Several Department of Energy Savannah River Site (SRS) employees have had the misfortune of falling victim to credit and/or identity fraud. They have been plagued by unauthorized credit cards with limits in the tens of thousands of dollars being acquired in their names, numerous unauthorized accounts opened, and months and even years spent trying to repair the damage to their credit.

All an identity snatcher needs is a name and social security number. How do thieves steal your identity? By using information provided on your driver's license, personal checks (name, address, social security number, birthdate) or by using some of the methods mentioned below.

How identity thieves do it

1. Mail theft. The thief steals your junk mail, newly issued credit cards, preapproved credit card offers, paid bills out of your mailbox, bank and credit card statements.
2. Change-of-address or unlisted phone number scams. The imposter files a change-of-address card so the victim's mail is sent elsewhere or calls the phone company pretending to be the victim requesting his number be unlisted. The change-of-address allows the thief to obtain the documents needed to impersonate the victim. The unlisted phone number makes it difficult for a bank to follow-up and verify the new credit card should be sent to a different address than that filed with the Social Security Administration.
3. Dumpster-diving. Thieves fish through garbage bins for credit card slips, loan applications, bank statements and medical records. Some businesses don't shred these documents.
4. Inside job. The thief has access to personnel records or credit card receipts through their regular job. Members of fraud rings have been known to pose as temporary workers or cleaning staff. Identity theft - the stealing of personal information to commit financial fraud - is one of the fastest-growing white-collar crimes in the nation. There were more than 500,000 victims of this type of crime last year. Protect your privacy - don't become the next victim.

How to protect yourself

Individuals should take the following steps to protect themselves.

• Remove your name from the mailing lists of credit reporting bureaus Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union by calling 1-888-567-8688.
• Contact Trans Union Fraud Victim Assistant Department at 1-800-680-7289 and request that a "Credit Fraud Prevention Toolkit" be mailed to you. It provides many helpful hints, in addition to those listed below, to assist you in proactively promoting a fraud-resistant credit profile.
• Contact all three major credit card reporting agencies and request that a Protective Statement be added to your credit file. With this statement in your file, credit grantors will know that you always need to be contacted directly before credit is granted in your name.
  Trans Union 1-800-680-7289
  Experian 1-800-301-7195
  Equifax 1-800-525-6285
  

• Request annually from each of the above agencies a copy of your credit report to check for inaccuracies or fraudulent activity.
• Cut up or destroy pre-approved credit offers that you don't intend to accept before throwing them in the trash. This should also be done with credit card statements, bank statements, credit card receipts or any other document that contains personal information. You may want to use a cross-cut shredder which prohibits anyone being able to put the strips together to recreate the document.
• Carry only essential identification in your purse, wallet or automobile. Avoid carrying documents like a Social Security card, passport, voter registration, or any document containing this information, unless absolutely necessary.
• Reduce the number of credit cards you have and use, and carry only what you need.
• Keep a list of all your credit accounts, bank accounts, and the telephone numbers of customer service departments in a secure place should you need to call the company if they are stolen.
• Do not have your Social Security number or driver's license number printed on your checks.
• When filling out checks, use a permanent marker. There have been reports of criminals using chemical processes to remove the ink and filling it in as a blank check.
• Consider listing only your name and number, no address in the telephone book.
• Avoid giving out your credit card or other personal information over the phone or Internet.
• Never use your mother's maiden name as a password for your bank account. The name is on your birth certificate, which is a public record.
• Get your name off mailing lists for preapproved lines of credit by participating in the credit bureaus' Opt-Out Program. Call 1-888-567-8688. Opt-Out may expire after two years or be made permanent. Listen carefully to the message to choose the option you want. Also, to prevent credit bureaus from granting credit without your verbal permission, place a security alert on your account.
• Remove your name from marketers' unsolicited mailing lists. Write to the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735.
• Close all stagnant credit card accounts - don't just cut up cards.
• Beware of shoulder-surfers when using an ATM or public phone or when using any document with personal information. Use your hands to cover what you're doing, so thieves can't determine your personal information - whether they're nearby or across the room with binoculars or a video camera.