Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when your personal information, such as your name, social security number, credit card number, etc., is stolen and used without your knowledge. Theft of identity is a dangerous thing, potentially ruining your bank account, credit score, and reputation.

In order to protect from identity theft, it is helpful to be aware of some of the ways it can occur. The Federal Trade Commission lists the top five most common ways that identity theft happens:

1. “Dumpster Diving” to find any documents that have personal information on them.

2. “Skimming” by stealing credit/debit card numbers when processing your purchases.

3. “Phishing” by pretending to be financial institutions or companies and sending you spam e-mail or pop-up messages enticing you to reveal your personal information.

4. “Changing Your Address” by simply going to the post office and filling out a change of address form in your name. The thieves will then have access to all of your mail, including your bills and bank statements.

5. “Old-Fashioned Stealing” by stealing wallets, purses, mail, new checks, tax information, or even personal records from employers. They may also try to bribe employers who have access to your personal records.

Having your identity stolen is scary. In order to avoid identity theft, here are some key tips from the FTC:

- Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.

- Protect your Social Security Number. Don’t carry it in your wallet or purse, and don’t give it out unless absolutely necessary.

- Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the internet unless you know exactly who you’re dealing with.

- Never click on links sent to unsolicited e-mails and use firewalls and anti-virus protection on your computer.

- Don’t use obvious passwords like your name, date of birth, etc.

- Keep your personal information in a secure place at home.

If you need a Texas Lawyer, contact Peterson Law Group.

What should I do if some steals my identity?

Here are some practical steps for you to take if you become a victim of identity theft:

•Contact all creditors, by phone and in writing, to inform them of the problem

•Call your nearest Postal Inspection Service office and your local police

•Contact the Federal Trade Commission to report the problem

•Call each of the three credit bureau’s fraud units to report identity theft
–Ask to have a “Fraud Alert/Victim Impact” statement placed in your credit file asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts

•Alert your bank to flag your accounts and to contact you to confirm unusual activity

•Request a change of PIN and new password

•Keep a log of all contacts and make copies of all documents

•You may also wish to contact a privacy or consumer advocacy group regarding illegal activity

•Contact the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Hotline

•Contact the state office of the Department of Motor Vehicles to see if another license was issued in your name
–If so, request a new license number and fill out the DMV’s complaint form to begin the fraud investigation process

Don't forget to report the situation to:

• Your local police department

• Equifax Credit Bureau, Fraud
–1-800-525-6285

• Experian Information Solutions
–1-888-397-3742

• TransUnion Credit Bureau, Fraud
–1-800-680-7289

• Federal Trade Commission
–1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338)

• Social Security Administration, Fraud Hotline
–1-800-269-0271

How can I obtain a credit report?

You can contact one the 3 major credit reporting agencies. Their contact information is below:


Equifax – www.equifax.com
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Telephone: 1-800-685-1111


Experian - www.experian.com
P.O. Box 949
Allen, TX 75013-0949
Telephone: 1-800-397-3742


TransUnion – www.tuc.com
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
Telephone: 1-800-916-8800

How can I protect myself from identity theft?

Identity Theft is now a big issue and is becoming more common everyday. The following are some common sense steps to protect yourself from someone stealing your identity and hurting your credit or your finances.

• Promptly remove mail from your mail box
• Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection mail boxes or at your local post office. Do not leave in unsecured mail receptacles
• Never give personal information over the telephone unless you initiated the call
• Shred pre-approved credit card applications, credit card receipts, bills and other financial information you don’t want
• Empty your wallet/purse of extra credit cards and Ids
• Opt to use an alternate number on Driver’s License
• Order your credit report from the three credit bureaus once a year to check for discrepancies
• Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank windows, trash receptacles, or unattended gasoline pumps
• Memorize your SSN and all your passwords
• Sign all new credit cards upon receipt
• Save all credit card receipts and match them against your monthly bills
• Be conscious of normal receipt of financial statements and contact sender if they are not received on time

• Notify credit card companies and financial institutions in advance of any change of address or phone number
• Never loan your credit cards to anyone else
• Never put account numbers on post cards or on the outside of an envelope
• If you applied for a new credit card and it hasn’t arrived in a timely manner, call the bank or credit card company involved
• Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately
• Know your expiration dates, and contact issuer if replacements are not received promptly

• Beware of mail or telephone solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards designed solely to obtain your personal information or credit card numbers
• Never use commonly used passwords/PINs, like birth date, last four digits of SSN, last four digits of phone number, or series of consecutive numbers (1234)
• Don’t carry your Social Security card with you.
• Do not have the DMV put your Social Security Number on your driver's license

As always, please feel free to contact us through our website, BrazosLawyers.com, if we can be of assistance.