Identity Theft

By: Michael Jones and Sarah Trent

What is Identity Theft?

• When your personal information is stolen and used by someone else

Percent of Adult

Population1 Number of Persons

(millions)2

New Accounts & Other Fraud 0.8 % (0.5 % - 1.2%)

1.8 (1.2 – 2.8)

Misuse of Existing Non-Credit Card Account or Account Number

1.5 % (1.1% - 2.1%)

3.3 (2.4 – 4.6)

Misuse of Existing Credit Card or Credit Card Number 1.4 %

(1.0 % - 2.1%) 3.2 (2.1 – 4.6)

Total Victims in 2005 3.7 % (3.0% - 4.6%)

8.3 (6.6 – 10.3)

What is the FTC?• The FTC deals with issues that touch the economic

life of every American. It is the only federal agency with both consumer protection and competition jurisdiction in broad sectors of the economy. The FTC pursues vigorous and effective law enforcement; advances consumers’ interests by sharing its expertise with federal and state legislatures and U.S. and international government agencies; develops policy and research tools through hearings, workshops, and conferences; and creates practical and plain-language educational programs for consumers and businesses in a global marketplace with constantly changing technologies.

Deter, Detect, and Defend

• Deter- Minimize your risk• Detect Identity Theft• Defend- Recover from identity theft

Signs you are an identity theft victim

• accounts you didn't open and debts on your accounts that you can't explain.

• fraudulent or inaccurate information on your credit reports, including accounts and personal information, like your Social Security number, addresses, name or initials, and employers.

• failing to receive bills or other mail. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.

• receiving credit cards that you didn't apply for. • being denied credit, or being offered less favorable

credit terms, like a high interest rate, for no apparent reason.

• getting calls or letters from debt collectors or businesses about merchandise or services you didn't buy.

Identity Theft Tips

• Shred all documents• Take out your own trash• Frequently pay attention to your credit report

How to file a complaint

• https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03

Where to get free credit reports

• Freecreditreport.com• To buy a copy of your report, contact:

• Equifax: 800-685-1111; www.equifax.com

• Experian: 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742); www.experian.com

• TransUnion: 800-916-8800; www.transunion.com

http://onguardonline.gov/quiz/idtheft_quiz.html

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