What is identity theft?

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission.

Identity thieves may obtain a credit card in your name. You may not find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges you didn’t make—or until you’re contacted by a debt collector.

Frequently Asked Questions about Identity Theft

How can I safeguard my personal information?

The best thing you can be doing to help protect yourself against identity theft is to monitor your financial accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report on a regular basis. You may also want to place a “fraud alert” or “freeze” on your credit reports; however, neither is a guarantee against theft and should be carefully reviewed to make sure that they will fit your needs.

• Fraud Alert: There are two processes you can use to help protect your credit. The least invasive is a "fraud or security alert." This is a consumer statement added to your credit report asking issuers to check with you prior to issuing credit. The placement of a fraud alert is free. It lasts for 90 days unless you are a victim of identity theft and have submitted a police report to extend it to seven years.
• Freeze: Some states have enacted laws allowing consumers to "freeze" their credit reports. Laws vary from state to state. You should keep in mind that potential creditors, insurance companies, landlords and some employers doing financial background checks may be told that your report is unavailable for viewing. Each time you wish to qualify for a loan, credit card, tenancy or a job, you may need to "thaw" the report. This takes about 3 days. It may interfere with a rapid need for your report. You can ask the business which credit reporting company they use and just thaw that one company's report. If they don’t know, you will need to thaw all 3 reports. Reports can be thawed for a period of time or for a specific company to see. Neither of these processes will affect your credit score but both will prevent you from getting "instant" credit.

How can I get a copy of my credit report?

The FACT Act, a revision of the Fair Credit Reporting Act signed into law in December 2003, allows consumers to get one free comprehensive disclosure of all of the information in their credit file from each of the three national credit reporting companies once every 12 months. The national credit reporting companies establish a Central Source through which you can request your free annual credit file disclosures. You may contact the Central Source by visiting www.AnnualCreditReport.com or calling 877-FACT-ACT (877-322-8228). If you prefer to write, a request form is available at www.AnnualCreditReport.com.

You can also purchase a credit file disclosure from any one of the three credit reporting companies listed below.

• Equifax: www.equifax.com
  (800) 685-1111
  P.O. Box 740256
  Atlanta, Georgia 30374
• Experian: www.experian.com
  888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
  P.O. Box 9532
  Allen, Texas 75013
• TransUnion: www.transunion.com
  (800) 916-8800
  P.O. Box 6790
  Fullerton, CA 92834

What are some signs that my identity may have been stolen?

• Accounts you didn't open and debts on your accounts that you can't explain
• Fraudulent or inaccurate information on your credit reports, including accounts and personal information, like your Social Security number, address(es), name or initials, and employers
• Failing to receive bills or other mail (follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time)
• Receiving credit cards that you didn't apply for
• Being denied credit, or being offered less favorable credit terms, like a high interest rate, for no apparent reason
• Getting calls or letters from debt collectors or businesses about merchandise or services you didn't buy
• Getting something in the mail about an apartment you never rented, a house you never bought, or a job you never held

What steps should I take if my identity is stolen?

1. You should first file an ID Theft Complaint with the FTC. You will need a copy of the complaint for a police report.
2. Next, file a police report at your local police station. Be sure to bring your printed ID Theft Complaint with you to the police station when you file your police report. The printed ID Theft Complaint can be used to support your local police report to ensure that it includes the detail required.
3. If you have not already done so, you should check your credit report for unauthorized transactions.
4. Finally, notify all creditors listed on the credit report, and dispute any unauthorized transactions by contacting the creditor directly. You may also want to place a fraud alert or freeze on your credit report; however, neither is a guarantee against theft and should be carefully reviewed to make sure that they will fit your needs.
   
   

Should I file a police report if my identity is stolen?

A police report will entitle you to certain legal rights when it is provided to the three major credit bureaus or to companies where the thief misused your information. An Identity Theft Report can be used to permanently block fraudulent information that results from identity theft, such as accounts or addresses, from appearing on your credit report. It will also make sure these debts do not reappear on your credit reports. Identity Theft Reports can prevent a company from continuing to collect debts that result from identity theft, or selling them to others for collection. An Identity Theft Report is also needed to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report. A police report is also needed to get copies of the thief’s application, as well as transaction information from companies that dealt with the thief. To get this information, you must submit a request in writing, accompanied by the police report, to the address specified by the company for this purpose.

How do thieves steal identities?

Identity thieves may use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:

• Dumpster Diving: They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
• Skimming: They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
• Phishing: They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
• Changing Your Address: They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form.
• Old-Fashioned Stealing: They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access to your personal information.

What will thieves do with my identity?

Once they have your personal information, identity thieves use it in a variety of ways. They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the cards and don't pay the bills, the delinquent accounts appear on your credit report.

• They may change the billing address on your credit card so that you no longer receive bills, and then run up charges on your account—because your bills are now sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there's a problem
• They may open a new phone or wireless account in your name, or run up charges on your existing account
• They may use your name to get utility services like electricity, or cable TV
• They may create counterfeit checks using your name or account number
• They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks
• They may clone your ATM or debit card and make electronic withdrawals your name, draining your accounts
• They may take out a loan in your name
• They may get a driver's license or official ID card issued in your name but with their picture
• They may use your name and Social Security number to get government benefits
• They may file a fraudulent tax return using your information
• They may get a job using your Social Security number
• They may rent a house or get medical services using your name
• They may give your personal information to police during an arrest—if they don't show up for their court date, a warrant for arrest is issued in your name.

Additional Resources:

www.idtheftcenter.org
Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) is a nonprofit, nationally respected organization dedicated exclusively to the understanding and prevention of identity theft. The ITRC provides consumer and victim support as well as public education.

www.ftc.gov/idtheft
national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.

www.privacyrights.org
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) is a nonprofit consumer organization with a two-part mission—consumer information and consumer advocacy.

onguardonline.gov
provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against phishing and internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.

* CreditCheck® Select is provided by ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., an Experian® company. To be eligible to enroll in and receive this free benefit you must be 18 years of age or older and a current member of AAA Missouri. After you enroll, if for any reason, you decide to cancel your CreditCheck® Select benefit, you may not re-enroll in this free benefit at a later date. The free Experian® credit report is available online for 30 days after enrollment. Benefit subject to change or termination at any time without notice. Certain terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Free credit reports are available under Federal law at: AnnualCreditReport.com

CreditCheck® Select and ProtectMyID^TM are monitoring products designed to help you identify and resolve identity theft incidents. These products are provided in addition to any precautions you should reasonably be expedted to take yourself, including your account numbers, passwords, social security number and other personally identifying information. CreditCheck® Select and ProtectMyID^TM cannot stop, prevent, or guarantee protection against incidents of identity theft or guarantee satisfactory resolution.

ProtectMyID^TM is provided by ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., an Experian company. Certain terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Valid AAA membership required at time of enrollment to receive 30 percent discount

**Due to New York state law restrictions, identity theft insurance coverage cannot be offered to residents of New York.