Penn State Erie Police Services

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Identity Theft

Decrease your risk of being a Victim

Identity theft is a crime in which someone obtains key pieces of information about you such as Social Security and driver's license numbers to obtain credit, merchandise and services in your name. You can be left with ruined credit and the complicated burden of regaining financial health.

The imposter may even use your name for criminal activities. It is a dual crime - committed against an individual whose name and good credit history was ruined and against businesses who loses cash and goods.

Identity theft has yielded more than 10 million victims and continues to demand national and worldwide attention. No one's immune; this financial crime hits with no regard to demographic groups nor is it bound to certain geographic boundaries.

Resources:

1-877-IDTHEFT

Your identity risk factor:

How can you decrease your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft? Follow these guidelines to reduce your risk.

Be suspicious of telephone solicitors. Never provide information unless you have initiated the call. You can get on the Pennsylvania "Do Not Call" list. There is also a National "Do Not Call" registry.
Delete without replying to any suspicious email requests.
Reduce the amount of pre-approved credit cards and shred them before putting them in the trash. You can call 1-888-5OPT OUT
Avoid carrying your Social Security card in your wallet.
Use a Post Office Box or a secured mailbox.
Don't use an unlocked, open box at work such as dropping off your outgoing mail. Take it directly to the mailroom.
Shred or tear banking and credit statements when throwing them in the trash.
Ask questions when you are asked to provide your social security number, ask questions as to how that information will be safeguarded.
Be cautious as to who might be listening when you give out your number.
Do not have your social security number or driver's license number printed on personal checks.
Don't allow a clerk to write your Social Security number on your check as a condition of cashing the check.
Guard your personal information. You should never give your Social Security number to anyone unless they have a good reason for needing it.
Check your credit report yearly. Check your credit report to make sure no one has set up false accounts in your name.
Be aware that people do root around in trash looking for credit or financial information.

Things to be aware of:

Health insurance cards may have your social security number as well as your dependants.
A military ID has your social security number on it.

Over 500,000 people will become victims of ID theft this year.

How do thieves get my information?

They go through your trashcan, looking for straight cut or un-shredded papers.
They steal your mail or your wallet.
They listen in on conversations you have in public.
They trick you into giving them the information over the telephone or by email.
They buy the information either on the Internet or from someone who might have stolen it.
They steal it from a loan or credit application form you filled out or from files at a hospital, bank, school or business that you deal with. They may have obtained it from dumpsters outside of such companies.
They get it from your computer, especially those without firewalls.
They may be a friend or relative or someone who works for you who has access to your information.
Internet

Most reputable online companies such as Yahoo, Ebay, and a host of others will never ask their subscribers for personal information (be sure to read their Privacy Policy).

Email notices from those attempting to steal personal information can be cleverly designed and intended to deceive the recipient that it actually came from the company in which they may or may not have an account.

Just because the reply to address would seemingly go to the company, it may not.

Pay particular attention to email attachments sent with a suspicious email.

Pay attention to the actual internet address (URL) in which an email may send you or have links to. For example: an email from Yahoo (http://www.yahoo.com) should not send you to and address like: http://123.456.789.1:2266

What should I do if I become an identity theft victim?

Contact the Office of Police Services or your local law enforcement agency.

You can also contact the Federal Trade Commission or 1-877-IDTHEFT and let them know about the crime. They are putting together a study and your information will help others.

Contact one of the 3 major credit reporting agencies:

TransUnion: 800-888-4213, fraud division - 800-680-7289, TDD, 800-553-7803
Experian: 888-EXPERIAN, fraud div.- 888-397-3742, TDD, 800-972-0322
Equifax: 800- 685-1111, fraud division- 800-525-6285, Hearing impaired - use AT&T line. Have operator call the Auto Disclosure Line at 1-800-685-1111