Identity Theft

Stearns County Attorney
County Attorney: Janelle P. Kendall


Download the full Identity Theft Brochure (293 Kb Acrobat file)

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the nation.  Typically, identity theft occurs when someone gets your personal information through the theft of your wallet or purse, then uses the information to make major purchases or open credit card accounts, bank accounts, or phone accounts in your name.

Victims suffer both financially and emotionally.  Identity theft is “the crime that keeps on taking” because it sometimes take victims years to reclaim their names, correct their credit histories, and even prove they are not criminal themselves.

Despite its increasing frequency, identity theft remains a difficult crime for law enforcement agencies to investigate and solve.  Identity thieves can be anywhere – right next door, in another state, or across the world.  The Internet has made identity theft easier to commit and tougher to catch.  The good news is that you can take precautions to prevent theft of your identity, and minimize the damage done if you act quickly if you do become a victim.


What if you are a victim of Identity Theft?

  • Immediately report to local law enforcement.  Report every incident to your local police or sheriff’s department and the police or sheriff’s department where the fraudulent transaction took place.

  • Contact your banks and credit card companies right away.  Close all accounts that have been used fraudulently.  Ask your bank to notify its check verification service and instruct them to tell retailers not to accept checks that were stolen from you.  Keep a record of your contacts.

  • Contact the three major credit agencies and have them put a “fraud alert” on your name and Social Security Number.  Ask them for copies of your credit reports every few months to monitor further fraud in your name.

  • Get copies of all documents proving the fraud.  You may need them to defend yourself against creditors.

  • Contact the post office if your mail may have been stolen.  Notify the US Postal Inspector at 651-293-3200.

  • Check your criminal history record.  Contact the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at 651-793-7000 to clear up any records of arrests or convictions of anyone who used your name as an alias.


How do you prevent Identity Theft?

  • Be careful about who has your personal information; don't give out credit card, Social Security or Driver’s License numbers unless you have initiated the transaction.

  • Limit the number of ID cards, credit cards and checks you carry.  Never carry your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport unless you need to.

  • Guard your checks.  Do not leave them in your car or even easily found or accessed within your home.  Do not include your phone number or Driver’s License numbers on your checks.

  • Shred, shred, shred any document with personal information on it, including pre-approved credit offers and all bills and records.

  • Be alert for “shoulder surfers” at ATMs and phones who may see your ID or PIN number.

  • Get your name off unwanted mail and call lists.  Call 888-567-8688 to remove your name from the three largest credit reporting bureaus marketing lists, reducing the number of pre-approved credit offers you receive.

  • Monitor your accounts and alert creditors if bills show unusual transactions or don't arrive on time.  Cancel credit cards you have not used with the last six months.  Keep a list of credit card and bank account numbers with customer service phone numbers in a safe place.

  • Periodically get your credit report and review it for anything suspicious.  Under Minnesota law, you are entitled to request a copy of your own credit report each year for a fee of only $3.

  • Protect your passwords, and don't use something easy to figure out.  Don't carry your PIN numbers in your wallet.

CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES

Equifax
Website:                            www.Equifax.com
To Order a Credit Report:      800-685-1111
To Report Fraud:                    888-766-0008

Experian
Website:                          www.Experian.com
To Order a Credit Report:      888-397-3742
To Report Fraud:                   888-397-3742

TransUnion
Website:                      www.Transunion.com
To Order a Credit Report:     877-322-8228
To Report Fraud:                  800-680-7289


HAVE YOUR NAME REMOVED FROM UNWANTED CALL & MAILING LISTS

DMA Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 282
Carmel, NY 10512
($1 fee with request)

National Do Not Call List: 888-382-1222
(This list will also register you on the Minnesota Do Not Call List)


Additional Resources

Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse at 877-438-4338 or www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

Call For Action:  Our Mission is to empower consumers by giving them a voice larger than their own.  301-657-8260
http://www.callforaction.org/

Identity Theft Resource Center:  Helping people prevent and recover from identity theft.  858-693-7935
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse:  A nonprofit consumer organization with a two-part mission -- consumer information and consumer advocacy.
619-298-3396
http://www.privacyrights.org/identity.htm