- How can a criminal steal my identity?Identity thieves steal mail, skim credit cards, hack into ATMs, and rummage through garbage in the search for their next victim. In the blink of an eye, criminals misuse strategic bits and pieces of your personal information - your Social Security number, your birth date, perhaps your address and phone number - to commit fraud. With this and a fake driver's license (with the criminal's picture where yours should be), the thief can often get instant credit in your name. The criminal may provide his or her own address, claiming to have moved, and thus keep you in the dark. The more accounts the criminals are able to open, the more "evidence" they have that your identity belongs to them.
- If my ID is stolen, should I cancel my credit cards?Your goal is to reduce the risk that a given account will be abused, while maximizing your own ability to use your existing credit accounts. If you have recently become an identity theft victim, your situation may make it difficult to obtain new credit in the near future. The best solution is to immediately talk to a fraud specialist before you do anything yourself. Simply call 800-800-9410 to be connected to Identity Theft 911®.
- What is identity theft?Identity theft (also known as identity fraud) is the misappropriation of another person's identifying information to:
- obtain credit fraudulently from banks and retailers;
- steal money from the victim's existing accounts;
- apply for loans;
- establish accounts with utility companies;
- rent an apartment;
- file for bankruptcy;
- get medical care or services
- obtain a job; or
- achieve other financial gain using the victim's name.
- How often should a policy be updated?
You should review it every year, especially if your assets have increased.
- How do I determine an appropriate amount for coverage of my assets?You should consider the value of your home, other significant assets, and the value of any investment portfolios or retirement savings accounts.
Once you have added the value of all of these items, determine how much liability coverage you have from your home and auto policies. Do your current policies cover your assets? In many cases, the answer is no. If you don't have adequate coverage, it may be time to consider an umbrella policy. - How do I determine an appropriate amount for contents coverage?
Start by taking an inventory, room by room. Collect receipts for major items. Be sure to take photographs or a videotape. For big-ticket items, like jewelry, paintings or furs, you may need to add an endorsement, which is additional coverage just for those items.
- How do I determine an appropriate amount for contents coverage?
Start by taking an inventory, room by room. Collect receipts for major items. Be sure to take photographs or a videotape.
- Are there laws against identity theft?Yes. In 1998 Congress passed the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act (918 U.S.C. §1028), which makes it a federal felony to use another person's identification with the intent to commit unlawful activity. Federal agencies such as the Secret Service, the FBI, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigate suspected violations of this law; the Department of Justice handles prosecutions. More recent federal legislation increases penalties for aggravated identity theft, workplace identity theft, or use of a stolen identity in connection with a terrorist act.
Plus, there are numerous other federal and state laws and regulations. To learn more, visit the FTC's website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft or call 1-800-800-9410 to talk to an Identity Theft 911 fraud specialist. - What about changing my Social Security number?
In most cases, this isn't advised, because over the years, your number has been attached to numerous documents, including credit reports and various other private and government records. Moreover, the Social Security Administration is reluctant to issue replacement Social Security numbers except in very complicated or extreme cases. Before you do anything, talk to a fraud specialist at Identity Theft 911. Simply call 1-800-800-9410 to be connected.
