Transcript Identity Theft - UCF Police Department

Identity Theft
What You Need to Know
Learning Goals
 Define Identity Theft
 Learn how your identity is stolen
 Learn how you become a victim
 Learn what to do if you become a victim
 Learn ID Theft prevention tips
 Learn available resources
Do You…
 Have a checking account?
 Have a savings account?
 Have a credit card, or 10?
 Own a home?
 Plan on buying one someday?
 Own a vehicle?
 Plan on buying one soon?
 Care about a great credit rating?
If so…
Identity Theft
Should
Scare
You
To
Death!
Identity Theft
Who owns
A Shredder?
What’s The Difference?
ATM/Debit Card
VISA Check Card
VISA Credit Card
Identity Theft
 Defined-Identity theft or identity fraud (true name
fraud) is the taking of the victim’s identity, without
their permission, to obtain credit, credit cards from
banks and retailers, steal money from the victim’s
existing accounts, apply for loans, establish accounts
with utility companies, rent an apartment, file
bankruptcy or obtain a job using the victim’s name.
Per Florida State Statute 817.568
 Any person who willfully and without
authorization fraudulently uses, or possesses with
intent to fraudulently use, personal identification
information concerning an individual without first
obtaining that individual's consent, commits the
offense of fraudulent use of personal identification
information, which is a felony of the third degree,
punishable as provided in s. 775.082,
s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. If fraud totals over
$75,000, it’s a felony of the second degree.
What is “Phishing”
 Phishing is a term to describe the use of
legitimate looking e-mails that request the
recipient to enter personal information such
as credit card numbers, passwords, banking
info, etc.
About Phishing
 Emails from legitimate companies are copied to
trick consumers into giving confidential
information: passwords, credit card numbers and
expiration dates, bank account numbers, etc.
 Even experts cannot tell by looking at the
messages or the web site to which you are directed
that this message is a forgery
 Understand that no legitimate company ever asks
you to validate personal information via an email
 Never respond even when you do business with
that company. Call them yourself!
Startling Facts
 Identity Theft fasting growing crime in the U.S
 Cost victims of identity theft $52.6 billion dollars in 2004
 Of 635, 173 complaints received by the FTC in 2004 246,





500 were ID theft and 388, 603 were fraud complaints
9.9 million number of victims last year alone
Most victims don’t know they’re victims until it’s too late
Crime with very low risk and a high reward
Not cost effective for large firms to prosecute
Most victims have to “prove” their own innocence
Startling Facts
It takes appx. 12.7 months between the date
your identity theft occurred and the time you
notice it (appx 30 hours to resolve problems)
Average sentence less than five years
$3,500 is the average bank robbery take
13 years is the average sentence
How Is Your Identity Stolen?








Lost Wallet
Stolen Credit Cards
Stolen Checks
Waiters/Waitresses
Doctor’s Office
Dentist’s Office
Accountant's Office
Work Place
 Heath Insurance Carrier
 Check Processing Center
 Standing In Lines
 Your Trash
 Bank
 Your Mailbox
 Internet Use
 Friends and Family
 You Personally
How Victims Discover Identity
Theft
 26 % Receive alerts from a credit card
company or bank
 9 % Are victims of a theft such as a purse
snatching
 8 % Are rejected when they apply for credit
 52% Notice problems with their accounts
What To Do If You Become a Victim
 Call and cancel affected credit cards
 Call local law enforcement agency
 Call all four major Credit Reporting
Bureaus
 Close affected checking account
 Notify local Social Security office
 Request a copy of your credit report
 Remain diligent until your name is cleared
I. D. Theft Prevention
 Order a copy of your credit report annually
 Place passwords on your credit card, bank
and phone accounts
 Guard your personal information
 Watch for suspicious people at ATM’s and
in check out lines
 Purchase, and use, a cross-cut shredder
 Send checks via post office, not from home
I. D. Theft Prevention
 Purchase firewall software
 Update virus protection regularly
 Do not carry credit cards that you never use
 Consider closing unused credit accounts
 Ask your doctor, dentist, accountant,
lawyer, etc. what they do with your personal
information
 Ask cashiers to check your ID, thank those
that do
I. D. Theft Prevention
 Pay close attention to credit card and
banking statements
 Be aware of fraudulent scams such as
Phishing
 Keep your purse under lock and key while
at work
 Do business, via phone or Internet, with
companies that you initiate
 And finally…..
SHRED
EVERYTHING
BEFORE
DISCARDING!!!
Easy Tip For the PublicRemember- ”SCAM”
S-
Be “Stingy” with your personal info
C- “Check” your financial info regularly
A- “Ask” periodically for you credit report
M- “Maintain” careful financial records
I. D. Theft Prevention
A Special Word About
Your Social Security Number
“Your employer and financial institution will
likely need your SSN for wage and tax
reporting purposes. Other businesses may
ask you for your SSN to do a credit check,
like when you apply for a loan, rent an
apartment, or sign up for utilities. Sometimes,
however, they simply want your SSN for
general record keeping. You don’t have to
give a business your SSN just because they
ask for it. If someone asks for your SSN, ask
the following questions:
A Special Word About
Your Social Security Number





Why do you need my SSN?
How will my SSN be used?
What law requires me to give you my SSN?
What will happen if I don’t give you my SSN?
Sometimes a business may not provide you
with the service or benefit you’re seeking if
you don’t provide your SSN. Getting answers
to these questions will help you decide
whether you want to share your SSN with the
business. Remember, the decision is yours.”
Credit Bureaus
 Equifax www.equifax.com
1-800-525-6285
 Experian- www.experian.com
1-888-397-3742
 TransUnion- www.transunion.com
1-800-680-7289
Innovis Inc.
Consumer OPTOUT
PO Box 219297
Houston, TX 77218-9297
You can contact all four companies and stop them from
selling your credit info by calling one toll free number:
1 888-567-8688, 24 hrs a day
Identity Theft Resources
 www.identitytheft.org
 www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index.html
 Federal Trade Commission-www.ftc.gov
 Social Security Admin.-www.ssa.gov
 IRS- www.irs.gov
 Secret Service- www.treas.gov/usss
 Postal Service- www.usps.com
 National Fraud Clearinghouse-www.fraud.org
Summary
 ID Theft is the fastest growing crime in U.S.
 Your identity can be stolen in a number of
ways
 You can also be a victim in a number of
ways
 Many times you are a victim long before
you know it
 Prevention is the key
 SHRED EVERYTHING!!!!
Booklet When Bad Things
Happen To Your Good Name
For a free copy of this
Booklet go to the Federal
Trade Commission website
and download a copy.
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
Questions?
Identity Theft Awareness
 Officer Jeannette Emert, Crime Prevention
Practitioner
 University of Central Florida
 Police Department
 Work phone #407-823-6576
 [email protected]
Thanks For Coming