HOW IDENTITY THEFT OCCURS
MINIMIZE YOUR RISK
The 1990s spawned a new variety of crooks called
“identity thieves.” When you make an everyday
transaction you share personal information: your
bank and credit account numbers; your Social
Security number; or your name, address and phone
numbers. An identity thief appropriates some piece
of your personal information and uses it without
your knowledge to commit fraud or theft.
By managing your personal information wisely, you can
help guard against identity theft. It is recommended
that you:
• Order a copy of your credit report from each of the
three listed below major credit bureaus once a year.
Make sure it is accurate and includes only those
activities you have authorized.
• Minimize the identification information and
the number of cards you carry to what you
actually need.
• Don’t carry your Social Security card.
People whose identities have been stolen can spend
months or years – and thousands of dollars –
cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their
good name and credit record. In the meantime,
victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans,
education, housing, or automobile purchases – or
even be arrested for crimes that they did not
commit!
Ways your ID is stolen (low- & high-tech):
• Theft of wallets and purses containing ID and
credit cards
• Theft of mail – including bank and credit card
statements
• “Dumpster Diving” – rummage through trash
Report Fraud
Order Report
Equifax
(800) 525-6285
(800) 685-1111
Experian
(888) 397-3747
(888) 397-3742
TransUnion (800) 680-7289
(800) 916-8800
• Guard your mail and trash from theft. Tear or shred
your charge receipts, copies of credit applications,
insurance forms, checks and bank statements,
expired charge cards, and credit offers you get in
the mail.
• Don’t give out personal information on the phone,
through the mail or over the Internet unless you
have initiated the contact and know with whom you
are dealing.
• Over the Internet
• Fraudulently obtain credit report
• Keep items with personal identification in a safe
place.
• Secure personal information at home and at work.
• Before revealing any personal information, find out
how it will be used and who will have access to the
data.
• Pay attention to billing cycles; follow up with
creditors if your bills don’t arrive on time.
• Use passwords to access your credit card, bank
and phone accounts. Avoid using easily
available information like your mother’s
maiden name, your birth date, the last four
numbers of your SSN, your phone number or
consecutive numbers.
• Be cautious of where you leave personal
information at home — especially if you have
roommates or are having work done by an
outside firm or others at your home.
DEPARTMENT OF
SAFETY & SECURITY
IF YOU ARE A VICTIM
RESOURCES
Contact the three major credit bureaus.
For more detailed information about identity theft
and related subjects, there are excellent resources
available, including an ID Theft Affidavit.
Request that your file be flagged with a fraud
alert that ensures your permission before any
new accounts are opened or changes are made
to your existing account.
Report Fraud
Order Report
Equifax
(800) 525-6285
(800) 685-1111
Experian
(888) 397-3747
(888) 397-3742
TransUnion (800) 680-7289
(800) 916-8800
Contact the creditors for any accounts that
have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
Request to speak to someone in the security or
fraud department to advise the company of the
fraud, and to determine what steps should be
followed to remove the discrepancies from
their records.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) operates an
extensive website at: www.consumer.gov/idtheft
The FTC Identity Theft Hotline is:
(877) IDTHEFT (483-4338)
To contact them by mail:
Identity Theft Clearinghouse
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
Any questions or concerns contact:
Philadelphia University
(215) 951-2999
burroughsl@philau.edu
Some information contained in this brochure
has been compiled by the FTC
Identity Theft
File a report with your local police or the
police in the community where the identity
theft took place.
School House Lane & Henry Avenue
Philadelphia, Pa. 19144-5497
www.PhilaU.edu