Identity Theft is a Serious Crime. How Does it Happen?
Identity theft and identity fraud
occurs when someone uses your personal information without your
permission to commit fraud or other crimes. While you can't
entirely control whether you will become a victim, there are steps
you can take to minimize your risk and minimize the damage if a
problem occurs.
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.
SUPPORT WHEN IDENTITY THEFT
HAPPENS
For support following a victimization, contact law enforcement.
For additional information, services, and recovery aids, explore
the following Web sites (Clayton County Government does not
exercise control over external links. Please refer to our web site
disclaimer.):
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) -
This Web site is a one-stop national resource and comprehensive
reference center to learn about the crime of identity theft. It
provides detailed information to help you Deter, Detect, and Defend against identity
theft.
If you are making presentations in
your community about how to avoid identity theft, email
idtheftkit@ftc.gov to order a free copy of the ID Theft
Consumer Education Kit. Please provide your name,
organization, address, and phone number to facilitate shipping.
Office for Victims of
Crime (OVC) - The OVC administers the Crime Victims
Fund authorized by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and grant
programs to help crime victims. OVC grant programs include crime
victim compensation, crime victim assistance, national scope
training and technical assistance and demonstration programs, the
children's justice and assistance act, and services to federal
crime victims.
FDIC - Consumer Alerts - The FDIC has created a
Web page to inform consumers of information the FDIC has made
available on identity theft.
State Department of Banking & Finance - The
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (Department) is the state
agency that regulates and examines state-chartered banks,
state-chartered credit unions, and state-chartered trust companies.
The Department also has regulatory and/or licensing authority over
mortgage brokers, lenders and processors, check cashers, sale of
check companies, money transmitters, international banking
organizations, and bank holding companies conducting business in
Georgia.