IDENTITY THEFT THE BEFORE AND AFTER

IDENTITY THEFT
It’s a FEDERAL Crime & It’s Soooooooo EASY…….

FTC Identity Theft Survey Report from 2003. Cost: $52.6 BILLION a year and going up. Fraud Victims: Around 10 MILLION despite major efforts to prevent it. Most ID Theft is self-detected. One in ten will or has been victimized. It takes about an hour to learn how to steal someone’s identity with just a little computer knowledge.

The average amount of money involved in an ID Theft is over $10,000. It takes about 6 months or around 175 hours and close to $1,500. to clean up the mess. It is capable of producing at least 10 migraines, 2 ulcers and an intense desire to put someone, whose name you may never know, on a “HIT” list, if there were such a thing.

How does it happen? The easiest way, for the ID Thief, is to steal some of the mail you tossed. Their favorites are pre-approved credit applications and mortgage loans “checks.” They just change the address and they are in business. However, all three credit reporting bureaus in the nation sell your information and it can include not just your name and address but your birth date, Social Security Number, and unlisted phone #. That happens when they get duped and sell to a phony company. There are other ways, some very sophisticated. Need and greed, combined, can surpass the mother of invention.

Enclosed are a few things to make it a good deal harder for them to use you and your information for a shopping spree. SHRED YOUR MAIL! And send all 3 credit reporting bureaus the enclosed form which makes them remove your name and information from the for sale list. By mail it is free, on line some charge $5.00. Either way it takes about 3 months. Their lists are updated 4 times yearly.


Each bureau has different requirements to be removed from their marketing lists. Fill each out completely, make copies for your self, send by certified mail, return receipt to have proof they received it. When the receipt comes back put it in a safe place. Just in case. I’ve enclosed address labels to make it even easier. Just make sure the right letter goes with the same address label. You don’t have to retype them, just fill in the information. Do this first, then read through the rest and do those that pertain to you. They are important so please be sure to do everything you can to get off these lists.

A HINT, from personal experience:
When you have people working in your home, close off rooms they do not need to be in and keep an eye on what they are doing while using their cell phones. I had someone take pictures of my bedroom. Fortunately it was because he liked the decorating, but it could have been for other reasons. I didn’t know until some 6 months later when he told me he took the pictures to show his fiancée.
Copy these letters and send them ASAP to each Credit Bureau to GET OFF THEIR MAILING LISTS!
Options
Equifax, Inc.
P.O. Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
Date
To Whom it may concern:
Please remove my name from your marketing lists. I have enclosed the following information required by you to do this.
First, Middle, & Last Name & all variations i.e. Jr. Sr.,

Current Mailing Address

Social Security Number .
Thank you in advance for handling my request promptly.
Sincerely,
Signature
Each Bureau has different requirements so be sure to use the correct form for each agency.

Experian
Consumer Opt-Out
P.O. Box 919
Allen, TX 75013
Date
To Whom it may concern:
Please remove my name from your marketing lists. I have enclosed the following information required by you to do this.
First, Middle, & Last Name & all variations i.e. Jr. Sr.,

Current Mailing Address

Social Security Number .
Thank you in advance for handling my request promptly.
Sincerely,
Signature

Trans Union Corporation’s
Name Removal Option
P.O. BOX 97328
Jackson, MS 39288-7328
Date
To Whom it may concern:
Please remove my name from your marketing lists. I have enclosed the following information required by you to do this.
First, Middle, & Last Name & all variations i.e. Jr. Sr.,

Current Mailing Address

Previous Address also if above less than 6 months
Social Security # Date of Birth
Thank you in advance for handling my request promptly.
Sincerely,
Signature


More things you can do. The more you know the safer you will be.
IF you use the information you have. The best way to use the links is to copy them and paste them in your browser.

WEB SITES on ID Theft:
www.privacyrights.org More info on how to protect yourself.
www.junkbusters.com Info on reducing unwanted solicitations.
www.ckfraud.org Info on check forgery and bank fraud.
www.fraud.org Info on how to avoid fraud plus more.

WEB SITES for info regarding doing business online.

www.truste.org Provides a “seal” to sites that meet strict privacy requirements, for your safety.
www.cpawebtrust Same thing
www.bbb.org Use to verify and identify reliable companies online and off.
www.bbbonline.org Another “seal” program for good businesses.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE A VICTIM
You only need to call one of the three bureaus.
They are required to share this information. Your choice.

EQUIFAX, INC 1-800-685-1111
EXPERIAN 1-800-831-5614 ask for consumer fraud
TRANS UNION CORPORATION 1-800-916-8800

CALL TO ORDER A CREDIT REPORT
You get 1 free from each bureau. Order 1 from a different bureau every 4 months.

EQUIFAX, INC 1-800-685-1111 or www.equifax.com
EXPERIAN 1-888-397-3742 or www.experian.com
TRANS UNION CORPORATION 1-800-888-4213 or www.tuc.com

DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC TYPE OF ID THEFT YOU HAVE OR MAY HAVE, YOU MAY NEED ONE OR MORE OF THE SITES.

ID THEFT
Bank Fraud www.ffiec.gov/enforcement.htm
Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. www.fdic.gov
1.800.934.3342
Federal Reserve System www.federalreserve.gov
1.202.452.3693
National Credit Union Admin. www.ncua.gov
1.703.518.6360
Office of the Comptroller of www.occ.treas.gov
Currency (OCC) 1.800.613.6743
Use if “National or N.A.” is in the name of the bank.

Office of Thrift Supervision www.ots.treas.gov
1.202.906.6000
Use for thrift inst. Savings banks and savings & loan institutions.

Bankruptcy Fraud (Yes they can!) www.usdoj.ust
You will have to write them but this will get you started as to what to do.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Com. www.sec.gov
1.202.942.7040
Mail Theft U.S. Postal Inspection www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect
Service (USPIS) They are GOOD!

Passport Fraud www.travel.state.gov/passport_services.html
United States Department of State

Phone Fraud Call your local provider or local public Utility Commission. Cell & Long Distance, contact the FCC www.fcc.gov
1.888.CALL-FCC

Social Security Number Theft www.ssa.gov
& Misuse 1.800.269.0271


Federal Trade Commission www.ftc.gov
Department of Justice www.usdoj.gov
Federal Bureau of Investigation www.fbi.gov
U.S. Secret Service www.treas.gov/usss
Financial Crimes Division www.treas.gov/usss/financial_crimes.shtml
Department of Motor Vehicles www.ftc.gov/privacy/protect.htm#Motor

Direct Marketers (DMA) Mail Preference Service Good for 5 years.
www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html
or by mail: DMA, Mail Preference Service, PO Box 643 Carmel, NY 10512

Telemarketing www.the-dma.org/consumers/offtelephonelist.html
by mail: DMA, Telephone Preference Service, PO Box 1559, Carmel, NY 10512 If you move you need to do this procedure again for both phone #’s and addresses.

E-Mail Good for 1 year only. www.dmaconsumers.org/offmaillist.html
For ATM cards and Checks: Call your bank immediately!
To find out if an ID Thief has been passing bad checks in your name,
CALL: SCAN: 1.800.262.7771

Be sure you have photocopies of all of your important papers and cards. Photocopy BOTH sides of each card and keep copies of contracts, passports, bank accounts, etc. in a safe place and have more than one copy. These have the numbers you will need in a big fast hurry if someone gets a hold of them.

Getting a new computer? What happens to the info in the old one?

Delete Delete Delete. AND use a “wipe” program to write over the hard drive. For more information go to www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq/harddrive.pdf
( The hq is HQ not HG. There are 2 hq’s in the above address.
The following 2 letters are for sending to 1) credit bureaus and 2) for an existing credit account in dispute. Sorry, but you will have to rewrite them to be effective.
Again send by certified mail, return receipt requested.

SAMPLE DISPUTE LETTER CREDIT BUREAU
Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip
Complaint Department
Name of Credit Bureau
Address
City, State, Zip
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I am disputing are also circled on the attached copy of the report I received. (Identify those items by name of source, such as creditor or tax court, and type of item, such as credit, judgment, etc.)
I am a victim of identity theft, and did not make the charges. I am requesting that the item be blocked and my credit report corrected.
Enclosed are copies of any documentation supporting my position. (If you have them.) I would appreciate your investigation of this and the removal of the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.
Sincerely, Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing. ( PHOTOCOPIES ONLY!)
You can file a complaint online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
Or call the toll free hotline at 1.877.IDTHEFT (1.877.438.4338) TTY 1.866.653.4261
Or Write to:
Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580SAMPLE DISPUTE LETTER FOR EXISTING CREDIT ACCOUNTS
Date

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip
Name of Creditor
Billing Inquiries
Address
City, State, Zip

Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to dispute a fraudulent (charge or debit) attributed to my account in the amount of $_____________. I am a victim of identity theft, and I did not make this (charge or debit). I am requesting that the (charge be removed or the debit reinstated), that any finance and other charges related to the fraudulent amount be credited as well, and that I receive an accurate statement.
Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence to describe information you are enclosing, such as a police report) supporting my position. I would appreciate your investigation of this and the correction of the fraudulent (charge or debit) as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Your name
Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing. ( PHOTOCOPIES ONLY!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DMA
Mail Preference Service
PO BOX 643
Carmel, NY 10512
Dear Sir or Madam,
Please remove my name and address from your marketing lists as soon as possible.
Name: .
Address____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Thank you,
Sincerely, Sign



DMA
Telephone Preference Service
PO BOX 1559
Carmel, NY 10512

Dear Sir or Madam,
Please remove my phone number from your marketing lists as soon as possible.

Name:___________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Phone #______________________Phone #____________________

Thank you,

Sincerely,

I know that is a lot of work but if it gets you off the “list” it is well worth it.
Watch for a notice from your credit card companies because they will send you a notice that they know which offers you most likely would like to receive and will continue to send them if you do not respond to the phone # they enclose. That means it will start all over again and you wasted you postage and are still set up for ID Theft. It pays to read the fine print.