Identity Theft
Info and protection
Amelia Erwin
What is it?
A criminal or regular person steals someone's personal information or identity for their own financial gain.
How to protect yourself:
- Know who you share information with;
- dispose of your personal forms including your social security number correctly like shredding bills
- make sure you and make good and challenging passwords for your computer and other devices.
- Don't over-share on Social media.
What to do if yours is stolen?
- Make a report saying that your identity has been stolen
- Call credit card companies and tell them to cancel the cards
- Ask companies to put a fraud alert on your credit file.
- File a complaint with the FTC
How do people steal your Identity?
- Dumpster Diving- people will go through your trash to find left over files
- Chat Rooms
- Credit cards
- Social security code
- Driver's license posted on social media
- If you put out personal info on any social media website.
- Phishing- creating fake websites acting like companies , then sending an email acting like that company.
It is a federal crime.
There are even movies about it
A Identity Theif can be anyone
For more info:
Resources
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0272-how-keep-your-personal-information-secure
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0274-immediate-steps-repair-identity-theft
http://www.google.com/search?q=identity+theft&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#fp=51c4b6651f23082f&q=define+identity+theft&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&safe=active
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0274-immediate-steps-repair-identity-theft
http://www.google.com/search?q=identity+theft&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#fp=51c4b6651f23082f&q=define+identity+theft&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&safe=active