Identity Theft: Prevention, response and your rights

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Elliot Selle
  • 66th Air Base Group Judge Advocate Office
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The 2017 Identity Fraud Study, released by Javelin Strategy and Research, found that $16 billion was stolen from 15.4 million U.S. consumers in 2016.

Fortunately, you can take actions to reduce the risk of identity theft and the harm it causes.

Information security is essential to preventing identity theft. According to MilitaryConsumer.gov, the following actions reduce the risk of identity theft: Use strong passwords and choose unique security questions with online accounts; use multi-factor authentication, if available; do not share your social security number or account information over the phone unless you can confirm the speaker. You should not be afraid to hang-up, then research it and return the phone call.

You should also lock up documents that show any financial account numbers and shred them before you toss them in the trash, protect access to electronic devices such as phones, laptops and tablets. Use programs that track electronic devices’ location if stolen. Before recycling or donating a phone or tablet, remove or erase SIM cards and ‘wipe’ the device, including any apps.

If you need to enter financial or sensitive information online, use only secure networks and websites that encrypt your financial information. Most public Wi-Fi hotspots are unsecure.

When responding to identify theft, you must act quickly. According to MilitaryConsumer.gov, you should respond with the following actions: Call the companies where you know fraud occurred. Ask them to close or freeze those accounts because your identity was stolen.

Change account logins, passwords and personal identifying numbers, or PINs. Then visit IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. Explain as much as you can so that IdentityTheft.gov can draft a recovery plan for you. You can create an account that helps you with the recovery steps, tracks your progress and pre-fills forms and letters for you. This site also has links to state and local consumer protection offices.

Place a fraud alert and get your credit report. Contact one of the following credit bureaus for the alert: Experian 1-888-397-3742; TransUnion 1-800-680-7289; or Equifax 1-888-766-0008. It is free and lasts 90 days. The bureau that you contact must then tell the other two, and you will receive a confirmation letter from each credit bureau.

You must also notify your chain of command via email.

If you are a victim of identity theft, you have the right to create a Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Report and place a 90-day initial fraud alert on your credit report, requiring creditors to take reasonable steps to verify who is applying for credit in your name.

You also can place a seven-year extended fraud alert on your credit report. To do this, send a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report to each credit bureau. The extended fraud alert means potential creditors must contact you before they issue credit in your name.

You can also get free copies of your credit report, get fraudulent information removed (or ‘blocked’) from your credit report by sending the bureaus a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report, proof of your identity and a letter stating which information is fraudulent. Then the credit bureau must tell the relevant creditor that someone stole your identity.

Creditors cannot turn fraudulent debts over to collectors. You should also dispute fraudulent or inaccurate information on your credit report by writing to the credit bureau. They must investigate your dispute and amend your report if you are right. You should also request that creditors/debt collectors stop reporting fraudulent accounts. After you give them a copy of a valid FTC Identity Theft Report, they may not report fraudulent accounts to the credit reporting companies.
You can also get copies from creditors/collectors relating to the alleged debt and of any transaction records or applications that may have been filed by the identity thief. Just write to the company that has the documents and include a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report. You also can tell the company to give the documents to a specific law enforcement agency. and stop collectors from contacting you. In some states, you can place a credit freeze on your credit report.

For further information on Identity Theft, please contact the Hanscom Legal Office at 781-225-1410.