Defend against identity theft if you’re a victim – at home, at work, at play
In the last two Health & Safety columns, we talked about steps you can take to deter identity theft and detect it if it happens to you. We also shared the experience of Jennifer Silvestri, assistant vice president of Human Resources, who had when her identity stolen in 2006.
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.
Even the most conscientious person may still become a victim. Silvestri has always been vigilant about protecting her personal information, including shredding all credit card and bank statements, and not disclosing information unless absolutely necessary.
She learned in June 2006 that her identity had been stolen from a phone call to her home from an alert customer service representative at Kay Jewelers. Within the next six weeks, $50,000 had been charged to her accounts for electronics, rental cars and furniture.
By acting quickly, Silvestri was able to limit the damage to her credit rating and avoid many of the horrors that happen to people who learn too late that their identity has been stolen. She began by calling all of the stores where she had accounts and learned that the thief had established new addresses in Illinois and Wisconsin. Plus, passwords and phone numbers had been changed, and a series of new accounts had been opened.
It took Silvestri eight months and the help of a licensed fraud investigator from Identity Theft Shield to repair the damage. The Identity Theft Shield program is a voluntary benefit program available to university employees that helps restore your good name and credit.
The Federal Trade Commission recommends that as soon as you suspect a problem, you take the following steps:
• Place a “fraud alert” on your credit reports, and review the reports carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make certain changes to your existing accounts. The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert; a call to one company is sufficient.
Call Equifax 800-525-6285, Experian at 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or TransUnion at 800-680-7289.
Placing a fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Look for inquiries from companies you haven’t contacted, accounts you didn’t open, and debts on your accounts that you can’t explain.
• Close accounts. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently.
• Call the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or changed without your approval. Follow up in writing, with copies of supporting documents.
• Use the ID Theft Affidavit at www.ftc.gov/idtheft to support your written statement.
• Ask for written verification that the disputed account has been closed and the fraudulent debts discharged.
• Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft.
• File a police report. File a report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime.
• Report your complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations. Contact the FTC at www.ftc.gov/idtheft , 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338, or TTY, 866-653-4261) or Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580
Deter … detect … defend your identity.
This is the last of a three-part series on identity theft based on information from the Federal Trade Commission. For more information, go to www.ftc.gov/idtheft, the FTC’s web site on identity theft, or contact the health and safety awareness committee at healthandsafety@temple.edu.
For information about the Identity Theft Shield program, contact Patrice Gaul at 610-505-4145 or go to www.temple.edu/hr/departments/benefits and click on the link for Voluntary Benefits.