1st Florida State Mortgage Corporation

 

 

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is when someone takes and uses your personal information (such as your name, social security or credit card number) without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. These criminals take the identities of others to open new credit cards; obtain phone or utility accounts, loans, or employment; open bank accounts; and/or pass fraudulent checks. According to the FBI, identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America.

How Does Identity Theft Occur?

Despite your best efforts to manage the flow of your personal information or to keep it to yourself, skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to gain access to your data.

How identity thieves get your personal information:

• They get information from businesses or other institutions by:
  • stealing records or information while they're on the job
  • bribing an employee who has access to these records
  • hacking these records
  • conning information out of employees
    
• They may steal your mail, including bank and credit card statements, credit card offers, new checks, and tax information.
  
• They may rummage through your trash, the trash of businesses, or public trash dumps in a practice known as "dumpster diving."
  
• They may get your credit reports by abusing their employer's authorized access to them, or by posing as a landlord, employer, or someone else who may have a legal right to access your report.
  
• They may steal your credit or debit card numbers by capturing the information in a data storage device in a practice known as "skimming." They may swipe your card for an actual purchase, or attach the device to an ATM machine where you may enter or swipe your card.
  
• They may steal your wallet or purse.
  
• They may complete a "change of address form" to divert your mail to another location.
  
• They may steal personal information they find in your home.
  
• They may steal personal information from you through email or phone by posing as legitimate companies and claiming that you have a problem with your account. This practice is known as "phishing" online, or pretexting by phone.

How identity thieves use your personal information:

• They may call your credit card issuer to change the billing address on your credit card account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there's a problem.
  
• They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, the delinquent accounts are reported on your credit report.
  
• They may establish phone or wireless service in your name.
  
• They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.
  
• They may counterfeit checks or credit or debit cards, or authorize electronic transfers in your name, and drain your bank account.
  
• They may file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they've incurred under your name, or to avoid eviction.
  
• They may buy a car by taking out an auto loan in your name.
  
• They may get identification such as a driver's license issued with their picture, in your name.
  
• They may get a job or file fraudulent tax returns in your name.
  
• They may give your name to the police during an arrest. If they don't show up for their court date, a warrant for arrest is issued in your name.

What Should I Do if I Become a Victim of Identity Theft?

• Contact the three major credit bureaus
• Equifax - P.O. Box 105069 - Atlanta, GA 30348 -

1-800-525-6285 - www.equifax.com

• Experian - P.O. Box 2002 - Allen, TX 75013 -

1-888-397-3742 - www.experian.com

• TransUnion - P.O. Box 1000 - Chester, PA 19022

1-800-680-7289 - www.transunion.com

Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too.

Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you're entitled to order free copies of your credit reports, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your SSN will appear on your credit reports.Once you get your credit reports, review them carefully. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain. Check that information, like your SSN, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct. If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, get it removed.

What is 1st Florida State Mortgage Corp. doing to assist in the Battle Against Identity Theft?

Protecting the confidentiality and security of our customers personal information is a priority for 1st Florida State Mortgage Corporation. We understand the implications identity theft can have and take very specific steps to reduce the chance that Identity thieves can damage the credit reputations of our customers. As a result, 1st florida State Mortgage Corp has put multiple safety measures in place to combat identity theft. 1st Florida State Mortgage Corporation trains key employees in customer identification and authentication. Our training and procedures is designed to reduce the chance of a loan being opened in your name without your permission. We regularly update training to educate our employees on changing trends in identity theft.

Maintaining Vigilance

• Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know who you're dealing with. Identity thieves are clever, and have posed as representatives of banks, Internet service providers (ISPs), and even government agencies to get people to reveal their SSN, mother's maiden name, account numbers, and other identifying information. Before you share any personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization. Check an organization's web site by typing its URL in the address line, rather than cutting and pasting it. Many companies post scam alerts when their name is used improperly. Or call customer service using the number listed on your account statement or in the telephone book. For more information, see How Not to Get Hooked by a 'Phishing' Scam, a publication from the FTC.
  
• Treat your mail and trash carefully.
  
  • Deposit your outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If you're planning to be away from home and can't pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 to request a vacation hold. The Postal Service will hold your mail at your local post office until you can pick it up or are home to receive it.
    
  • To thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards that you're discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail. To opt out of receiving offers of credit in the mail, call: 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). The three nationwide consumer reporting companies use the same toll-free number to let consumers choose not to receive credit offers based on their lists. Note: You will be asked to provide your SSN which the consumer reporting companies need to match you with your file.
    
• Don't carry your SSN card; leave it in a secure place.
  
• Give your SSN only when absolutely necessary, and ask to use other types of identifiers. If your state uses your SSN as your driver's license number, ask to substitute another number. Do the same if your health insurance company uses your SSN as your policy number.
  
• Carry only the identification information and the credit and debit cards that you'll actually need when you go out.
  
• Be cautious when responding to promotions. Identity thieves may create phony promotional offers to get you to give them your personal information.
  
• Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work; do the same with copies of administrative forms that have your sensitive personal information.
  
• When ordering new checks, pick them up from the bank instead of having them mailed to your home mailbox.