September 11th, 2024

*IDENTITY THEFT IS WHEN SOMEONE USES
YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR THE OWN GAIN*

This can include:
Your name
Social Security number
Bank account information
Credit card numbers
Medical Account numbers

​Identity thieves use this information to:
Open new accounts
Use your existing accounts
Obtain medical services
Establish credit
Make purchases
Apply for loans
Seek employment
Steal your tax refund

Warning signs to watch for:
Bills for things you did not purchase
Collection call for unknown accounts
Being denied a loan application
Missing or stopped mail

Reporting identity theft:
FTC-Federal Trade Commission online at IdentityTheft.com
or call 1-877-438-4338
Have fraud alerts and a credit freeze put on your account
Fraud departments at your credit card companies, bank, and other places you have accounts.
​
​How does identity theft happen? Scammers can:
Go through your trash for personal information like receipts and bank statements
Install skimmers at ATMs, registers, and fuel pumps
Use Wifi  to get information while you're in public 
Phishing-gathering info from fake emails, texts and calls
Gathering identifying info from social media posts and photos

Protecting yourself:
Don't answer calls, texts, emails, or messages from anyone you don't know
Never share personal info
Gather your mail every day, put a hold on it if you will be out of town
Keep a close eye on your account statements
Don't carry personal information like a SS card-keep that in a safe place
Understand how ATM skimming works
Learn when it's safe to use Wifi