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The University of Wyoming is an equal opportunity/affirmative
action institution.
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ID THEFT:Protect Yourself!
Bill TaylorUniversity of Wyoming
Community Development Area Educator
UW Community Development Education
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ID theft
ID theft criminals use your personal information to apply for credit or government benefits Your name Your birth date Your Social Security number Your address Your bank account or credit card
numbers
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What can be done with a false ID?
Open credit cards, buy goods Take out loans Get cell phones Open bank accounts Seek employment Open credit accounts Pay bills
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It pays to prevent ID theft
Victims spend an average of 600 hours recovering from ID theft, often over a period of years.
It is estimated that every victim of ID theft spends $1,400 in out-of-pocket expenses to clear their names
Have you ever been the victim of identity fraud?
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5 Yes N
o
0%0%
1. Yes2. No
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Credit card fraud Keep an eye on your credit
cards at all times
Unscrupulous employees might steal the information from your credit card and use it to make counterfeit cards
Shred all credit card statements, receipts and solicitations before throwing them away
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Dumpster diving
Crooks look in garbage cans and elsewhere for discarded credit card statements and receipts to obtain the card numbers
These papers can be used to steal your identity and set up credit in your name
Shred sensitive papers
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Phishing
A term used for emails that claim to be from your bank, a reputable business or a government agency
Criminals ask for personal information such as Social Security numbers or account numbers to steal funds and/or steal identities
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Nigerian letters
E-mails that ask recipients to provide their bank account number to help them share in a big pot of money
If you respond to these letters you will lose your money
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Are you already a victim?
Check your credit report Look for
Accounts you don’t recognize Inaccurate information
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Credit reports Check your credit reports regularly. Free credit reports can be obtained
once a year from each of the 3 credit reporting agencies
Have you obtained your credit report within the last year?
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12 Yes N
o
0%0%
1. Yes2. No
Have you found a mistake in your credit report?
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13 Yes N
o
0%0%
1. Yes2. No
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Credit reporting agencies
Equifax, 800-525-6285, www.equifax.com
Experian, 888-397-3742, www.experian.com
TransUnion, 800-680-7289, www.transunion.com
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Free credit reports
Annual Credit Report www.annualcreditreport.com (877) 322-8228 Annual Credit Report, Request Service,
PO Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
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Social Security number (SSN) Memorize your Social Security number
(SSN) Don’t carry your Social Security card Don’t print your SSN on your driver’s
license or bank checks Keep all papers listing your SSN hidden or
locked away Shred all documents with SSNs before you
throw them away
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Financial information Check bills, bank and credit card
statements Report any unauthorized transactions
immediately
Track statements, new credit cards or check orders in the mail
Call the companies immediately if you notice Unauthorized transactions Missing credit cards or checks
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Cards and account numbers Shield ATM keypads when entering
passwords Memorize your PINs Watch your cards while they are with
sales clerks or waiters Lock your own mailbox
Use US post boxes for outgoing mail that contains account numbers
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Phone and Internet
Don’t answer callers or e-mails asking for personal information Remember, you may be overheard on a
cell phone
Always make sure you are dealing with reputable companies
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Marketing
Read your bank’s privacy notice Stop or ‘opt out’ of pre-screened
credit offers (888) 5OPT-OUT
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Monitor your mail
Missed bills, credit card statements, etc. may signal trouble
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Always question … Charges, bills or collection calls that
are not yours Complain immediately
Denials of credit when you have good credit Get a free copy of the credit report used
to make the decision Check for mistakes or fraud
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Password accounts
Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts
Don’t use easy-to-guess names and numbers
Ask businesses not to use SSN or mother’s maiden name
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Warning signs of fraud Be suspicious if you hear
You’ve won a prize or free gift
You’ve been selected to receive a special offer
You must act immediately or lose out
You must pay for shipping your prize or free gift
You must give your credit card number and expiration date to verify that you are a credit cardholder
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Warning signs of fraud (cont.) You’re asked for personal information
You’re asked to donate to an agency whose name sounds like a well known charity
You’re one of only a chosen few to receive this offer
A courier will come to your home to get your payment
Little risk and large, short term profits
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Protect your assetsNever
reveal your financial information to someone who calls you on the phone
allow strangers to come into your home
believe that a stranger will use your money for a good purpose
assign power of attorney to people you don’t know very well
sign contracts that have any blank lines in them
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Protect your assets (cont.)
Financial exploitation is often committed by a person that is trusted by the victim
Keep all important financial documents under lock and key in your home
Store valuables in a bank safe deposit box
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What can you do?
1. Do not give your telephone calling card, credit card, or bank account numbers to strangers by telephone or mail unless you initiated the order for goods or services.
2. Do not be pressured by salespeople into buying NOW.
3. Do not pay to receive a free gift.4. Shut the door. Hang up the phone.
ID Protection Service
Consider subscribing Amount of protections varies
depending on company Types of services
Request credit reports and request a fraud alert for each
Remove you from preapproved credit card offers
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ID Protection Service (cont.)
Types of services (cont.) Check criminal databases for illegal
activity attached to your name Monitor any address changes attached to
your name Assist with lost or stolen wallet Legal assistance Liability insurance (for fraudulent
charges and expenses to recover identity)
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ID theft clean up Document the crime File a police report with your local police
department Get a copy of the police report
Contact appropriate state and federal law enforcement agencies
Complete a free ID Theft Affidavit from the FTC www.ftc.gov/idtheft
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Victims - be watchful Dispute fraudulent accounts immediately
Close all affected accounts Follow up your phone call with a written request
Get letters stating disputed accounts have been closed
Create new passwords for all of your accounts Avoid easy-to-guess passwords
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Resources
Consumer Action www.consumer-action.org 415-777-9635
Identity Theft Resource Center www.idtheftcenter.org 858-693-7935
National Consumers League www.nclnet.org/ 202-835-3323
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Resources (cont.) National Fraud Information Center (part of National
Consumers League)
www.fraud.org
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse www.privacyrights.org/identity.htm 619-298-5681
Wyoming Attorney General attorneygeneral.state.wy.us 307-777-7841
AARP www.aarp.org/ 888-687-2277
Resources (cont.) Wyoming Adult Protective Services
dfsweb.state.wy.us/aps.htm 307-777-3602
North American Securities Association www.nasaa.org/home/index.cfm 202-737-0900
National Association of Attorneys General 202-326-6040
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Resources (cont.)
FTC ID Theft Clearinghouse / ID Theft Hotline www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
US Department of Justice www.usdoj.gov/ 202-514-2000
Federal Bureau of Investigation www.sfbi.gov/; denver.fbi.gov 307-772-2380
Resources (cont.) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
www.fdic.gov/consumers/theft/index.html 877-275-3342
United States Postal Inspection Service Postalinspectors.uspis.gov/ 800-372-8347
United States Secret Service www.secretservice.gov/ 307-772-2380
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The University of Wyoming is an equal opportunity/affirmative
action institution.
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Questions?