Identity Theft

Identity theft is now the top-reported form of crime in the United States. This crime occurs when someone acquires key pieces of another person's identifying information – such as name, Social Security number, date of birth or financial information – in order to impersonate that person. The thief may use this information to:

• take over a victim's financial accounts or open new credit accounts in the victim's name to run up charges
• establish phone or wireless service in the victim's name
• open bank accounts in the victim's name and write bad checks
• get loans in the victim's name and never repay them, ruining the victim's credit rating
• rent apartments or buy cars in the victim's name
• use the victim's name when committing crimes or driving offenses, resulting in warrants being issued in the victim's name

Identity theft can happen to anyone. Each of us is a potential victim.

Identity thieves steal information:

• From the trash. Identity thieves get copies of credit card receipts, credit applications and other items that have been placed in trash containers.
• From the mailbox. Thieves steal letters waiting to be picked up by postal carriers.
• From stolen wallets or purses.
• By using e-mail. Thieves often pose as legitimate companies someone does business with in order to obtain personal information – a practice known as "phishing."
• By using the Internet. Internet abusers can steal information people share on the Internet or piece together information available about someone on the Internet.
• From employee records. Dishonest personnel can access employee or other personal records and sell this information to identity thieves.

How to Protect Your Personal Information

There are a number of important steps people can take to better protect themselves:

• Freeze your credit files with the three major credit bureaus so no one can access them without your permission. For further information, see the Security Freeze page.
• Never give bank or credit card information over the phone unless you initiated the call and know the business to be reputable.
• Never respond to e-mail or pop-up messages asking you to confirm or verify account information, even if it looks official. Instead, call the customer service number listed on the company's billing statement to check an account.
• Remove extra information from your checks. Merchants cannot require you to write your Social Security number, date of birth or phone number on a check.
• Shred or destroy any documents that contain personal identifying information before you dispose of them. Always shred prescriptions, receipts, bank deposit slips, pay stubs, expired credit cards, insurance policies and credit card applications.
• Opt out of pre-screened credit card offers by calling (888) 5-OPTOUT (567-8688). This will not prevent you from getting a loan or credit card.
• Review your bank and credit card statements as soon as you get them.
• Order a copy of your credit report once a year and check it carefully for fraudulent accounts. You are entitled to a free copy once every 12 months.
• Read and understand privacy and security policies before providing any personal information on Internet sites. Shop online only if the site is secure.
• Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts and avoid using easily available information such as your mother's maiden name.
• Secure personal information in your home.

10 Steps to Recover from Identity Theft

Victims of identity theft must act quickly to minimize the damage. The following information is provided to assist individuals who are or suspect they may be victims of identity theft. It is intended as a general guide, not as legal advice.

1. Keep a record of whom you call and when. It is very important to keep good notes of all conversations and records of all correspondence with your financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, including a log of the names, dates and phone numbers of people you contacted. You also should confirm the information in writing. Sending your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, provides you with a record of your correspondence.
2. Report the theft of your identity to your local law enforcement agency. Ask for a copy of the police report, and to have your case entered into the NCIC Identity Theft File. Credit card companies and financial institutions may require you to show a copy of this report to verify the crime. Keep the phone number of your investigator and provide it to creditors and others who require verification of your case.
3. Contact the three major credit bureaus. Ask that they put a security freeze or a fraud alert on your account and send you a free credit report.
   • A security freeze will stop someone else getting new credit in your name. See the Security Freeze page for detailed instructions on requesting a freeze of your credit files.
   • A fraud alert is a special message you can have placed on your credit report. When a credit issuer checks your credit rating, the alert indicates that there may be fraudulent activity on your account. While a fraud alert may slow down issuing new credit, it does not stop it.
4. Major Credit Bureaus:
   
   
   Equifax
   P.O. Box 740241
   Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
   (800) 525-6285
   www.equifax.com
   Experian
   P.O. Box 9532
   Allen, TX 75013
   (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742)
   www.experian.com
   TransUnion
   Fraud Victim Assistance Division
   P.O. Box 6790
   Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
   (800) 680-7289
   www.transunion.com
5. Complete an Identity Theft Passport application and return it to the law enforcement agency you reported the crime to in Step 2. Remember to include a copy of your driver's license. Law enforcement will send the completed form to the Montana Identity Theft Passport Program.
6. Report the crime to the Federal Trade Commission and complete an FTC ID Theft Affidavit. Don't mail it to the FTC – see Step 7.
   
   Federal Trade Commission
   Phone: (877) IDTHEFT (438-4338) or TTY: (866) 653-4261
   Website: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft
7. Mail copies of the following to all three credit bureaus and to all creditors and collection agencies showing or collecting the fraudulent charges:
   • the FTC ID Theft Affidavit
   • the police report
   • your Identity Theft Passport (if you have one)
   • a letter disputing the fraudulent charges
   The dispute letter must do all of the following:
   • identify you
   • indicate which accounts are disputed
   • affirmatively state that you had nothing to do with the charges on the accounts
   • request that the accounts be blocked from your credit report
   Sample dispute letters are available for:
   • existing credit accounts
   • credit bureaus
8. Notify all financial institutions you have an account with that you are a victim of identity theft. Change your account numbers and passwords.
   
   For any accounts that have been fraudulently accessed or opened, contact the billing inquiries and security departments of the appropriate creditors or financial institutions. Close these accounts. Use passwords - not your mother's maiden name or other personal information that may have been stolen - on any new accounts opened. Confirm your contact in writing. Ask that old accounts be processed as "account closed at consumer's request," not "card lost or stolen." When the latter is reported to credit bureaus, it can be interpreted as blaming you for the loss. Carefully monitor your mail and credit card bills and immediately report any new fraudulent activity to credit grantors.
9. Request a copy of your federal criminal history record. The application is available online from the FBI, or you can request the form from the ID Theft Passport Program, (406) 444-3728.
10. Check your credit report with all three credit bureaus at least every three months until the matter is resolved. If you have properly placed a fraud alert on your accounts (see Step 3), you should be entitled to two additional free credit reports a year from each credit bureau for the duration of the fraud alert.
11. Pay any portion of a bill that is legitimate, but DO NOT pay charges you are disputing. Your credit rating should not be permanently affected, and no legal action should be taken against you as a result of identity theft. If any merchant, financial institution or collection agency suggests otherwise, simply restate your willingness to cooperate, but don't allow yourself to be coerced into paying fraudulent bills. Report such attempts to the Office of Consumer Protection or the FTC immediately.

Identity Theft Passport Program

An Identity Theft Passport is designed to help victims prove to creditors and law enforcement officers that someone has used their identity to commit fraud.

Through no fault of their own, victims of identity theft are forced to spend a considerable amount of time and money undoing the damage done to their good names and credit records. The wallet-sized passport is designed to help victims prove who they are and limit the cost and stress they experience.

To qualify for a passport, identity theft victims must file a police report with a Montana law enforcement agency and present a completed Identity Theft Passport application with a photo ID to the investigating agency. Once the complaint has been verified by law enforcement, the agency faxes or mails to Montana's Office of Consumer Protection and Victim Services:

• a copy of the completed investigation report
• the Identity Theft Passport application, signed by the victim and the officer
• a copy of the victim's driver license or other official form of photo identification

Once the victim and law enforcement have provided all of the necessary information, the passport should be issued within 10 working days. Passports expire after three years.

The passport application and supporting documentation is confidential criminal justice information. Law enforcement agencies and creditors have discretion in accepting an identity theft passport. The passport simply indicates that the agency or company should take into consideration that the individual is a victim of identity theft.

Contact the Identity Theft Passport Program