ID Theft Victim's Guide
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in North America. In fact, more than 10 million people were victims last year. But what's worse, many of these people didn't even know they were victimized until 8-12 months after the fact. Unfortunately, identity theft can happen to any of us and the best way to truly protect ourselves is to proactively monitoring personal information such as credit reports, public records, internet information and address information.
Here is Armorpoint’s guide to protecting yourself against identity theft and minimizing the potential damage of becoming a victim:
- Understand your credit report and maintain orderly credit behavior. Tools such as Armorpoint’s Identity Theft Security Suite can help consumers understand, discern and monitor personal credit information quickly to determine data accuracy and protect against identity theft. Learn More.
- Verify the information in your credit reports is accurate including personal information, address records, revolving accounts, installment accounts, public records, and all inquires. If unauthorized information or inaccurate information is discovered, quickly dispute and correct to proactively secure yourself. All active users of Armorpoint’s Identity Theft Security will have access to automatic correction wizards. Learn More.
- Sign your credit cards when you receive them and ask to verify ID during all point-of-sale transactions. Never have an unsigned credit card. If you loose your wallet it is easy for identity thieves to impersonate your signature.
- Always verify totals on receipts for electronic transactions before signing, and never sign blank receipts or bank slips. Keep all receipts and destroy all carbon copies; do not leave them behind. Verify all totals, including individual transactions, on account statements and checkbook statements. Always file statements in a secure location. Contact your issuer when statements do not arrive.
- Safeguard your mail (identity thieves often steal mail, including bank and credit card statements to gain your personal identification information). Shred credit applications and invitations received by U.S. Mail that do not interest you. Shred any documentation that includes financial account information which you wish to discard or documentation with your name pre-printed on it, such as forms and applications.
- Keep a list of your account names, numbers, and expiration dates in a safe, secure place to reference in case your wallet/purse is stolen.
- Act quickly if your wallet/purse is stolen, immediately contact all your credit grantors. Also, if your Social Security Card is lost or stolen, immediately contact Social Security Administration. Immediately contact your bank if your checkbook is lost or stolen. Immediately contact your motor vehicle administration if your Driver's License is missing or stolen.
- Never give account information by telephone to solicitors. If you are contacted by your issuer and they ask for your account number, do not provide it. If they are the issuer, they should know your account number.
- Carry credit cards and debt/ATM cards that display your ID photo, if your lending institution offers this feature and it is available to you.
- If you are a victim of ID theft, call the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at 1.877.IDTHEFT (438-4338).
These basics steps will help you protect yourself. However, the Armorpoint on-demand identity theft management tools will provide protection and security with greater control. Please contact your primary financial institutions for access to Armorpoint security products and services.