About Identity Theft
Deter
Detect
Defend
Reporting Identity Theft

Don't let Identity Theft destroy your credit and ruin your good name.

Identity theft occurs when your personal information is stolen and used, without your knowledge, to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money.

People, whose identities have been stolen, can spend months, even years - and thousands of dollars - cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, the victims of identity theft may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing, or cars, and even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit. Humiliation, anger, and frustration are among the feelings victims experience as they navigate the process of rescuing their identity.

There are things you can do to fight back against identity theft. You can start by safeguarding your information. You can also:

DETER identity thieves by safeguarding your information.

• Shred documents with personal information before discarding
• Don't give out your Social Security number or other personal information unless you know who you're dealing with

DETECT suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.

• Inspect your credit reports, financial statements and bills regularly for activity you did not authorize or expect

DEFEND against ID theft as soon as you suspect it.

• Place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit reports
• Close the affected accounts
• File a police report Report ID theft to the FTC

Common ways Identity Theft happens.

Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information, including:

• Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
• Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
• Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
• Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a "change of address" form.
• "Old-Fashioned" Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records from their employers, or bribe employees who have access.

Go to Defend Against Identity Theft to learn more about the steps you should take if you become the victim of Identity Theft.

DETER. DETECT. DEFEND.

To learn more about identity theft and how to deter, detect, and defend against it, visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft. Or request copies of ID theft resources by writing to: