IDENTITY THEFT

 

Identity theft is the fraudulent use of a person’s personal identifying information. Often, identity thieves will use another person’s personal information, such as a social security number, mother’s maiden name, date of birth, or bank account numbers to open fraudulent new credit card accounts, charge existing credit card accounts, write checks, open bank accounts, or obtain new loans. They may obtain this information by:

·  Stealing wallets that contain personal identification information and credit cards.

·  Stealing bank statements from the mail.

·  Diverting mail from its intended recipients by submitting a change of address form.

·  Rummaging through trash for personal data.

·  Stealing personal identification information from workplace records.

·  Intercepting or otherwise obtaining information transmitted electronically.

Pretext calling is a fraudulent means of obtaining a person’s personal information. Pretext callers may contact bank employees, posing as customers, to access customers’ personal account information. Information obtained from pretext calling may be sold to debt collection services, attorneys, and private investigators to use in court proceedings. Identity thieves may also engage in pretext calling to obtain personal information to create fraudulent accounts.

Manage Your Personal Information

So how can a responsible consumer minimize the risk of identity theft, as well as the potential for damage? When it involves your personal information, exercise caution and prudence.

DO IT NOW

·        Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts.

·        Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

·        When you’re asked for your mother’s maiden name on an application for a new account, try using a password instead.

·        Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having service work done in your home.

·        Ask about information security procedures in your workplace.

·        Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that your records are kept in a secure location.

·        Ask about the disposal procedures for those records as well.

EVERYDAY DILIGENCE

 

·        Identity thieves can be skilled liars, and may pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers (ISPs), or even government agencies to get you to reveal identifying information.

 

·        Before you divulge any personal information, confirm that you’re dealing with a legitimate representative of a legitimate organization.

 

·        Double check by calling customer service using the number on your account statement or in the telephone book.

 

 

  • Do not give personal information, such as account numbers or social security numbers, over the telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet, unless you initiated the contact or know with whom you are dealing.
  • Store personal information in a safe place and tear up old credit card receipts, ATM receipts, old account statements, and unused credit card offers before throwing them away.
  • Protect your PINs and other passwords. Avoid using easily available information, such as your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your social security number, your phone number, etc.
  • Carry only the minimum amount of identifying information and number of credit cards that you need.
  • Pay attention to billing cycles and statements. Inquire of the bank, if you do not receive a monthly bill. It may mean that the bill has been diverted by an identity thief.
  • Check account statements carefully to ensure all charges, checks, or withdrawals were authorized.
  • Guard your mail from theft. If you have the type of mailbox with a flag to signal that the box contains mail, do not leave bill payment envelopes in your mailbox with the flag up. Instead, deposit them in a post office collection box or at the local post office. Promptly remove incoming mail. If you’re planning to be away from home and can’t pick up your mail, call the U.S.Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 to ask for a vacation hold

 

·        .Order copies of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once a year. To order your free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting companies, visit www.annualcreditreport.com   call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348‑5281.

  • If you prefer not to receive preapproved offers of credit, you can opt out of such offers by calling (888) 5 OPT OUT.

·        If you want to remove your name from many national direct mail lists, send your name and address to: Postcard or Letter :
There is no charge for registering by mail. However, registering by mail may delay for a month or so inclusion in the MPS file because this requires time to manually add this data to the service. Please send a postcard or letter that includes your name, home address, and signature to us at:

Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

·        If you want to reduce the number of telephone solicitations The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. You can register your home or mobile phone for free. Your registration will be effective for five years. You can register online at WWW.DONOTCALL.GOV or call toll-free, 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236), from the number you wish to register. Registration is free

 

If you have any further questions or concerns,

or if you would like additional information, please contact:

Consumer Protection & Fraud Division

1002 S. Saginaw

Flint, MI 48502

Tel: (810) 341-5923

Fax: (810) 257-3077

E-mail: cps@co.genesee.mi.us

 

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