IDENTITY THEFT 101
This crime involves taking and using someone’s personal information for economic gain.
What is identity theft?
More than 50% of amateur identity thieves are reported to be this type of person.
Who is a family member?
An identity thief may search through your personal or business trash to find information.
What is dumpster diving/rummaging through trash?
You should obtain this periodically to check your credit history for activity you don't recognize.
What is a credit report?
This scam involves obtaining personal information under false pretenses.
What is pretext calling/pretexting?
Name two examples of personal information that an identity thief may steal.
What are a Social Security number, bank account number, credit card number, name, address, or date of birth?
Amateur identity thieves primarily use these types of methods to obtain information.
What are low-tech methods?
This device can be used at ATMs, gas pumps, or restaurants to steal and store card information as a card is processed.
What is a skimmer?
Instead of leaving outgoing mail in your mailbox, you should do this to prevent identity thieves from stealing it.
What is take it to a secure collection location/post office?
Businesses should use these to verify that a caller is the legitimate account holder.
What are identifiers?
This federal agency has been designated as the leader in the government’s fight against identity theft.
What is the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)?
Unlike amateurs, professional identity thieves typically use these types of methods.
What are high-tech methods?
An identity thief can submit this type of form to redirect your mail somewhere else without your knowledge.
What is a change-of-address form?
Personal documents, bills, and other sensitive information should be disposed of using this method.
What is shredding?
This type of scam uses emails or pop-ups designed to trick people into revealing sensitive information.
What is phishing?
Identity theft can cause victims more than just monetary loss; it can also damage these three areas of a person’s history or reputation.
What is their credit history, criminal record, and motor vehicle history/reputation?
Professionals may steal mail and counterfeit checks so they can do this the next day.
What is set up new bank accounts?
Name three places where someone might steal personal information besides a person’s home.
What are a workplace, gym locker, grocery cart, mailbox, ATM, gas station, or restaurant?
When shopping online, you should verify that the website is valid and look for this symbol indicating a secure connection.
What is the padlock symbol?
If an email asks you to update your financial information, the FTC says you should NOT do these two things.
What are reply to the message or click the link?
Identity theft can lead to crimes ranging from opening bank accounts to purchasing homes and even doing this in the victim’s name.
What is financing terrorist organizations?
Professional identity thieves may obtain information from ATMs, point-of-sale machines, gas stations, and databases using this technique.
What is skimming/hacking?
Identity thieves can purchase stolen personal information and passwords from this hidden online marketplace.
What is the dark web?
If you receive a bill, debt-collection call, or letter for something you never purchased, you should do this.
What is investigate/follow up immediately?
In a website address, this letter indicates that the connection is intended to be secure.
What is “S” in HTTPS?