Tampa Bay Saves Information Update
Identity Theft and Privacy
Protections
Compiled August 2009, by Lisa Leslie, UF/IFAS Hillsborough County
Extension Agent.
lesliel@hillsboroughcounty.org
Topics:
Monitor Your Information
Monitor
Your Information
Closely monitor activity posted to your financial accounts. Compare
receipts and statements to verify that the information posted is
correct.
Free credit reports: Check your credit reports. You are entitled to
1 free credit report from each of the 3 major credit report bureaus
once a year. However, beware of imposter sites that seem like they
are free but are actually trying to sell you a subscription or
service. Here is the contact information for the ONLY federally
authorized site (if you contact the credit bureaus directly they
will charge):
www.annualcreditreport.com - don't misspell it or you will get an
"imposter" site.
Order by telephone: 1-877-322-8228.
Limit Access to Your Information
Opt Out: To opt out of receiving pre-screened offers of credit and
insurance, you can opt out for five years or permanently by calling
toll-free 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or visiting
www.optoutprescreen.com
Do Not Call: Registration with the Federal Trade Commission’s DO Not
Call list will make it illegal for many telemarketers to call you.
You can register both home and cell phone numbers. Beware of
imitation companies posing as the Do Not Call registry.
www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222
Credit Freeze: On July 1, 2006, the Florida legislature passed a law
that granted residents the right to put a security freeze on their
credit reports. A credit freeze prevents potential creditors and
other third parties from accessing your credit report at all, unless
you lift the freeze or already have a relationship with the company.
A credit freeze will prevent a consumer from being granted instant
access to credit. However, a consumer who needs to shop for a new
loan or credit account can have the freeze temporarily lifted by
contacting the credit bureaus. The law says credit reporting
agencies have three days from the time they receive the request to
lift the freeze.
For more information about credit freezes visit
http://www.800helpfla.com/scams/securityfreeze.html
Existing
Protections
Credit Cards: Under the Fair Credit Billing Act if your credit card
information is stolen, your losses are limited to $50 per card. You
are not responsible for charges made after you report the card lost
or stolen.
ATM and Debit Cards: Under the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA)
your losses are limited to $50 if you report your card lost or
stolen within two business days of discovering the loss. If you wait
between two and 60 days of discovering the loss, you can be liable
for up to $500 of what a thief withdraws. If you wait more than 60
days after receiving a bank statement that includes an unauthorized
transfer, the law doesn’t require your bank to reimburse you for any
losses. You are not responsible for any funds withdrawn after you
notify your bank that the card is lost or stolen. In addition to the
EFTA law many banks will voluntarily offer additional protections.
VISA and MasterCard have voluntarily limited debit card liability to
the same $50 limit that exists for credit cards.
Protection Online
Update Computer Protection Software
Regularly
Keep your security software active and current. At a minimum, your
computer should have anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a
firewall. You can buy stand-alone programs for each element or a
security suite that includes these programs from a variety of
sources, including commercial vendors or from your Internet Service
Provider. Security software that comes pre-installed on a computer
generally works for a short time unless you pay a subscription fee
to keep it in effect. In any case, security software protects
against the newest threats only if it is up-to-date. That's why it
is critical to set your security software to update automatically.
Update Your Web Browser and Computer
Operating System Regularly
Hackers can take advantage of Web browsers (like Firefox or Internet
Explorer) and operating system software (like Windows or Mac's OS)
that don't have the latest security updates. Operating system
companies issue security patches for flaws that they find in their
systems, so it's important to set your operating system and Web
browser software to download and install security patches
automatically.
Beware of Scareware Pop-Ups
Scammers have found ways to create realistic but phony “security
alerts.” Though the “alerts” look like they’re being generated by
your computer, they actually are created by a con artist and sent
through your Internet browser. These programs are called “scareware”
because they exploit a person’s fear of online viruses and security
threats. Examples of scareware tactics:
• Online ads that promise to “delete viruses or spyware,” “protect
privacy,” “improve computer function,” “remove harmful files,” or
“clean your registry;”
• “Alerts” about “malicious software” or “illegal pornography on
your computer.”
• You are invited to download free software for a security scan or
to improve your system;
• Pop-ups that claim your security software is out-of-date and your
computer is in immediate danger;
• You suddenly encounter an unfamiliar website that claims to have
performed a security scan and prompts you to download new software.
If you’re faced with any of the warning signs of a scareware scam or
suspect a problem, shut down your browser. Don’t click “No” or
“Cancel,” or even the “x” at the top right corner of the screen.
Some scareware is designed so that any of those buttons can activate
the program. If you use Windows, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open
your Task Manager, and click “End Task.” If you use a Mac, press
Command + Option + Q + Esc to “Force Quit.”
Avoid Phishing Scams
Don't reply to an email, text, or pop-up message that asks for
personal or financial information, and don't click on links in the
message. If you want to go to a bank or business's website, type the
web address into your browser yourself.
Don't respond if you get a message – by email, text, pop-up or phone
– that asks you to call a phone number to update your account or
give your personal information to access a refund. If you need to
reach an organization with which you do business, call the number on
your financial statement.
Research Companies & Organizations
If it's your first time on an unfamiliar web site, call the seller's
phone number. If you can't find a working phone number, take your
business elsewhere. Type the site's name into a search engine. If
you find unfavorable reviews posted, you may be better off doing
business with a different seller.
Steps if to Take If Your Financial
Information is Stolen
• Place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit reports by contacting a
credit reporting agency. They are required to notify the other 2
agencies. Make sure you receive a confirmation.
• Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established
fraudulently.
• File a police report with local law enforcement officials
• Report your theft to the Federal Trade Commission, online, by
phone, or by mail.
For more information about steps to take if your information is
stolen visit http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/defend.html
Sources:
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, FDIC Consumer News - Spring
1998, http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnsprg98/crook.html
downloaded August 26, 2009.
Federal Trade Commission, http://ftc.gov
Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Web Site http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/index.html
OnGuard Online, http://www.onguardonline.gov