Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person's personal information without their knowledge to commit theft or fraud. Identity theft is a vehicle for perpetrating other types of fraud schemes.

Typically, the victim is led to believe they are divulging sensitive personal information to a legitimate business, sometimes as a response to an email solicitation to update billing or membership information, or as an application to a fraudulent Internet job posting. Identity theft can result from many online scams, such as phishing.

If you believe you are the victim of identity theft contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Learn more with the Attorney General's Identity Theft brochure.

ID Theft Tips:

• Never give out personal information, like your Social Security Number or credit card number, to anyone over the Internet. Always verify of the business requesting your information.
• Ensure websites are secure prior to submitting your credit card number. Secure sites will usually begin with https:// instead of http://.
• Do your homework to ensure the business or website is legitimate.
• Attempt to obtain a physical address, rather than a P.O. box or maildrop.
• Never throw away credit card or bank statements in usable form. Instead, shred all financial documents with your personal information.
  
• Be aware of missed bills which could indicate your account has been taken over.
• Be cautious of scams requiring you to provide your personal information.
• Never give your credit card number over the phone unless you make the call.
• Monitor your credit statements monthly for any fraudulent activity.
• Report unauthorized transactions to your bank or credit card company as soon as possible.
• Review a copy of your credit report at least once a year. The FTC provides good advice about obtaining your annual credit report.