information out unless you initiated the contact. If the other party initiated the contact you can ask them to provide a phone number, website, and/or physical address so that you can check them out before providing information.
4. Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails. Instead, type in a web address you know and trust. Make sure your computer security is up to date. For more information on computer security, visit OnGuard/Online at Click on this link: OnGuard/Online
   
   
5. Keep your personal information in a secure place in your home.
6. Examine your bank and credit card statements regularly and carefully for any unrecognized activity. Obtain a copy of your credit report once a year. This report can be obtained for free at Annual Credit Report at this link or 1-877-322-8228. Click on this link: Annual Credit Report
   
   
7. Do not carry your PINs for debit and ATM cards with you.

Identity Theft Red Flags

1. Bills that do not arrive as expected
2. Unexpected credit cards or account statements
3. Denials of credit for no apparent reason
4. Calls or letters about purchases you did not make
5. Charges on your financial statements that you don’t recognize.

Actions To Take If Victimized

1. Contact your bank and credit card companies to prevent any further unauthorized activity on any compromised accounts.
2. File a police report. This will help you correct your credit report and work with creditors.
3. Contact the security or fraud departments of each company where an unauthorized account or charge was found. Work with that company to resolve the immediate issue.
4. Place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports and review the reports carefully. This alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to existing accounts. To place a fraud alert on your credit report, contact any one of the following companies: Experian (1-888-397-3742), TransUnion (1-800-680-7289) or Equifax (1-800-525-6285).
5. Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission by phone at 1-877-438-4338 or at
   Click on this link: Identity Theft
   
   

Additional Resources

General Services Administration

Click on this link: Preventing Identity Theft

U.S. Department of Justice

Click on this link: Identity Theft/ Identity Fraud

Federal Trade Commission

Click on this link: Identity Theft

Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force

Click on this link: Protect Yourself from Fraud