Here is an effective Q&A presentation on the basics of identity theft and how employees can protect themselves.
What Is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is the use of personal information, such as your name, credit card number, Social Security number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
How Can Thieves Access Information?
There are many ways thieves can access your information. For example:
- Dumpster diving (looking through your trash for documents with personal information)
- Skimming (stealing credit and debit card numbers with a special device while processing your card)
- Phishing (sending spam or e-mails to get you to reveal personal information)
- Changing your address (so your billing and account statements go to them)
- Robbery (stealing your wallet, breaking into your house, stealing mail from your mailbox)
- Pretexting (using false pretenses to get your personal information from your bank, phone company, etc.)
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What Do Thieves Do with Personal Information?
Once they have your personal information, thieves can:
- Open new credit card accounts in your name and run up bills.
- Open new phone or wireless accounts in your name.
- Use your name to get utility services.
- Create counterfeit checks using your bank account number.
- Open a bank account in your name and write bad checks.
- Clone your ATM or debit card.
- Take out a loan, rent a house, or get medical services in your name.
- Get a driver’s license with their picture and your name.
- Use your Social Security number to get government benefits.
- File a fraudulent tax return using your name.
What Are the Signs of Identity Theft?
Signs of identity theft include:
- Accounts you didn’t open and debts on your accounts that you can’t explain
- Fraudulent or inaccurate information on your credit reports, including accounts and personal information, such as your Social Security number, address, name, and employer
- Failing to receive bills or other mail—a missing bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his or her tracks, so be sure to follow up
- Receiving credit cards that you didn’t apply for
- Being denied credit, or being offered less favorable credit terms, such as a high interest rate, for no apparent reason
- Getting calls or letters from debt collectors or businesses about merchandise or services you didn’t buy
What Can You Do?
You should regularly monitor:
- Credit card bills
- Bank statements
- Phone and utility bills
- Credit reports (order one free every year)
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The material in today’s Advisor is adapted from a PowerPoint® session available in TrainingToday’s HR Library, “What You Need to Know About Identity Theft.”
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