What is identity theft?

You are a victim of dentity theft when a criminal obtains sensitive information about you and uses it for an illegal purpose – typically theft. The thief takes advantage of your good credit rating, for example, and uses it to fraudulently obtain a loan or credit card in your name. Clearing your credit after a criminal uses your identity can be time–consuming and frustrating. Identity theft is now a Felony under Washington State Law (RCW 9.35.020).

How Safe Are You?

Take the Better Business Bureau‘s Identity Safety Quiz, then read the latest figures and research on identity theft:

Their article on trends and misperceptions about Identity fraud, reports that identity fraud cases are down but thieves are taking more money from individuals. It's not seniors who are the primary demographic targeted by thieves, it‘s 25 to 34 year olds who are most often targeted.

How an Identity Thief Gets Your Information

• Stealing your purse or wallet. They are frequently stolen from shopping carts in supermarkets.
• Stealing mail from your mailbox to obtain newly issued credit cards, bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, or tax information.
• Accessing your credit report fraudulently by posing as an employer, loan officer, or landlord and ordering a copy.
• Dumpster diving in trash containers for discarded credit card receipts and loan applications.

Identity Theft Prevention Tips

• Reduce the number of cards you carry. Don't carry your social security card, birth certificate or passport, except when needed.
• Shred, tear, or cut up papers with personal information - charge receipts, bank statements, expired credit cards, and credit offers.
• Get a copy of your credit report at least once a year to check for errors. Follow up if problems are found.
• Carefully review your credit card bills for any unauthorized charges.
• Do not give out personal information over the phone unless you have placed the call and know the business.
• Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has changed your billing address to cover his tracks.
• Guard your mail from theft. Deposit outgoing mail at the post office or through the mail room at work. Remove mail from your mailbox as soon as possible. Consider a locking mail box, perhaps with your neighbors. Use a post office box for incoming mail.
• Be cautious about where you leave personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having service work done in your home.

What to do if you are a victim

Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus. Tell them you are an identity theft victim. Request that a “fraud alert” be placed in your file. At the same time, order copies of your credit reports. Contact the creditors for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Creditors can include credit card companies, phone companies and other utilities, banks and other lenders.

File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Obtain a copy of all police reports. Some police and sheriff departments have been known to refuse to write reports on such crimes. Be Persistent.

References, Tips, More Information

As of 7/22/2001, the amendments to the Washington State Identity Theft Law (RCW9.35) went into effect. See amendments on Senate Substitute Bill- SSB 5449.

Check your credit report at least once a year. Don't pay for this service, you are entitled to a free report once a year. Your credit bureau report can affect your eligibility for everything from car loans to credit card interest rates to apartment rentals, and you have the right to know what they're saying about you. Download instructions and a credit reporting form at this site:

AnnualCreditReport.com
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp. It's free, though the companies are willing to sell you the information and subscriptions to update services. Look for FAQs About Your Rights in Washington State. Sponsored by Equifax, TransUnion and Experian credit reporting agencies.

The US Postal service has just updated its web page on ID Theft. They recommend Identity Theft resources at these agencies‘ websites:

• U.S. Postal Inspection Service: usps.com/postalinspectors
• The Federal Trade Commission: www.consumer.gov/idtheft
• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: www.fdic.gov/consumers
• The Department of Justice www.ojp.gov/topics/identitytheft.htm

Be smart and be safe!