This
column is designed to help you to take action to deal with the problems
that could result from the loss of any of these items, or from any
resulting identity theft.
What
you can do to protect yourself and your family from being
victimized again. |
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Do not
put your D.L. # or SSN# on your checks. This makes it easy
to get a false ID made.
-
Do not
carry your social security card or birth certificate copy
in your wallet or purse.
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Keep
all credit card receipts safe. Many criminals use numbers
off receipts to defraud.
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Safeguard
your PIN#s for all cards/accounts. Do not write them on or
keep them with the cards.
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Shred
credit card offers you get in the mail. Thieves steal mail
and trash to get these.
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Don't give
out any personal information over the phone.
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If
someone calls and asks for personal information or bank
information, tell them you will call them back. Don't trust
the phone number they give you, instead find the number
to the company or bank yourself and call that number to
verify. Check out the number AND the company
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If you
get e-mails about winning the lottery or notifying you of a
dead relative that left you millions in another Country, don't
take their word for it. Check it out before you respond.
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NEVER
give your credit card number out to someone calling you - Make
charges only when you call, or have verified the authenticity
of the caller.
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Do not
put payments or checks in your mailbox for pickup. Mail them
at a post office.
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If
possible, have all your monthly checks direct deposited
to your bank rather than mailed to your home.
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Think
about paying online. It's safer, quicker, and you get a
confirmation number showing you made a payment. If the website
is compromised, the business is responsible, not you.
THE
GOOD NEWS: You are NOT responsible for
monetary losses. The banks and credit card companies must refund
your money losses (if any), although they may hold your money while
they are conducting an investigation in the case. Some can charge
you up to $50 per account, but most do not.
Remember
to CALL, CHECK, and ASK QUESTIONS.
Better
Business Bureau www.bbb.org
IF
YOUR CHECKS OR CREDIT CARDS WERE TAKEN: |
Notify your bank or credit card company if you have not
already done so, and request that they close the account. Then call
the three credit reporting bureaus to report the loss, and ask them
to put a FRAUD ALERT on your account so NO
NEW CREDIT will be issued without contacting you.
This
is especially important if any form of identification was also stolen
at the same time.
IF
YOUR STOLEN CHECKS OR CARDS HAVE BEEN USED: |
The subsequent use of any of the stolen checks or credit
cards must be reported to the police by the merchant or bank where
it was presented for payment. Contact the banks and/or businesses
that accepted your checks or cards to notify them of the fraudulent
use. Encourage the banks and businesses to pursue charges against
any suspects identified.
Your
bank or credit card company should have you sign an affidavit of
check forgery or credit card fraud, and they should reverse all
of the checks/charges relating to the fraudulent transactions.
IF
NEW CHECKS OR CARDS HAVE BEEN MAILED TO A DIFFERENT ADDRESS: |
Call
the U.S. Postal Inspectors about mail being falsely forwarded, and
notify the credit reporting bureaus.
Local Postal
Inspector (817) 317-3460
IF
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD WAS TAKEN: |
Call the Social Security Administration FRAUD HOTLINE
to notify them of the loss and get information on how to get a duplicate
card. Also, notify the credit reporting bureaus listed above. Request
a copy of a credit report a month or two after the theft to make
sure no fraudulent accounts are being opened.
IF
YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE WAS TAKEN: |
Apply for a duplicate driver’s license as soon as
possible through your local DPS office, and ask them to put an "alarm"
on your driver’s license as stolen to help prevent identity
theft. Also, notify the credit reporting bureaus and request a credit
report after one month.
IF
SOMEONE HAS STOLEN YOUR IDENTITY TO GET NEW CREDIT: |
Call the police department at the non-emergency number
(817) 335-4222 and make an Identity Theft report. In Texas, Identity
Theft becomes a crime only when any victim (person or business)
suffers a monetary loss. Also, call the Federal Trade Commission
Identity Theft Hotline to notify them and get advice on how to proceed.
Notify all three credit reporting bureaus to put a Fraud Alert on
your data and immediately request a credit report. You must then
advise the credit bureau and the institution making the entry of
any specific fraudulent accounts appearing on that report. That
institution should send you an affidavit of account/transaction
fraud to sign and return to them. Make sure that the Institution
who has made entry on the report provides a certified letter to
you advising of the removal of the inquiry and or credit established
without your knowledge.
To remove your
identity from the Internet - a deletion form is at www.lexis-nexis.com
OTHER
PHONE RESOURCES FOR ADVICE AND INFORMATION |
Federal Government
Information Center (for agency phone numbers) 1 - 800 - 688 - 9889
ONLINE
FRAUD (sweepstakes, lotteries, auctions, etc) |
Make
a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center. They will send
a report to the city where the victim lives and to the proper jurisdiction
where the suspect lives. The appropriate authorities will then be
able to investigate the incident.
Internet
Crime Complaint Center www.ic3.gov
Call
our Forgery/Fraud Unit at (817) 392-4550 if you have further
questions. |
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