Identity Theft Resources
Preventing Identity Theft
Identity theft is the precursor to identity fraud. Most identity theft occurs by means of physically stolen driver licenses, social security cards, credit cards, and other personal information either from your person, your home, or your mail. Criminals use this information to commit identity fraud.
You can take the following precautions to prevent identity theft:
- Don’t leave outgoing mail in an unsecured location, deposit only in USPSS Collection Boxes
- Have mail held at the post office while away for multiple days
- Get a mailbox that locks
- Opt-out of unsolicited credit card offers and marketing directories
How to opt-out of unsolicited credit card offers:
Call (888) 5-OPT-OUT/(888) 567-8688
Using the online system, www.optoutprescreen.com you can opt out for 5 years. Opt out permanently by mailing the Permanent Opt-Out from available on the website.
How to reduce your junk mail:
Write to the Mail Preference Service. Tell them to put you on the opt-out list. You must renew registration after 5 years:
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512
Or go online to: www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist
Contact Abacus, a company that compiles a database for catalogs and publishing companies. Opt out by mailing to the address:
Abacus
PO Box 1478
Broomfield, CO 80038
email: abacusoptout@epsilon.com
web: www.abacusoptout.com
Contact Axciom's Marketing and Directory Lists:
(877) 774-2094
email: optoutUS@acxiom.com
Protecting your documents:
Shred your documents: DO NOT THROW IN THE TRASH!!
Many of your documents contain vital personal information that an identity thief can use to commit crimes with, such as:
- Bank statements
- Credit card statements
- Pre-approved credit card offers
- ATM receipts
- Canceled or voided checks
- Expried passports, visas, and credit cards
- Tax forms
- Pay stubs
- Copies of credit applications
- Insurance forms
- Physician statements
Be computer safe:
- Use anti-spy ware and anti-virus software
- Only shop at widely trusted sites that are secure
- Check at www.ftc.gov/onlineshopping/ before shoping on any sites
- Erase hard drive if selling or giving away computer
- Never give out personal information to unknow solicitors without researching them first for scam alerts
Don't give information out over the phone to solicitors:
If you don't know the person calling you, the best bet is never to buy the product or give out personal information.
Reduce telemarketing calls: 888-382-1222 or www.donotcall.gov
Detecting Identity Theft and Identity Fraud
Detecting identity theft and identity fraud as early as possible is essential to stopping the chain of incidents that could occur and affect your credit or criminal records.
How to monitor your own credit reports:
Under federal law, you can obtain a free annual credit report from each credit bureau:
www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/requestformfinal.pdf
Mail form to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
PO Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
The reports will be mailed to you within 15 days
How to create your own fraud alerts:
Contact each of the credit bureaus to ask for fraud alerts and request reports every 90 days. Fraud reporting lines are also provided here.
Trans Union:
www.tuc.com
To report fraud: 800-680-7289 TDD 877-553-7803
Experian:
www.experian.com
To report fraud: 888-397-3742 TDD 800-972-0322
Equifax:
www.equifax.com
To report fraud: 800-525-6285 TDD Call 800-525-0056 to access hearing impared line and ask the operator to call the Auto Disclosure Line at 800-685-1111
Detecting fraud on your accounts and reports:
- Look for accounts you did not open and debts on accounts that are not consistent with your statements
- Look for inaccurate information, including accounts, personal information, such as Social Security numbers, addresses, names or initials, and employers
- Look for inquiries from companies you have not contacted
How to monitor your criminal reports:
To find out if a person has used your name or other personal information to commit crimes, you can either order a criminal background check periodically from a trusted web portal, such as MyBackgroundCheck.com, that conducts national database and county court record searches, or you can obtain the records yourself from the court houses located in the cities or counties where you have lived. Many court houses require that you make these requests in person or via the mail. You can access most federal and state criminal databases, but it is a difficult process and there is generally a fee to get a report.
For additional resources, please visit our Consumer Resources page.