Pieces of information are keys to identity theft

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Patrice Clarke
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (USAFENS) --  Do you like to shop online? How about banking online? How many times have you been at the ATM to get cash out then left your receipt, or thrown away those ‘you have been pre-approved’ credit card applications without opening them? If you have done any of these things you’ve made yourself vulnerable to identity theft.

According to the Federal Trade Commission identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

It only takes one piece of personal information for someone to steal another person’s identity.

Getting the information is not hard for someone set on stealing identities. At Incirlik, many people use public computer systems located at the library or the community center to do personal business like checking on shipments, shopping, paying bills or checking their bank accounts. All someone has to do is look over a victim’s shoulder and they would have their account number, credit card number or social security number.

Sometimes they don’t even have to look over your shoulder, many identity thieves just wait till you vacate the computer and go back to the Web site you were at and if you didn’t log out they are in.

Even though an identity thief is not physically in your home, your personal computer opens you up to identity theft. Spyware and shareware all allow an identity thief to infiltrate your household. Signing up for online programs such as blogging sites, chat groups and dating sites all need personal information to open the accounts. Share this information on an unsecured site and you have just given your personal information to anyone with a computer, some cheap software and time.

Identity thieves don’t need high tech equipment to get the information needed to steal an identity. They use simple techniques like going through your mail or trash to get those credit card or bank statements that have been thrown away. They can even get it by observing your credit card information when you make a purchase or just by picking up a discarded credit card receipt that has all the needed information.

Once identity thieves have your personal information there is really no limit to what they can do. They can open bank accounts in your name and then write bad checks on them. Apply for credit cards then max them out. Get car loans, cellular service, housing utilities or house loans in your name and not pay them. Some identity thieves even apply for bankruptcy in your name to avoid paying all the bills they accrued under the stolen identity.

Many times identity theft victims can’t tell for months and thousands of dollars later what has happened to them.

According to the base legal office people can avoid this from happening by taking simple precautions to guard their identity.

-- Shred everything that may contain personal information, bank information, pre-approved credit card applications, and any other information you don’t want other people to know. Shred even little things like credit and debit card receipts that may contain your whole or partial credit card number on it.

-- Monitor who you give your personal information to. Never give your credit card number, social security number or other information, whether on the phone, in person or on the internet for a purpose you don’t understand. Ask to use another type of identifier if possible.

-- Look for statements in the mail. Most people dread getting their credit card or bank statements, but people should monitor their billing cycles. Contact banks and credit card companies immediately if your bills are late or don’t come at all. A missing bill could mean someone has taken over your accounts and changed the billing address.

-- Safeguard personal information at home. If you have maids, nannies, repairmen, or a roommate, keep your personal information somewhere they can’t get to it.

-- Get an active duty alert. Military members may request an active duty alert, which will remain on your file for a year, by calling any one of the nationwide credit reporting companies. This alert removes your name from pre-screened offers of credit for two years.

-- Check your credit report for inaccuracies or to check for suspicious activity. Credit reports contain personal information on everything from where you work and live to when and how often you pay your bills and if you have ever filed for bankruptcy, been sued or arrested. Make sure all information is correct and accurate. If it isn’t right, call the reporting companies to get it fixed.

-- Update computer virus protection often. Don’t download files from strangers or click on hyperlinks from strangers. They may contain or expose your system to a virus that can hijack your personal information.

If you think you have had your identity stolen, immediately contact the fraud department of the three major credit reporting bureaus and request a fraud alert be put on your file as well as a victim’s statement that asks creditors to call before opening any new accounts. Close accounts that you think have been affected and file a police report. Also go to the base legal office and speak to an attorney.

Identity theft is a very personal attack and can leave the victim with thousands of dollars of debt and with horrible credit. To prevent this, be vigilant of your surroundings when sharing personal information and check your credit reports.