Identity Protection Guide The more you know, the better you can protect yourself.
Be Aware According to a 2012 report, identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America 1 and it can have serious consequences. We all love the advantages of being connected in today s digital world. We can bank online, shop, email, text, share photos and a whole lot more. And we can do it from virtually anywhere with a laptop, tablet or phone. But identity thieves are connected too. And they re smart. They can use modern technology to steal your identity information, take over accounts, get a mortgage or drain your retirement. They can breach a trusted business or organization and compromise millions of identities at once from anywhere in the world. Someone becomes a victim of identity theft every two seconds. 2 The more you understand about identity theft what it is, how information is stolen and what you can do about it, the better prepared you ll be to combat this widespread crime that isn t going away anytime soon. What is identity theft? According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Identity theft is a crime. Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person s personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain. 3 Simply put, identity theft occurs whenever someone uses your personal information to pretend they are you. It can be anywhere online, at the bank, at a store or even in interactions with the government or the courts. 1. Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number, Social Security Administration, October 2012. 2. Identity Theft Tracking Study, a commissioned survey conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of LifeLock. April/May 2014. 3. What are Identity Theft and Identity Fraud?. Welcome to the United States Department of Justice. June 2014. http://www.justice.gov
Identity Theft by the Numbers 1 2 The number of seconds that passes before someone becomes an identity theft victim. 3.5 People who got married, became single, divorced or separated in the past 12 months were 3.5 times more likely to have been an identity theft victim. 2.6 Individuals who retired within the past 12 months are 2.6 times more likely to have been a victim of identity theft. 50 Percentage of identity theft victims in the past 12 months who were notified their personal information may have been compromised due to a data breach. 2.7 Individuals with a new child or those who became pregnant in the past 12 months were 2.7 times more likely to have been a victim of identity theft. 26,000,000 Number of US adults who have been a victim of identity theft in the past 12 months. 2.8 People who bought a new home in the past 12 months were 2.8 times more likely to have been an identity theft victim. 19,000,000,000 Cost, in dollars, of identity theft in the past 12 months. 1. Identity Theft Study, a commissioned survey conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of LifeLock, April/May 2014. Results are based on survey participant identity theft and life events over past 12 months.
How Criminals Steal Your Identity Identity thieves have an arsenal of tools to wreak havoc on your life. Whether you re at work, on the town or sitting at home, you may be vulnerable to identity theft when you least expect it. Here are some of the many techniques identity thieves use to commit their crimes: Data Breaches If you store personal information with any financial or business organization even a huge insurance or medical corporation your identity could be compromised in a largescale data breach. Online Shopping If you mistakenly shop at a fictitious retail website or through unsecured payment systems, your credit and debit cards could be at risk. Phishing These are fake emails that can look surprisingly legitimate. If you get tricked into clicking a link or providing information, thieves can get your passwords and account numbers. Malware and Viruses With the number of new viruses, your computer and your information can be hacked through websites, Internet programs or file-sharing networks. Keystroke Logging On public computers, gas pump displays and ATM keypads, criminals can install technologies to record the buttons you press as you enter card numbers or passwords. P2P File-Sharing File sharing sites connect millions of users across the world and they can also connect unsuspecting music fans with viruses and open connections to unsecured networks. Vishing Phone scams that request personal information either by a direct caller or through voice messages can be used to steal your identity. Shoulder Surfing Thieves can stand behind you while you re paying for purchases and watch as you enter passwords or personal identification numbers. Dumpster Diving Some criminals even sort through your trash to find old bills, receipts and other discarded personal information that can be easily stolen. Change of Address Thieves complete a change of address form in your name to divert your mail and get personal information and account numbers. Mail Theft Identity thieves sometimes steal mail from unlocked mailboxes, looking for credit card statements, tax forms or other financial and personal information. Stolen Wallet Some thieves are after more than cash. They re more interested in your credit cards, Social Security and medical cards and other personal identification. ATM Overlays Thieves install these devices at ATM machines and gas pumps to steal your account information when you insert your card. Medical Identity Theft You may not notice this type of theft until it s time for medical treatment or an insurance claim. Crooks can use your name or insurance information to receive medical care. Criminal Record Identity Theft Identity thieves could use your information to falsify court records and avoid paying tickets or being arrested. Social Security Identity Theft Thieves can use a stolen Social Security number to create new Social Security cards, access a number of public records or steal your name and personal information. Tax-Related Identity Theft Using a stolen Social Security number and other personal information, identity thieves can file a fraudulent tax return and receive a refund before you file.
Help Stop Identity Fraud Before it Happens Valuable protection tips to help safeguard your personal information. In the Mail At the Bank Avoid placing outgoing mail into unlocked curbside mailboxes. Don t write account numbers or personal information on the outside of envelopes. Have the post office hold your mail if you re leaving town for more than a day or two. Avoid giving personal information over the phone to anyone who claims they are working for a bank or credit card company. Use direct deposit when possible to avoid having a check stolen. Shopping Online In Your Wallet/At Your Home Make sure you re shopping on a secure site. Check to see if the site has a lock image in the search bar and uses an https address. Avoid shopping or banking from public Wi-Fi hotspots. Strengthen your passwords and don t use the same one for all your favorite sites. Shred your documents to keep them out of the hands of criminals. Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet or purse. Minimize the amount of personally identifying information you carry. Credit and Debit Cards Online and Computer Use credit cards instead of debit cards. You have more protection with a credit card. Thoroughly check all your bank and credit card statements for accuracy. Do not carry more debit or credit cards than are absolutely necessary. Use strong Internet passwords with a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Be suspicious of unexpected emails asking for personal information. If you sell or discard your computer, physically destroy your hard drive.
You ve Become a Victim, Now What? If you re a victim of identity theft, here s how to help take back control of your identity. Step 1 Contact the Police Once you discover you re a victim of identity theft, you should take action right away. File a police report and obtain an incident report number to pursue your case with creditors. Visit your Attorney General s website to find remediation resources. Step 2 Check Your Bank Statements Timing is important to protect your finances. If your account is breached, close it right away and stop payment on any stolen checks. Have your bank activate its check verification service to prevent more checks from being cashed. Contact the Shared Check Authorization Network (1-800-262-7771) to find out if fraudulent checks are being passed in your name. Order a free copy of the ChexSystems report. It lists checking accounts opened in your name (1-800-428-9623 or www.consumerdebit.com). Contact businesses that accepted bad checks and let them know you are a victim. Step 3 Contact the Credit Bureaus Identity thieves can open fraudulent lines of credit. The three major credit bureaus may be able to help. You can get a free credit report every year at www.annualcreditreport.com. Closely monitor your credit report. If you become a victim, contact one of the three credit bureaus to set up a fraud alert. That bureau will be required by law to contact the other two. You can place an extended alert on your account for seven years with a police report. You re entitled to two free credit reports within 12 months following your identity theft. You can initiate a credit freeze by visiting one of the credit bureaus; fees vary by state. Credit Bureau Contact Information Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 www.equifax.com Experian: 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 Step 4 Notify Your Creditors www.transunion.com Let creditors know as soon as possible about any suspicious account activity or unauthorized charges. Step 5 Report Your Case to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Visit their website at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or call 1-877-IDTHEFT. Step 6 Get Victim Assistance Contact the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) for additional assistance at www.trynova.org or 1-800-TRY-NOVA.
Get Professional Help Put LifeLock Identity Theft Protection to Work for You SAVE 10% for the life of your membership.* Act now! 1-800-344-2392 LifeLock.com/GuideOffer Promo Code: GuideOffer LifeLock offers the most comprehensive identity theft protection available and a $1 Million Total Service Guarantee.** No matter how careful you are, no one, not even the police, can prevent all identity theft. And hackers can compromise the personal information of millions of people at a time. You may think you can protect yourself, but what happens if your doctor, insurance company or favorite retailer has a breach? And you may think you re fully protected by your credit card company or bank, but did you know coverage is usually limited to their specific accounts? Industry-leading LifeLock identity theft protection provides a more complete solution than banks or credit card companies alone, and it helps protect your identity better than you can on your own. Whether your identity information is stolen through a breach, online shopping, malware, or someone rummaging through your trash, LifeLock is on the job 24/7 to help detect your personal information being used to get a mortgage, take over your bank accounts, open new accounts at different banks, or even drain your investment and retirement accounts. We can also track multiple credit card transactions at the same time. With LifeLock protection, you re alerted to threats by text, phone or email. And if you become a victim, our Certified Resolution Specialists will handle your case every step of the way. 3 Layers of Protection More protection means more peace of mind. LifeLock works to detect fraud, alerts you when we find a threat, and provides Certified Resolution Services. Our advanced technology and professional staff are working for you 24/7/365. DETECT We search over a trillion data points every day looking for threats to your identity. ALERT Our patented LifeLock Identity Alert system will let you know by text, phone or email when we find something suspicious. RESTORE If you become a victim while a LifeLock member, a Certified Resolution Specialist will handle your case every step of the way. * Offer is for new LifeLock members only. ** Most comprehensive protection requires LifeLock Ultimate Plus membership. The benefits under the Service Guarantee are provided under a Master Insurance Policy underwritten by State National Insurance Company. Under the Service Guarantee LifeLock will spend up to $1 million to hire experts to help your recovery. As this is only a summary please see the actual policy for applicable terms and restrictions at LifeLock.com/legal Checking and savings account application, bank account takeover and retirement account activity alerts require LifeLock Ultimate Plus membership. Network does not cover all transactions. Fastest alerts require member s current email address. Phone alerts made during normal business hours. Alerts are modified for demonstration purposes. Credit card transaction alerts require LifeLock Advantage or LifeLock Ultimate Plus membership.
Choose Your Level of Protection LifeLock Standard LifeLock Advantage LifeLock Ultimate Plus LifeLock Identity Alert System Black Market Website Surveillance Lost Wallet Protection Address Change Verification Reduced Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers Live Member Support 24/7/365 Certified Resolution Support $1 Million Total Service Guarantee Credit Card, Checking and Savings Account Activity Alerts NEW Data Breach Notifications NEW Fictitious Identity Monitoring Court Records Scanning Online Annual Credit Reports and Scores Checking and Savings Account App. Alerts Bank Account Takeover Alerts Investment Account Activity Alerts NEW Credit Inquiry Activity Online Annual Tri-Bureau Credit Reports and Scores Monthly Credit Score Tracking Fire-Sharing Network Searches Sex Offender Registry Reports Priority Live Member Support 24/7/365 SAVE 10% for the life of your membership.* Act now! 1-800-344-2392 LifeLock.com/GuideOffer Promo Code: GuideOffer LifeLock, Inc. 60 East Rio Salado Parkway Suite 400 Tempe, AZ 85281 * Offer is for new LifeLock members only. Network does not cover all transactions. The benefits under the Service Guarantee are provided under a Master Insurance Policy underwritten by State National Insurance Company. Under the Service Guarantee LifeLock will spend up to $1 million to hire experts to help your recovery. As this is only a summary please see the actual policy for applicable terms and restrictions at LifeLock.com/legal