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PartII: ID Theft: Choosing to Share Personal Information - or Not
A Special Word About Social Security Numbers
Your employer and financial institution will likely need your SSN for wage and tax reporting
purposes. Other private businesses may ask you for your SSN to do a credit check, such as
when you apply for a car loan. Sometimes, however, they simply want your SSN for general
record keeping. You don't have to give a business your SSN just because they ask for it. If
someone asks for your SSN, ask the following questions:
- Why do you need my SSN?
- How will my SSN be used?
- What law requires me to give you my SSN?
- What will happen if I don't give you my SSN?
Sometimes a business may not provide you with the service or benefit you're seeking if you
don't provide your SSN. Getting answers to these questions will help you decide whether you
want to share your SSN with the business. Remember, though, that the decision is yours.
Credit Bureaus
Equifax
To order your report, call: 800-685-1111 or write:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To report fraud, call: 800-525-6285 and write:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian
To order your report, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write:
P.O. Box 2104, Allen TX 75013
To report fraud, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and write:
P.O. Box 9532, Allen TX 75013
Trans Union
To order your report, call: 800-916-8800 or write:
P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022
To report fraud, call: 800-680-7289 and write:
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634
Choosing to Share Your Personal Information -- Or Not
What happens to the personal information you provide to companies, marketers and
government agencies? They may use your information just to process your order. They may use
it to create a profile about you and then let you know about products, services or promotions.
Or they may share your information with others. More organizations are offering consumers
choices about how their personal information is used. For example, many let you "opt out" of
having your information shared with others or used for promotional purposes.
You can learn more about the choices you have to protect your personal information from credit
bureaus, state Departments of Motor Vehicles and direct marketers.
Credit Bureaus:
Pre-Screened Credit Offers
If you receive pre-screened credit card offers in the mail (namely, those based upon your credit
data), but don't tear them up after you decide you don't want to accept the offer, identity thieves
may retrieve the offers for their own use without your knowledge.
To opt out of receiving pre-screened credit card offers, call: 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-
8688). The three major credit bureaus use the same toll-free number to let consumers choose
not to receive pre-screened credit offers.
Marketing Lists
Of the three major credit bureaus, only Experian offers consumers the opportunity to have their
names removed from lists that are used for marketing and promotional purposes. To have your
name removed from Experian's marketing lists, call 1-800-407-1088.
Departments of Motor Vehicles
Take a look at your driver's license. All the personal information on it - and more - is on file with
your state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A state DMV may distribute your personal
information for law enforcement, driver safety or insurance underwriting purposes, but you may
have the right to choose not to have the DMV distribute your personal information for other
purposes, including for direct marketing.
Not every DMV distributes personal information for direct marketing or other purposes. You
may be able to opt out if your state DMV distributes personal information for these purposes.
Contact your state DMV for more information.
Direct Marketers
The Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail, E-mail and Telephone Preference Services
allow consumers to opt out of direct mail marketing, e-mail marketing and/or telemarketing
solicitations from many national companies. Because your name will not be on their lists, it also
means that these companies can't rent or sell your name to other companies.
To remove your name from many national direct mail lists, write:
DMA Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
Click here to remove your e-mail address from many national direct e-mail lists.
To avoid unwanted phone calls from many national marketers, send your name, address, and
telephone number to:
DMA Telephone Preference Service
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014
Click here for more information.
If You're a Victim
Sometimes an identity thief can strike even if you've been very careful about keeping your
personal information to yourself. If you suspect that your personal information has been hijacked
and misappropriated to commit fraud or theft, take action immediately, and keep a record of
your conversations and correspondence. You may want to use the attached form [PDF only].
Exactly which steps you should take to protect yourself depends on your circumstances and how
your identity has been misused. However, three basic actions are appropriatein almost every
case.
Your First Three Steps:
First, contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus.
Tell them that you're an identity theft victim. Request that a "fraud alert" be placed in your file, as
well as a victim's statement asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts or
changing your existing accounts. This can help prevent an identity thief from opening additional
accounts in your name.
At the same time, order copies of your credit reports from the credit bureaus. Credit bureaus
must give you a free copy of your report if your report is inaccurate because of fraud, and you
request it in writing. Review your reports carefully to make sure no additional fraudulent
accounts have been opened in your name or unauthorized changes made to your existing
accounts. Also, check the section of your report that lists "inquiries." Where "inquiries" appear
from the company(ies) that opened the fraudulent account(s), request that these "inquiries" be
removed from your report. (See "this article" for more information.) In a few months, order
new copies of your reports to verify your corrections and changes, and to make sure no new
fraudulent activity has occurred.
Second, contact the creditors for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened
fraudulently.
Creditors can include credit card companies, phone companies and other utilities, and banks and
other lenders. Ask to speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each creditor,
and follow up with a letter. It's particularly important to notify credit card companies in writing
because that's the consumer protection procedure the law spells out for resolving errors on
credit card billing statements. Immediately close accounts that have been tampered with and
open new ones with new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. Here again,
avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last
four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
Third, file a report with your local police or the police in the community where the
identity theft took place.
Get a copy of the police report in case the bank, credit card company or others need proof of
the crime. Even if the police can't catch the identity thief in your case, having a copy of the police
report can help you when dealing with creditors.
Your Next Steps:
Although there's no question that identity thieves can wreak havoc on your personal finances,
thereare some things you can do to take control of the situation. For example:
- Stolen mail: If an identity thief has stolen your mail to get new credit cards, bank and
credit card statements, pre-screened credit offers or tax information, or if an identity thief
has falsified change-of-address forms, that's a crime. Report it to your local postal
inspector. Contact your local post office for the phone number for the nearest postal
inspection service office or check the Postal Service web site.
- Change of address on credit card accounts: If you discover that an identity thief has
changed the billing address on an existing credit card account, close the account. When
you open a new account, ask that a password be used before any inquiries or changes
can be made on the account. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's
maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a
series of consecutive numbers. Avoid using the same information and numbers when you
create a PIN.
- Bank accounts: If you have reason to believe that an identity thief has tampered with
your bank accounts, checks or ATM card, close the accounts immediately. When you
open new accounts, insist on password-only access to minimize the chance that an identity
thief can violate the accounts.
In addition, if your checks have been stolen or misused, stop payment. Also
contact the major check verification companies to request that they notify retailers
using their databases not to accept these checks, or ask your bank to notify the
check verification service with which it does business.
National Check Fraud Service: 1-843-571-2143
SCAN: 1-800-262-7771
TeleCheck: 1-800-710-9898 or 927-0188
CrossCheck: 1-707-586-0551
Equifax Check Systems: 1-800-437-5120
International Check Services: 1-800-526-5380
If your ATM card has been lost, stolen or otherwise compromised, cancel the card
as soon as you can and get another with a new PIN.
- Investments: If you believe that an identity thief has tampered with your securities
investments or a brokerage account, immediately report it to your broker or account
manager and to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Phone service: If an identity thief has established new phone service in your name; is
making unauthorized calls that seem to come from - and are billed to - your cellular
phone; or is using your calling card and PIN, contact your service provider immediately to
cancel the account and/or calling card. Open new accounts and choose new PINs.
If you are having trouble getting fraudulent phone charges removed from your
account, contact your state Public Utility Commission for local service providers or
the Federal Communications Commission for long-distance service providers and
cellular providers or call 1-888-CALL-FCC.
- Employment: If you believe someone is using your SSN to apply for a job or to work,
that's a crime. Report it to the SSA's Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. Also call SSA at
1-800-772-1213 to verify the accuracy of the earnings reported on your SSN, and to
request a copy of your Social Security Statement. Follow up your calls in writing.
- Driver's license: If you suspect that your name or SSN is being used by an identity thief
to get a driver's license or a non-driver's ID card, contact your Department of Motor
Vehicles. If your state uses your SSN as your driver's license number, ask to substitute
another number.
- Bankruptcy: If you believe someone has filed for bankruptcy using your name, write to
the U.S. Trustee in the Region where the bankruptcy was filed. A listing of the U.S.
Trustee Program's Regions can be found at www.usdoj.gov/ust, or look in the Blue Pages
of your phone book under U.S. Government - Bankruptcy Administration.
Your letter should describe the situation and provide proof of your identity. The
U.S. Trustee, if appropriate, will make a referral to criminal law enforcement
authorities if you provide appropriate documentation to substantiate your claim.
You also may want to file a complaint with the U.S. Attorney and/or the FBI in the
city where the bankruptcy was filed.
- Criminal records/arrests: In rare instances, an identity thief may create a criminal
record under your name. For example, your imposter may give your name when being
arrested. If this happens to you, you may need to hire an attorney to help resolve the
problem. The procedures for clearing your name vary by jurisdiction.
Should I Apply For a New Social Security Number?
Under certain circumstances, SSA may issue you a new SSN - at your request - if, after
trying to resolve the problems brought on by identity theft, you continue to experience
problems. Consider this option carefully. A new SSN may not resolve your identity theft
problems, and may actually create new problems. For example, a new SSN does not
necessarily ensure a new credit record because credit bureaus may combine the credit
records from your old SSN with those from your new SSN. Even when the old credit
information is not associated with your new SSN, the absence of any credit history under
your new SSN may make it more difficult for you to get credit. And finally, there's no
guarantee that a new SSN wouldn't also be misused by an identity thief.
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Copyright © Federal Trade Commission. Reprinted with permission.
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