ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
December is here and with it continues the holiday shopping season as well as the increased risk of identity theft.
Say a person is purchasing something from the Base Exchange and decides to use one of their credit cards. When the cashier swipes their card, it doesn't go through. They find it odd because they know they're current and in good standing with that card company.
Then, they decide to use another one, and that one also doesn't go through. They call the creditors and find out that their creditor shows recent purchases have exceeded the card limit.
But, the card owner didn't make the purchases listed, and then they realize ... they have just become a victim of identity theft.
If a person becomes a victim they should report it to the authorities and make sure to get a copy of the police report. Provide documentation that shows evidence of wrongdoing such as credit card and bank statements. Banks/credit unions, credit card companies and insurance providers may want a copy of the report to verify the incident occurred.
Call all credit card companies and get replacement cards with new account numbers. Contact the fraud department of the three major credit reporting companies: Equifax at 800-525-6285, Trans Union at 800-680-7289 and Experian at 888-397-3742. Inform them that you are a victim of identity theft and request a "fraud alert" be placed on file. Include a victim's statement requesting creditors contact you prior to opening any account or change an existing one. This measure will prevent an identity thief from opening additional accounts in the victim's name.
It's always a good idea to obtain a copy of credit reports. The credit reporting companies will usually provide a copy, free of charge, once per year. Contact a local bank or credit union to determine if accounts (including ATM cards and checks) have been tampered with. Close the existing accounts immediately. When opening new accounts, ensure the account has password-only access to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access. If checks are stolen, make a stop payment. Make contact with the check verification companies through your bank to request that they notify retailers not to accept the checks. If an ATM card has been stolen, cancel the card immediately. When creating a new password, avoid using the old password, commonly used numbers such as driver's licenses and social security numbers, and birth dates.
Contact the local telephone, electric, gas, water utilities and cable/satellite TV providers to inform them of the possibility that someone may attempt to open an account in your name. Go to the Department of Motor Vehicles, to get a new driver's license if someone has already used a person's identity. According to the Federal Trade Commission it may take as long as 12 to 14 months to clear a person's name. However, there are several preventative measures people can take to minimize the possibility of being a victim.
For more information, call Senior Airman Lora White, 316th Security Forces Squadron Crime Prevention officer, at 301-981-8573 or e-mail lora.white@andrews.af.mil.