LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Millions of Americans are victims of identity theft and credit fraud each year, and our Airmen are no exception. Identity theft occurs when a thief uses your Social Security number or other personal information to open accounts in your name. Credit fraud occurs when a thief steals your credit information to purchase items on your credit card.
While it may be impossible to completely protect yourself, there are many ways to lower your chances of becoming a victim if you remain vigilant:
· Destroy records with personal information. Many thieves still rely on dumpster-diving to steal personal information. Tear up or shred credit card statements, documents with personal identifying information, and any junk mail with your address on it before throwing them away.
· Secure your mail. Empty your mailbox quickly, lock it, or obtain a post office box. Do not mail outgoing bill payments from your unsecured mailbox. Rather, mail them from the post office or another secure location.
· Protect your Social Security number. Do not carry your Social Security Card with you. Military members should avoid showing their military ID for identification purposes since the member's SSN is printed on the back. Show your state's driver's license instead.
· Monitor your credit report. Everyone is entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three reporting agencies, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site sponsored by the three reporting agencies, to request your credit report and review it for discrepancies. Make sure you recognize all the accounts on the report and check to see if any agencies have done a credit check on you that you did not authorize.
· Closely monitor your credit card statements. Look for purchases you do not recognize. A thief may not have stolen your identity but someone may have stolen your credit card or credit card number to make purchases. Banks will catch these unauthorized purchases sometimes, but do not rely on this to be the general rule.
While protecting yourself can decrease the chances of becoming a victim, nobody is completely immune to identity theft and credit fraud. If something goes wrong, here is what you should do:
· Contact the credit reporting agencies. If you are a victim of identity theft you can request an initial 90-day "fraud alert" be placed in your file along with a statement that the credit reporting agencies contact you if anyone tries to open an account in your name. Active duty servicemembers can request an Active Duty Fraud Alert that lasts one year. If you provide evidence such as a police report, you can request a seven-year fraud alert be placed in your file.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com
When one of the companies processes the request for a fraud alert, the other two will be notified and will place fraud alerts in your files.
· Contact the companies through which the thieves opened accounts. Ask to speak to the security or fraud department and explain the situation. If there are unauthorized charges on your credit card, call the bank and request that those charges be removed. Always follow up with a written letter.
· File a police report with local law enforcement. Although catching the thief will be difficult, banks and the credit reporting agencies may want proof of the crime. Get a copy of the police report for this purpose.
· File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Visit https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ to file a complaint. If you are a military member, visit http://www.ftc.gov/sentinel/military/index.shtml to file a complaint.
Hopefully you will never become a victim of identity theft and credit fraud. If you ever need assistance in this area, please visit the Law Center during Legal Assistance hours Mondays from 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., or Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m., and visit https://aflegalassistance.law.af.mil for additional information.