Preventing Identity Theft

Transcription

1 Preventing Identity Theft Each year, millins f Americans have their identity stlen. ENG Lending wants yu t have the infrmatin yu need t prtect yurself against identity theft. While there are n guarantees abut aviding identity theft, it s imprtant fr yu t knw: We will never initiate a request fr sensitive infrmatin frm yu (such as, scial security number, persnal lgin ID, passwrd, PIN r accunt number) nr ask yu t verify accunt infrmatin via . We strngly suggest that yu d nt share yur persnal lgin ID, passwrd, PIN r accunt number with anyne, under any circumstances. If yu receive an that requests this type f actin, yu shuld be suspicius f it and cntact us immediately at We als suggest yu reprt suspicius s r calls t the Federal Trade Cmmissin thrugh the Internet at r by calling IDTHEFT. What is Identity Theft? Identity theft invlves the unlawful acquisitin and use f smene's identifying infrmatin, such as: Name Address Date f Birth Scial Security Number Mther s Maiden Name Driver s License Bank r Credit Card Accunt Number Thieves then use the infrmatin t repeatedly cmmit fraud in an attempt t duplicate yur identity which may include pening new accunts, purchasing autmbiles, applying fr lans, credit cards, and scial security benefits, renting apartments and establishing services with utility and telephne cmpanies. It can have a negative effect n yur credit and create a serius financial hassle fr yu.

2 Hw d they get my persnal infrmatin? Lst r stlen persnal items: They may btain yur persnal infrmatin by finding r stealing yur checkbks, credit cards, driver license r Scial Security cards. Mail: They may steal yur mail, including bank and credit card statements, credit card ffer, new checks, and tax infrmatin. They may als cmplete a "change f address frm" t divert yur mail t anther lcatin. Onlkers: They will watch and/r listen t yu cnduct persnal business such as entering yur PIN when yu use yur ATM r debit card r when yu are talking n the telephne. Dumpster diving: They may rummage thrugh yur trash, the trash f businesses, r public trash dumps in a practice knwn as "dumpster diving." Internet: They use the Internet t lk fr persnal pages that cntain infrmatin like genealgical data with yur mther's maiden name that can be used t set up a credit card accunt r pssibly access existing accunts. Phishing: They may btain persnal infrmatin frm yu thrugh the use f "pp-ups" r s. These s have Internet links t deceive yu int disclsing sensitive infrmatin such as bank accunt numbers and scial security numbers. Oftentimes the appears as if it cmes frm a trusted surce. It directs yu t a "spf" website that encurages yu t divulge sensitive infrmatin. Pretexting: They may btain yur persnal infrmatin n the phne by psing as a legitimate cmpany and claiming that yu have a prblem with yur accunt. Skimming: They may steal yur credit r debit card numbers by capturing the infrmatin in a data strage device in a practice knwn as "skimming." They may swipe yur card fr an actual purchase, r attach the device t an ATM machine where yu may enter r swipe yur card. Inside Jbs: They get infrmatin frm businesses r ther institutins by: stealing recrds r infrmatin while they're n the jb bribing an emplyee wh has access t these recrds hacking these recrds cnning infrmatin ut f emplyees Hw d I prtect my identity? Reprt lst r stlen checks r credit cards immediately.

3 Shred all dcuments cntaining persnal infrmatin, like bank statements, unused checks, depsit slips, credit card statements, pay stubs, medical billings, and invices. Dn't put yur trash ut until shrtly befre it will be picked up. Pay bills nline r mail bill payments and ther items that cntain persnal infrmatin at a U.S. Pstal Service drp bx rather than in yur curb side mailbx. Dn't put any mail in yur curb side mailbx until shrtly befre it will be picked up daily. Take yur mail ut f yur curb side mailbx as sn as pssible after it has been delivered. If yu are traveling, have the U.S. Pstal Service hld yur mail r have smene yu trust pick it up daily. Limit the infrmatin n yur checks (fr example, dn't include driver's license number, scial security number, r telephne number), and dn't carry arund any mre cards than necessary. Dn't give any f yur persnal infrmatin in persn, ver the telephne, r ver the Internet t anyne-unless yu have a very gd reasn t trust them. Dn't give any f yur persnal infrmatin t any web sites that d nt use encryptin r ther secure methds t prtect it. Use a firewall if yu have a high-speed Internet cnnectin. This sftware can be purchased nline r frm mst sftware retailers. Dn't use PINs r ther passwrds that are easy t guess (fr example, dn't use birth dates r spuse, child, pet r mther s maiden names). Regularly change yur passwrds. Als, create a username that is unique and difficult fr thers t guess. Examine yur credit card and financial institutin statement immediately upn receipt t determine whether there were any unauthrized transactins. Reprt any that yu find immediately t the financial institutin. Make a prmpt inquiry if bills r statements are nt received in a timely fashin-this culd mean that they are being diverted by an identity thief. Obtain cpies f yur credit reprt peridically frm each f the three majr reprting agencies t be sure that they are accurate. Experian, Equifax, and Trans Unin are required t prvide yu with ne free credit reprt a year. What d I d if I suspect I'm a victim f fraud r my identity has been stlen? If yu suspect that yur persnal infrmatin has been cmprmised, fllw these imprtant steps:

4 Immediately ntify us and yur ther financial institutin(s). Yu'll need t get new accunt numbers and select a new PIN. If yu are in fact a victim f identity theft, we will ffer assistance t help remedy the situatin. Reprt any suspicius activity immediately. Scrutinize the charges n yur financial statements carefully t ensure that they are legitimate. If there is a questinable transactin r a fraudulent transactin, reprt it right away. Call the three majr credit bureaus t request that a fraud alert be placed n yur credit reprt. Cntact yur lcal plice department. Financial fraud is a crime. Call the Federal Trade Cmmissin's ID Theft htline at (877) IDTHEFT t reprt it. The FTC maintains a prgram t assist victims f identity theft. The Center lgs cmplaints and prvides assistance and infrmatin t victimized cnsumers t rectify damage t their credit and persnal reputatin. Ntify the U.S. Pstal Inspectrs Office. Victims f fraud shuld cntact their lcal pst ffice t reprt any crime invlving stlen mail r use f the mail in furtherance f a fraud scheme. It is a felny. Cntact the Scial Security Administratin at (800) The Scial Security Htline allws a victim f identity theft t reprt misuse f a Scial Security number. Yu may als visit yur lcal Scial Security Office t btain further infrmatin. Cntact the Department f Mtr Vehicles. If yur driver's license is stlen, reprt the theft immediately t yur lcal Department f Mtr Vehicles. Ensure that a duplicate license was nt recently issued in yur name t an impster. Keep detailed ntes f yur repair effrts. Keep a lg f all cntacts and cpies f all dcuments; fllw up yur cntact calls in writing. Check these resurces fr mre infrmatin n identity theft and what t d it yu're a victim: The Federal Trade Cmmissin (FTC) The Federal Depsit Insurance Crpratin (FDIC) United States Department f Justice Equifax P O Bx Atlanta, GA

5 T rder a reprt: (800) T reprt fraud: (800) Experian P O Bx 2002 Allen, TX T rder a reprt: (888) T reprt fraud: (888) Trans Unin P O Bx 1000 Chester, PA T rder a reprt: (800) T reprt fraud: (800)