Identity Theft : NCIS

What is Identity Theft
Acquiring key pieces of someone’s identifying information, such as name, address, date of birth, social security account number (SSAN), mother's maiden name, in order to;

• Take over financial accounts
• Open new bank accounts
• Applying for loans
• Applying for credit cards
• Applying for SSN and Drivers Licenses

How They Do It

• Use low and high tech methods
• Shoulder surfing at ATMs
• Steal your mail
• Dumpster diving
• Corrupting postal employees
• Check creation software

Preventive Actions

• If you applied for a new credit card and it hasn’t arrived in a timely manner, call the bank or credit card company involved.
• Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
• Know your expiration dates.
• Contact issuer if replacements are not received promptly.
• Beware of mail or telephone solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards designed solely to obtain your personal information or credit card numbers.
• Empty your wallet/purse of extra credit cards and Ids.
• Order your credit report from the three credit bureaus once a year to check for discrepancies.
• Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank windows, trash receptacles, or unattended gasoline pumps.
• Memorize your SSAN and all your passwords.
• Sign all new credit cards upon receipt.
• Save all credit card receipts and match them against your monthly bills.
• Be conscious of normal receipt of financial statements.
• Contact sender if they are not received on time.
• Notify credit card companies and financial institutions in advance of any change of address or phone number.
• Never loan your credit cards to anyone else.
• Never put account numbers on post cards or on the outside of an envelope.
• If you applied for a new credit card and it hasn’t arrived in a timely manner, call the bank or credit card company involved.
• Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
• Know your expiration dates.
• Contact issuer if replacements are not received promptly.
• Beware of mail or telephone solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards designed solely to obtain your personal information or credit card numbers.

Steps for Victims

1. Contact all creditors, by phone and in writing, to inform them of the problem.
2. Call your local PMO office.
3. Call each of the three credit bureau’s fraud units to report identity theft.
4. Ask to have a “Fraud Alert/Victim Impact” statement placed in your credit file asking that creditors call your before opening any new accounts.
5. Alert your bank to flag you’re accounts and to contact you to confirm unusual activity.
6. Request a change of PIN and new password.
7. Keep a log of all contacts and make copies of all documents.
8. Contact the state office of the Department of Motor Vehicles to see if another license was issued in your name.
9. If so, request a new license number and fill out the DMV’s complaint form to begin the fraud investigation process.

Reporting Identity Theft

Local PMO office

Equifax Credit Bureau, Fraud
- 1-800-525-6285

Experian Information solutions
- 1-888-397-3742

Trans Union Credit Bureau, Fraud
- 1-800-680-7289

Federal Trade Commission
- 1-877-FTC-HELP

Social Security Administration, Fraud Hotline
- 1-800-269-0271