Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft and Identity Fraud
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Protecting yourself from identity theft and identity fraud © 2020 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. For public use. What we’ll talk about today • How your identity can be compromised. • Ways to protect your information. • What you can do if you experience identity theft or fraud. 2 Identity theft and fraud defined Identity theft Identity fraud When someone steals your identity or personal When that person uses your stolen identity to information for illicit purposes. commit fraud or illegally deceive someone. 3 Signs of identity theft or fraud 4 Personal information to protect • Social Security number • Driver’s license • Passport number • ATM/credit/debit cards • Date of birth • Address • Phone numbers • Account numbers • Passwords/PINs Source: The Costs and Risks of Account Takeover, Security Boulevard, June 20, 2019, https://securityboulevard.com/2019/06/the-costs-and-risks-of-account-takeover/ 5 Ways in which your information may be stolen • Email (phishing and pharming) • Text (smishing) • Mail theft • Credit card fraud • Social networks • Malware • Data breaches • Formjacking • Phone scams • Dumpster diving Source: Child Identity Theft on the Rise, October 30, 2018, https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/child-identity-theft-on-the-rise.php 6 What’s wrong with this email? 7 What’s wrong with this email? 1 1. Strange/ unfamiliar links 2. Misspelled company name 3. Awkward greeting 4. Typos 2 3 5. Poor/awkward grammar 4 6. Urgent call to action 5 6 4 4 8 Ways that may help keep your mail safe • Have your name and address removed from the phone book (“unlisted”). • Install a lock on your mailbox. • Keep the envelopes containing bills you pay with checks in a secure place. • Eliminate paper bills by enrolling in electronic statements. • Carefully destroy/shred papers you throw out. • If you are away from home for an extended time. – Have the post office hold your mail, or – Ask a trusted person to pick it up for you. Tip: Remove your name from marketing lists of the three credit reporting bureaus by calling 1-888-5OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or visit https://www.optoutprescreen.com/. 9 Keep your conversations secure • Don’t say, or let anyone say, your Social Security number out loud in a public place. • Keep sensitive information from prying eyes. • If you receive an unsolicited phone call asking for personal information, don’t give it, and listen closely to background noise. • Watch out for “shoulder surfers” who use binoculars, video or camera phones to capture information. Tip: Sign up for the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) National Do Not Call Registry at https://donotcall.gov/ or call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). 10 Check your knowledge Do you think this statement is True or False? People who have previously been affected by identity theft are at a lower risk for future identity theft and fraud. Show of hands: True or False 11 Check your knowledge False! People who have previously been affected by identity theft are at a greater risk for future identity theft and fraud. Source: Consumer Affairs, June 21, 2019, https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/identity-theft-statistics.html# 12 Using caution on social networks Be careful with what you choose to share and with whom. Fraudsters can use these sites to access addresses, dates of birth, even your mother’s maiden name or your daily schedule. Do Don’t • Use privacy settings to control who can access • Post addresses, phone numbers or other your information. identifying personal information. • Monitor what you post on your profile. • Post anything you wouldn’t want publicized in the • Accept friend requests only from people you news. know. • Hang on to accounts you aren’t using anymore. • Use secured Wi-Fi networks. • Advertise when you won’t be home. • Set your sign-on to use additional ID besides user • Use unsecured, untrusted, open, or free Wi-Fi name and password if you have the option. networks. Source: How to Stay Safe Online, thebossmagazine.com, September 20, 2019. https://thebossmagazine.com/social-media-safety/ 13 Malware can disrupt your computer or expose your information Malware (Malicious Software) can get installed on your computer if you click on a link: • In a phishing email. • On an infected web ad. • With anything infected. Tip: Don’t click on an unfamiliar URL because 1 in 10 URLs are malicious. Source: Symantec Internet Security Threat Report, February 2019, https://www.symantec.com/security-center/threat-report 14 Ways to protect your information 15 Defend yourself online • Shield your computer with firewalls and up-to-date software. • Keep personal information off social networking sites. • Ignore/delete emails urging you to click on a link to verify account information. • Create “tough-to-crack” passwords. • Use two-step verification methods offered, such as Touch or Fingerprint ID. • Don’t let financial programs or websites autosave your passwords. • Connect to your financial accounts only from your own computer or using secure Wi-Fi locations. • Don’t use a debit card for online shopping – use a credit card. • Opt out of receiving unsolicited emails by registering at the Direct Mail Association website, www.DMAchoice.org. Click on “Register for eMPS”. (There may be a fee.) Tip: The “s” in the "https" web address indicates that your information will be encrypted (“secured”), making it harder for a thief to capture your information. 16 General fraud prevention tips • Carry only necessary information in your wallet. • Make photocopies of vital information and store securely. • Only provide your Social Security Number or other personal information if absolutely necessary. • Lock all devices with a password. • Shred papers containing personal or financial information. • Promptly retrieve incoming mail from your home’s mailbox. • Place outgoing mail in a U.S. Postal Service mailbox. • Know your billing and statement cycles. • Don’t tell or key in over the phone your PIN or other information to someone calling you claiming to be your bank, your credit card company, a government agency, or similar entity. Tip: Have your statements sent to you via email rather than regular mail (but don’t save financial/personal information in your email box long term). 17 Data security breaches According to a report by Risk Based Security, there were more than 6,500 data breaches reported in 2018, compromising 5 billion*. This includes financial and non-financial records. Here are some actions you may take to protect your personal information and credit rating: • Check your credit reports at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action. • Place a credit freeze on your credit file with all three credit bureau agencies. And your children’s files, too. • Review the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/. • Check out Wells Fargo’s Fraud Information Center at https://www.wellsfargo.com/privacy-security/fraud. Tip: Set up mobile/email account alerts to be notified of withdrawals and deposits to your accounts, and any suspicious card activity. Source: * DarkReading.com, Risk Based Security Report data, February 13, 2019, https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/2018-was-second-most-active-year-for-data-breaches/d/d-id/1333875 18 What if identity theft happens to you? 19 If you experience identity theft or fraud Close all accounts that you know or believe are tampered with Call your creditors or financial institutions to notify them that your accounts may have been compromised. Contact all three credit bureaus Place an alert on your credit reports and review them for inaccuracies and unknown credit requests. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission Call 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338) or complete an Online Complaint Form at https://www.identitytheft.gov/. File a report with the local police Provide a copy of your Online Complaint Form to add to the police report. (These documents can constitute an Identity Theft Report and entitle you to certain protections.) Make sure to keep a copy for yourself. 20 Organizations to notify Transunion Experian Equifax 1-800-680-7289 1-888-397-3742 1-800-525-6285 www.transunion.com/ www.experian.com www.equifax.com Passport fraud United States Department of State https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/contact-us/reporting-fraud.html. Mail fraud Your local postal inspector at the United States Postal Service (USPS). Visit https://www.usps.com/. Social Security fraud Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline 1-800-269-0271 Tax fraud IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit 1-800-908-4490 Tip: If you’ll be applying for credit, an apartment or a job, be sure to temporarily lift your credit freeze in advance to allow the creditor to check your credit history. 21 Other ways to reduce the impact of theft 22 Wells Fargo resources Wells Fargo Fraud Information Center has tips and articles on how to protect yourself. https://www.wellsfargo.com/privacy-security/fraud/ Wells Fargo Identity Theft Repair Kit can help organize your response to fraud. https://www.wellsfargo.com/privacy-security/fraud/repair- kit 23 Thank you 24.