Detect Identity Theft – at home, at work, at play
In last week’s Health & Safety column, we shared the experience of Jennifer Silvestri, assistant vice president of Human Resources, who had when her identity stolen in 2006. The article included steps you can take to deter identity theft.
Deterring identity theft is only part of the picture. Even the most conscientious person may still become a victim, as Silvestri did. She was meticulous about shredding credit card and bank statements, and protecting her personal information.
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
Silvestri learned that her identity had been stolen from a phone call from an alert customer service representative at Kay Jewelers. Not everyone is so lucky.
Many consumers learn they their identity has been stolen after some damage has been done. A bill collection agency may contact you for overdue debts you never incurred. You may find out when you apply for a mortgage or car loan and learn that problems with your credit history are holding up the loan. Or you may find out when you get something in the mail about an apartment you never rented, a house you never bought or a job you never held.
The Federal Trade Commission recommends that you be alert to suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements:
Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:
• Mail or bills do not arrive as expected. 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 or her tracks, as happened to Silvestri.
• Receiving credit cards you didn’t apply for or statements for unknown accounts.
• Debts to 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, address, name or initials, and employers.
• Denials of credit for no apparent reason.
• Calls or letters about purchases you did not make.
Be sure to inspect:
• Your credit report. Credit reports have information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history. The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228 to order your free credit reports each year. You also can write to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
• Your financial statements. Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for charges you did not make.
Identity theft is serious. People whose identities have been stolen can spend hundreds of dollars and dozens of hours cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. Be vigilant about monitoring your financial activity to reduce your risk and, if a thief gets hold of your personal information, to take fast action to prevent serious, long-term damage to your credit standing.
This is the second of a three-part series on identity theft based on information from the Federal Trade Commission. For more information, go to the FTC’s web site on identity theft at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or contact the Health and Safety Awareness Committee at healthandsafety@temple.edu.