Protect Yourself from Identity Theft | Helpful Tips and Guidelines

1. General Assignment UnitSgt. Mike Parks(314)615-53801st Precinct Det. Calvin McClainJennings Detail Det. Don Shultz2nd Precinct Det. Clayton Fair3rd Precinct Det. Robert Wolff4th Precinct Det. Dan Coonen5th, 6th, 7th Precinct Det. Jordan Willer Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

2. Identity Theft Defined … • Identity theft occurs when someone, without your permission, uses your Social Security Number, credit card number or other identifying information to commit fraud. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

3. Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft Saint Louis County Police General Assignment Unit

4. How can someone get my personal information? Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

5. Businesses or other institutions • Stealing records or information while they’re on the job. • Bribing an employee who has access to these records. • Hacking these records through a computer. • Conning information out of you or employees of businesses you patronize. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

6. Steal outgoing/incoming mail • Bank statements • Credit card statements • Credit card offers • New checks • Tax information • OUTGOING BILL PAYMENTS Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

7. Trash • Rummage through your trash. • Rummage through trash of businesses. • Rummage through public trash dumps. When forms are completed at a doctor’s office or a car dealership which contain personal information…What happens to those forms? Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

8. More ways…. • They may steal personal information found in your home. • They may steal personal information from you through email or phone by posing as legitimate companies and claiming that you have a problem with your account. • They may steal a wallet or a purse containing personal information. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

9. Be Computer Safety Savvy • Delete personal information from your computer before discarding it • Shop online at Web sites that use technology known as SSL or Secure Sockets Layer, which encrypts credit card information • –You’ll know you’re on a secure site if the web address begins with “https” instead of “http” Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

10. Be Computer Safety Savvy • Update virus protection software regularly • Don’t download files or click on links sent to you by strangers • Use a firewall program if you have a high-speed Internet connection, like cable, DSL or a T-1 line Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

11. Card Skimming • Stealing credit or debit card numbers by capturing the information in a data storage device. • They may swipe your actual card, or attach the device to an ATM machine where you may enter or swipe your card. • Stealing card numbers while it sits in your purse or wallet with an RFID scanner. It is called electronic pick-pocketing, or crowd hacking

12. Hand-held Skimmers Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

13. Size of a skimmer Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

14. ATM Skimmers Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

15. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

16. How do thieves use my information? • They may call your credit card issuer to change the billing address on your credit card account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there’s a problem. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

17. Fraudulent Electronic Withdrawals • Someone gains your checking or savings account number and has money electronically withdrawn. This is most frequently done to pay a utility bill. • Withdrawals made using your stolen debit card even when you have the card in your possession. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

18. …continued • They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the credit cards and don’t pay the bills, the delinquent accounts are reported on your credit report. • They may counterfeit checks or credit or debit cards, or authorize electronic transfers in your name, and drain your bank account. • They may establish phone or wireless service in your name. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

19. …continued • They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account. • They may get identification such as a driver’s license issued with their picture, in your name. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

20. Electronic Fund Transfer Act • You have 60 days from the date your bank account statement is sent to you to report in writing any money withdrawn from your account without your permission. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

21. Important • If your ATM or debit card is lost or stolen, report it immediately because the amount you can be held responsible for depends on how quickly you report the loss. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

22. What Should I Do? Place a fraud alert Review credit report Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain. • Prevents an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

23. Fraud Alert • Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. • You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. • The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

24. Fraud Alert Continued… • Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

25. CREDIT BUREAUS • TransUnion: 800-680-7289 Fraud Victim Assistance Division P.O. Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92834-6790. • Equifax: 800-525-6285 P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241. • Experian: 1-888-397-3742 P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 • 1 free credit report per year at www.annualcreditreport.com. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

26. Close the fraudulent accounts • Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company. • Follow up in writing, and include copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. • Send your letters by certified mail return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when. • Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

27. Contact the Authorities Bring all of the paperwork!! Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

28. Federal Trade Commission • 1-877-382-4357 • Permanently block fraudulent information from appearing on your credit report. • Ensure that debts do not reappear on your credit report. • Prevent a company from continuing to collect debts that result from identity theft. • Place an extended fraud alert. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

29. Internet/National/International Fraud • Due to jurisdictional issues the below listed frauds should be reported directly to the appropriate federal agency. • Internet Auction Fraud, Undelivered Purchases, Hacking • Contact the Internet Fraud Complaint Center- www.ic3.gov/ or call 1-800-251-3221 • Foreign Lottery, Nigerian Letter, Advance Fee Business Scams • Contact the Federal Trade Commission, www.ftc.gov/crossborder or call 1-877-382-4357 • Spam, Unsolicited Commercial E-mail • Contact the Federal Trade Commission, www.ftc.gov/spam or call 1-877-382-4357 Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

30. Additional Computer Tips……. • Delete all personal information from your computer before you donate or discard it • Shop online at Web sites that use technology known as SSL or Secure Sockets Layer, which encrypts credit card information • You’ll know you’re on a secure site if the web address begins with “https” instead of “http” Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

31. Continued……… • Update virus protection software regularly • Don’t download files or click on links sent to you by strangers • Use a firewall program if you have a high-speed Internet connection, like cable, DSL or a T-1 line Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

32. IRS Tax Fraud • Has evolved into a huge problem in the last 2-4 years • Bad guys are using your personal information to file fraudulent returns and are having the return deposited onto a untraceable debit card (green dot or similar). • Most false returns net the bad guy at least $5000. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

33. IRS continued…. • The fraudsters utilize multiple methods to obtain the information needed to file a tax return. The most popular methods include: computer intrusion, the online purchase of stolen PII, the recruitment of insiders who have legitimate access to sensitive information, the physical theft of computers that contain PII, the impersonation of Internal Revenue Service personnel, and the aggregation of information that is obtained through multiple publicly available Web sites. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

34. 3 most likely ways you will find out you are a victim. • You will receive a letter from the IRS detailing that a suspicious return has been filed in your name. • You will file your taxes by mail and you will receive a response indicating you have already filed. • You will file electronically and you will receive a response indicating that one has already been filed in your name. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

35. Ways to prevent being a victim. • File as early as you can. • Never provide credentials of any sort via email. This includes clicking on links sent via email. Always go to an official website. • Review a copy of your credit report at least once a year. • Be cautious of scams requiring you to provide your personal information. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

36. In reality, there is no foolproof way to stop this crime from happening. Not until all taxpayers are issued PIN’S by the IRS will this stop being an issue. As of this time, the IRS has no intentions of doing this because per their policy you do not get a PIN until after you are a victim. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft

37. What to do after you learn you are a victim. • Complete the appropriate IRS affidavits and associated paperwork and submit everything by mail to the designated IRS address. • Work with your IRS case worker. Keys to Protect Yourself from ID Theft