Identity Theft Defined
RCW 9.35.020 (1) –No person may knowingly obtain, possess, use or transfer a means of identification or financial information of another person, living or dead, with the intent to commit or aid or abet any crime
Why Criminals Choose Identity Theft – Because it is:
- A non-violent crime
- Difficult to solve
- Do not have to worry about getting injured or killed
- Can make thousands in just a few hours
- In many states penalties are not severe
Where Does It Start?
Countless opportunities to steal personal information
Most victims do not know how the thief obtained the information
Top Ten Causes of Fraud and Identity Theft:
- Domestic/Elder Abuse
- Eavesdropping/wandering eyes
- Dishonest employee
- Database intrusion (credit card account numbers)
- Improper disposal of credit card receipts and statements
- Lost/stolen purse or wallet
- Social Engineering (misrepresentation to obtain personal information; often via phone)
- Mail theft
- Credit card skimming (when dishonest cashier secretly copies the magnetic stripe on your credit card by swiping it through a small card reader)
- Theft of employer/other multi-person records
Reduce Your Risk
- Protect your trash. Shred credit card receipts, bank statements, medical statements and pre-approved credit card offers
- Don’t carry credit cards you don’t need or your social security card in your purse/wallet
- Don’t leave your purse/wallet in your vehicle, even if out of sight
- Guard your mail from theft. Don’t put outgoing mail in your mailbox. Take it to the post office. Replace your mailbox with a postal approved locking mailbox, or rent a post office box
- If you close a checking account, shred any unused checks
- Don’t have your social security number or driver’s license number printed on your checks
- Don’t allow reorder of bank checks to be mailed to you. Have your bank hold them for pickup
- Avoid using personal information as passwords (such as mother’s maiden name, children or pet’s names, birth dates, etc.)
- Don’t give your personal information to anyone over the phone unless you have initiated the contact
- Secure personal information in your home. Be aware of what information could be obtained by maintenance workers, cleaning people, home healthcare workers, visitors, etc.
- Get rid of pre-approved credit offers – choose to OPTOUT
- Don’t order FREE credit reports on the Internet
What To Do If You Are A Victim
- Place a “fraud alert” with the three major credit bureaus. Request a copy of your credit report
- Contact the creditor and/or bank for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Close compromised accounts and open a new account. You might also request that your personal identification number, or PIN, be changed
- Contact your local police department and make a report. You may want to have your fingerprints taken and sent to Washington State Patrol to “establish your identity”
- If you suspect the mail was used, contact the postal inspector or your local postmaster
- Contact the Federal Trade Commission, which is the national clearinghouse for complaints by victims of identity theft
- Organize your case
