Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Identity theft has become an increasingly serious nationwide problem; Tredyffrin Police receive approximately four to six reports a week involving identity theft. Identity theft involves the illegal acquisition of personal information (name, birth date, Social Security number, phone number, address, credit card and/or bank account numbers) and commits fraud or theft with that information.

• Identity thieves can attain your personal information in many ways:
• Stealing your wallet or purse
• Stealing your mail
• Completing a "change of address" and diverting your mail to a new location
• Stealing your trash to gather personal data
• Fraudulently obtaining your credit report by posing as a landlord, employer or someone else who has a legitimate need for this information
• Gathering personal information from the internet
• Stealing records from a place where you are a customer, patient, student or employee

Once an identity thief steals this information from you, he or she will have no problems opening fictitious bank accounts, acquiring loans, credit cars and even purchasing large items such as vehicles.

How can you reduce your risk of becoming a victim to identity theft?

The first step is to closely manage your personal information. The Federal Trade Commission publishes a booklet ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/. This 35-page publication recommends taking proactive measures to protect yourself and minimize your chances of being a victim.

Ordering a copy of your credit report every year from each of the three credit bureaus listed below and check the accuracy of the activities listed to ensure that there are no mistakes or fraudulent activities.

Refuse to divulge personal information on the phone, online, or through the mail, unless you have initiated contact or are sure you know with whom you are dealing.

Protect your mail by depositing outgoing mail in a secured mailbox and shred or tear any discarded information that contains personal information.

If someone is using your Social Security number, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. The Social Security Administration will verify your reported earnings and that your name is reported correctly.

Reducing unsolicited mail may also reduce your risk. By calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688), you may opt out of receiving pre-screened credit card offers from the three major credit bureaus (they all use this toll-free number).

In addition to this list, you may contact Direct Mail Marketing to remove your name from their file, which is made available to mail and telephone marketing companies. You can contact them at:

For direct mailing:

Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512 Or at http://www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html.

For telemarketing:

Direct Marketing Association
Telephone Preference Service
P.O. Box 1559
Carmel, NY 10512 Or at http://www.the-dma.org/consumers/offtelephonelist.html.

If you are a victim of identity theft there are three steps you should take.

1. Contact the fraud department of each of the three major credit bureaus and ask them to put a "flag" on your file requesting you be contacted in the event a new account is opened in your name.
2. Close the accounts you know or believe to have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
3. File a police report with the Tredyffrin Police Department.

If you have any questions, or would like any additional information, please contact the Tredyffrin Township Police Department Detective Division at (610) 408-3646 or detectives@tredyffrin.org.

Credit Bureau Information

Equifax, www.equifax.com
To order a credit report:
1-800-685-1111
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To report fraud:
1-800-525-6285
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian, www.experian.com
To order a credit report:
1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742)
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013
To report fraud:
1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742)
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion, www.transunion.com
To order a credit report:
1-800-916-8800
P.O. Box 100
Chester, PA 19022
To report fraud:
1-800-680-7298
Fraud Victim Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790