Identity Theft: Getting Back to Square OneHow can you fight back if someone steals your name, Social Security number, and credit card number? The keys are to notice the theft quickly, reject the fraudulent charges, and protect against future fraud.
Know the signs.
The first sign of an ID theft may be statements for an unknown credit card account. Expected bills may not arrive. You may get phone calls about unknown purchases. You may get an unexpected credit denial.
Ask for a fraud alert.
If you suspect fraud, alert one of the credit reporting agencies (listed at bottom), and ask for a "90-day fraud alert" on your name, which will require financial firms to get extra identification from applicants. Eventually, you may need a seven-year version of the same fraud alert.
Close compromised credit accounts.
Confirm the action by mailing the Federal Trade Commission's ID theft affidavit for each account. Visit http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf for more information.
Know your liability.
The Fair Credit Billing Act governs credit card disputes. Usually, liability is limited to $50 for each credit card--if you contact the issuer within 60 days of the bill's normal arrival date.
For financial institution accounts, federal law governs electronic transfers, while state law governs "paper" withdrawals. Report lost or stolen ATM cards within two business days. The longer you wait, the larger your financial liability. After two business days, your liability jumps to $500. And, if you don't notify the issuer within 60 days of receiving your statement, you could lose all the money in your account, plus your maximum overdraft limit, if any. Paperwork from the local police will help confirm the theft and avoid liability for fraudulent charges.
Take good notes.
At every step, pay attention to detail and remember that businesses and agencies may want to see paper or electronic files. For each contact, record the name of the person you spoke with, the date and time of the conversation, the address, phone number, and full name of the business, and what was discussed.
Follow up.
Send all important correspondence via registered mail, with return receipt requested, and send copies, not originals. Keep the paperwork on hand for several years. Once you and a creditor have settled a claim, ask the firm to mail a letter confirming that the matter is settled. This letter is your best protection if the same phony claim reappears.
Resources
* Identity theft protection and survival: identitytheft.org
* Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Web site:
ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/index.html
* Credit reporting agencies
Equifax: equifax.com
Experian: experian.com
TransUnion: transunion.com
* Free annual credit report
Annualcreditreport.com
877-322-8228
Note: The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act) of 2003 requires each major credit bureau to provide one free credit report annually to consumers who request a copy. |
Social Networking: Five Steps to Protecting Your Identity Online
Innocent online chats, blogs, videos, and other interactions are like breadcrumbs that identity thieves can follow to the feast. That makes social networking sites such as MySpace and FaceBook a 24-hour buffet. The thieves will keep coming back for more, as long as most Americans continue to ignore some simple precautions.
One glaring example is that 83% of the adults who use social networking sites download unknown files to their personal computers, according to a 2006 survey of American adult Internet users. The survey, co-sponsored by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), focused on social networking behaviors that open doorways for hackers and thieves to steal identities and cause other mayhem.
Your financial identity is worth protecting, and you must be especially vigilant if you are active on social networking sites or posting your resume online.
Start with these precautions:
* Assume that everything you post on social networking sites will be visible to everyone. And don't assume they won't know it's you—at the very least, adjust your profile so your blogs and other materials are available only to "friends" to whom you grant access. That doesn't guarantee security, but it's a start.
* Don't click on links or attachments in e-mails unless you know what they are and who sent them. If you get unsolicited e-mail asking for personal data such as your Social Security number or financial account numbers—for any reason—report it to www.fraud.org and delete it.
* Use only trusted, secure Web sites when you enter sensitive personal information online. Rather than cut and paste links from e-mails, type the Web address in directly. Once there, look for "https" in the URL and a locked-padlock icon in the frame of your browser window.
* Use a spam filter, virus scanner, and firewall on your computer, and keep them updated. If you work from a wireless router, secure it with a password.
* Know what your children are doing online. If they are active on social networking sites, visit their site regularly to see what's going on, and insist that they guard their identities—and yours.
If you get unsolicited e-mail asking for personal data such as your Social Security number or financial account numbers—for any reason—report it to www.fraud.org. The Federal Trade Commission's identity theft Web site (www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft) also has useful information.
|
