• First Signs of Identity Theft
• It's Your Identity - Keep it Safe
• Opting Out
• What if it happens to me?
• Other steps to take
• Mail..What to do when your out of town?
• Computer Privacy
• Other resources

Dear Florida Citizens:

Identity theft is a growing concern for consumers everywhere. Your personal information is needed to conduct business and financial transactions, but this often leaves you vulnerable to criminals. Your personal information can fraudulently be used to obtain credit and services in your name, damaging your credit rating and jeopardizing your financial stability.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has compiled this information to help you prevent and, if it occurs, react to identity theft. We have included informational tips and clear step-by-step instructions on what you can do in the event your personal information is "hijacked" or stolen, and then used.

There are simple steps you, as a consumer, can take to secure your privacy. Becoming informed is the very best security you can give yourself to ward off the potential threat of identity theft.


Sincerely,
Charles H. Bronson
Commissioner

First Signs of Identity Theft
Because of the nature of the crime, victims often do not realize their identity has been stolen until they are denied credit, turned down for a job, or sent a bill for purchases they did not make. Other signs are:

• You are contacted by a collection agency regarding a debt you did not incur.
• Checks disappear from your check book.
• You get a phone call or letter telling you that you have been approved or denied credit for accounts you never requested.

It's Your Identity - Keep it Safe
While consumers with high incomes are the preferred prey of identity thieves, every consumer is a potential target. Even though it may be impossible to totally eliminate the chances of becoming a victim of identity theft, there are many preventive steps a consumer can take to insure the security of their financial identity.

1. Order a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus, once a year.
2. Mail payments for bills from post office collection boxes.
3. Tear or shred charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, expired credit cards and credit card offers before discarding into the trash.
4. Store Social Security cards, credit cards, cancelled and extra checks, passports and any additional identity documentation in a secure place.
5. Remove extraneous information such as middle name, phone number, Social Security Number or driver's license number from your checks.
6. Review credit card, telephone, cellular phone and bank statements for irregularities and be aware of your billing cycles. Contact creditors immediately if you find a discrepancy. Close all accounts that are no longer needed or used. Write the company a letter and ask them to verify, in writing that the account has been closed.
7. Use passwords on all your accounts. Avoid picking easily determined numbers such as birth date, mother's maiden name or last four digits of your social security number.
8. Send "opt out" letters to businesses you have a relationship with, restricting them from selling, renting, distributing, or exchanging your personal information. Advise the three major credit bureaus you do not want personal information about you shared for promotional purposes. To stop receiving pre-approved credit offers call 1-888-5-optout (567-8688) .

Opting Out
Send opt out letters to: your financial institutions, mortgage company, Direct Marketing Association, telephone company, charities, department stores, other merchants and the three major credit bureaus.

To Whom It May Concern:

I hereby opt out of the sale, rental, distribution, exchange or other disclosure of any and all personal information you may have about me. This includes, but is not limited to my name, home and work phone numbers, email and home addresses, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers and my transaction history with you.
Please promptly confirm in writing that you will not disclose my personal information without my written consent.
Full Legal Name: ________________________________
Signature:______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
Date: __________________________________________

Even though other companies may still contact you, sending these companies an opt out letter will lessen the possibility of your private information becoming available to unscrupulous persons

For Credit Bureaus, write to:
Equifax, Inc. - Options
PO Box 740123, Atlanta, GA 30374

Experian - Consumer Services
901 West Bond St., Lincoln, NE 68521

Trans Union - Marketing List Opt Out
PO Box 97328, Jackson, MS 39288-7328

For Direct Marketing, write to:
Direct Marketing Association - Mail Preference Association PO Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512

Quick Tip - In most cases, the Truth in Lending Act limits your liability for unauthorized credit card charges to $50 per card. The Fair Credit Act establishes procedures for resolving billing errors on your credit card accounts. This includes fraudulent charges on accounts. IMPORTANT: In order for these laws to be of benefit to you, it is essential the fraud be reported within 60 days.

What if it happens to me?
Both the State of Florida and the Federal Government are great resources for information on identity theft. Contact the Florida Attorney General's fraud line at 1-866-966-7226 or visit them online at www.myfloridalegal.com. To report a crime, call the Federal Trade Commission's toll-free Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-438-4338. They will provide additional information and give you instructions on what to do next. Ask that an affidavit of fraud to be sent to you immediately.

Call each company that issued a fraudulent credit card to obtain a copy of the signed credit card contract. Be persistent. Ask them to send notification to the three major credit bureaus so they are made aware of the fraud. They may request an affidavit of fraud and a police report.

Contact any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your credit alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts in their system, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.

Equifax
To order your report, call: 1-800-685-1111
To report a fraud, call: 1-800-525-6285
TDD 1-800-255-0056 and write to:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian
To order your report, call: 1-888-397-3742
To report a fraud, call: 1-888-397-3742
TDD 1-800-972-0322 and write to:
P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion
To order your report, call: 1-800-888-4213
To report a fraud, call: 1-800-680-7289
TDD 1-877-553-7803 and write to:
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

At your request, the Fraud Section of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will place a flag on your driver's license if you are a victim of identity theft (regardless of whether your license has been compromised). To reach the Fraud Section, call 1-800-488-4579. You will be asked to submit your request in writing to: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, DDL/BDI - Fraud Section, Room A327, Neil Kirkman Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0570

Other steps to take

Mail..What to do when your out of town?
If you are planning to be away from your home and can't pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 to request a vacation hold or make the request at your local post office. The Postal Service will hold your mail at your local post office.

There is a risk of identity theft if personal and financial records are stored on your computer. You can greatly reduce the possibility of your financial information becoming another person's identity.

Computer Privacy

• Use a firewall program if you use a high speed internet connection that leaves your account connected to the Internet 24 hours a day.
• Use a secure browser. Some browsers can be downloaded and are free on the Internet.
• Don't store your financial information on a laptop unless it is absolutely necessary. If you do, set up the pass word with lower and upper case letters and symbols and do not use an automatic log in.
• Look for Web site privacy policies. If you do not see a privacy policy, consider surfing elsewhere.
• Delete personal information from any computer being discarded or given away. A full "wipe" is necessary to ensure the deletion of information from the hard drive.
• Update virus protection software regularly. Viruses can divert your private information or render your information accessible to outsiders if these updates are not preformed.

Other resources
United States Department of Justice at www.usdoj.gov Provides information on the prevention and prosecution of identity theft.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.ftc.gov
Call 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) for pamphlets that deal with identity theft and privacy of personal information.

Florida Computer Crime Center (FC3) at www.fdle.state.fl.us/Fc3/

This site is brought to you by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Computer crime can take many forms. It is an expanding criminal activity, with new methods developing every day. Varieties of computer crime include anything from Internet fraud to viruses to Cyberstalking.

Florida's Identity Theft Victim Kit at
http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/Main/CBBEBA3F2583433385256DBA004BC600?OpenDocument

This kit is designed to help you through the process of resolving your identity theft case and clearing your name. While there are many general identity theft resource guides available, this kit was specifically developed to provide assistance to Floridians who are identity theft victims, as well as individuals in other states who had their personal information fraudulently used in the state of Florida.