The Better Business Bureau wants to remind consumers to keep their personal information safe! BBB is hearing of several local complaints of identity theft. Over the past five years, identity theft has been the number one consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. ID Theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud.

Here are some common ways ID Theft occurs:

• Dumpster Diving. Identity thieves rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it;
• Skimming. Identity thieves steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card;
• Phishing. Identity thieves pretend to be a financial institution or company and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information;
• Changing Your Address. Identity thieves will divert your billing statements to another location by completing a “change of address” form;
• “Old-fashioned” Stealing. Identity thieves steal wallets and purses; mail, including band 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.

BBB wants to remind consumers to be cautious with their debit and credit card information when shopping or going out to eat. Although credit and debit cards are easy ways to pay for purchases, they have different levels of protection. Debit cards are directly linked to your bank account. They don’t offer as much protection against fraudulent use. If you need to dispute a purchase, you are in a weaker position because the merchant already has the money and it will only be returned if you win the dispute. Be sure to check the policies of your card issuer.

The BBB offers these tips for consumers to protect their identities:

• Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal  information before you discard them;
• Remember that when you use your debit card to make a  purchase the funds are immediately pulled from your account. This makes it much more difficult to get your money back if there is a dispute;
• Write “See ID” on the back of your Debit/Credit cards;
• Protect your social Security number. Don’t Carry around your SS card in your wallet or write your SS number on a check. Only give it out if it is absolutely necessary;
• Don’t give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or over the internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
• Never click on links in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date.
• Don’t use obvious passwords like your birth date, mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your social Security number;
• Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.

Be sure to review your financial statements on a regular basis for charges that you did not make. You should also check your credit report for anything that looks suspicious. You can get your report, for free, atwww.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.

If you fall victim to ID Theft:

• Place a ”Fraud Alert” on your credit reports. This tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts. Contact all three consumer reporting companies below:

o   Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

o   Experian: 1-888-397-3742

o   TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

• Close accounts. Close any accounts that have been tampered with. Call the fraud departments of each company and follow up in writing with supporting documents. Ask for verification that the disputed account has been closed and that the fraudulent debts discharged. Keep copies of all documents and records of your conversations about theft.
• File a police report. File a report with police to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime.

For more information on ID Theft, contact the BBB at

1-800-388-2222 or go to www.bbb.org.

Better Business Bureau serving Louisville, Southern Indiana, and Western Kentucky

844 South 4th Street

Louisville, KY 40203

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