Tick toc, tick toc — two seconds have gone by, and statistically there is a new identity theft victim. ITV is a national epidemic. Many experts agree that, globally, we are three times more likely to fall victim to identity theft as Americans. To put it in perspective: next time you're shopping at your local mall, look around and pick fourteen people. One of them — maybe you — has had their identity stolen.
Unlike lightning, identity theft can strike more than once: one in five victims revisits that vulnerability. Millions of children and deceased family members are also victims of identity theft. The elderly are one of the most common targets, prompting many state laws to upgrade crimes against seniors as a deterrent.
Prevention — Protect Personal Data
Use a firewall and a secure browser.
Don't download files from strangers.
Keep virus protection up to date.
Password-protect any personal or financial information.
Avoid automatic log-in.
Passwords
Create secure, random passwords. Use different passwords for different accounts. Don't write them down in accessible places. Shred bills and documents containing personal information. Take prescription labels off bottles before discarding them.
Social Media Awareness
People can harvest information from your social media accounts: age, dates of birth, pets' names, children's names, schools attended. Some of this is exactly what's used as security questions. Control your settings and content accordingly.
Phone Calls
Don't give personal information over the phone unless you're certain the call is legitimate. If someone asks you to "verify" information, ask them to provide it first — and only confirm what's accurate without adding details.
If You Become a Victim
### IRS Tax Fraud
If your Social Security number was used to file a tax return, see the IRS Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft.
### Credit Reporting Agencies
TransUnion — 1-800-680-7289
Experian — 1-888-397-3742
Equifax — 1-800-525-6285
### For a Deceased Family Member
Contact all three credit reporting agencies by telephone to report the death (Experian: 888-397-3742, Equifax: 800-685-1111, TransUnion: 800-888-4213) and request the report be flagged as "Deceased. Do Not Issue Credit."
When Reporting to Police
As a Detective Supervisor working for the Flagler County Sheriff's Office Economic Fraud Division, I observed that many police officers and prosecutors aren't familiar with fraud and identity theft investigations. Some tips:
- If the victim is elderly, report the crime with a competent family member present. - Don't assume uniformed officers will properly classify the incident; you can request an Information Incident Report if it's not classified as a crime. - Come prepared with a timeline including dates, times, places, and case-related information. - Document when and whom you spoke with at banks and credit card companies — names, titles, contact information. - Answer the who, what, when, where, and why when questioned. - Get the officer's full name, phone number, and email address. - Ask what you can do to help and who the assigned detective will be. - Stay focused on case-related matters only.
Summary
Be vigilant to prevent and terminate vulnerabilities. Stay tenacious during the recovery process — reversing financial injury takes time.