How Identity Theft Occurs

• Before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and ask if it will be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice about the use of your information: i.e. can you choose to have it kept confidential or provide other information that can be used to identify you.
• Avoid giving out your social security number unless it's absolutely necessary (for loans, deposit accounts, or tax forms, for example).
• Maintain good financial records and keep them in a safe place.
• If a wallet or purse containing identification is stolen, notify the major credit reporting agencies. They can put a fraud alert on your file, which can help prevent additional credit accounts from being opened without your permission.
• Pay attention to your billing cycles. If your statements don't arrive or arrive late notify your creditors.
• Guard your mail from theft. Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after it has been delivered. If you're planning to be away from home and can't pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service to request a vacation hold or ask a neighbor to pick it up for you.
• Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number for passwords.
• Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know who you're dealing with.
• Keep your checks in a safe place. Report any lost or stolen checks immediately.
• Shred any solicitations or documents that contain sensitive information before throwing away. Using a cross cut shredder is best.
• Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies every year. Make sure it is accurate and includes only those activities you've authorized.
• Consider opting out of pre-screened offers of credit through the mail by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688).

• Stealing records or information while they're on the job
• Bribing an employee who has access to these records
• hacking these records
• Conning information out of employees
• They may steal your mail, including bank and credit card statements, credit card offers, new checks, and tax information.
• They may rummage through your trash, the trash of businesses, or public trash dumps in a practice known as "dumpster diving."
• They may get your credit reports by abusing their employer's authorized access to them, or by posing as a landlord, employer, or someone else who may have a legal right to access your report.
• They may steal your credit or debit card numbers by capturing the information in a data storage device in a practice known as "skimming." They may swipe your card for an actual purchase, or attach the device to an ATM machine where you may enter or swipe your card.
• They may steal your wallet or purse.
• They may complete a "change of address form" to divert your mail to another location.
• They may steal personal information they find in your home.
• They may steal personal information from you through email or phone by posing as legitimate companies and claiming that you have a problem with your account. This practice is known as "phishing" online, or pretexting by phone.

• They may call your credit card issuer to change the billing address on your credit card account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there's a problem.
• They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, the delinquent accounts are reported on your credit report.
• They may establish phone or wireless service in your name.
• They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.
• They may counterfeit checks or credit or debit cards, or authorize electronic transfers in your name, and drain your bank account.
• They may file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they've incurred under your name, or to avoid eviction.
• They may buy a car by taking out an auto loan in your name.
• They may get identification such as a driver's license issued with their picture, in your name.
• They may get a job or file fraudulent tax returns in your name.
• They may give your name to the police during an arrest. If they don't show up for their court date, a warrant for arrest is issued in your name.