Like most places, the City of Greenville is experiencing vehicle thefts and break-ins. The Police Department is asking for your help in combating these criminals. In the United States, a vehicle is stolen every 21 seconds. Stolen cars, vans, trucks and motorcycles cost victims time and money--and increases everyone's insurance premiums. They're also often used to commit other crimes.

A lot of vehicle crime results from criminals seeing opportunities and taking them. But you can easily outsmart the car thief by following the simple advice given below. Remember most car crimes can be prevented. Don't give criminals an easy ride.

What you can do to make your car secure

KEEP YOUR VALUABLES AND POSSESSIONS SAFE

• Don’t leave anything on display in your car. Even an old coat on the back seat is a temptation for someone to ‘smash and grab’ – they steal first and think about value later. Thieves will smash a car window just to look inside a bag or box to see if they contain anything of value. Even if it contains nothing, you will be left with a broken window or door lock.
• Take all your belongings with you when you leave the car. If you can’t, lock them in the trunk, preferably before you start your journey.
• Never leave any of the following on display in your car as they are all particularly attractive to car thieves.
  • Cell Phones, GPS Receivers, Laptops, and IPods, (Basically any type of easy to sell electronics)
  • Chequebooks, Credit Cards & Debit Cards
  • Cash (Even loose change in the ashtray)
  • Vehicle Registration Documents (These should always be carried on your person)
  • Private Mail (Especially if it has your address on it)
  • Wallets and Purses (Duh, we see this often)
• Don't make the mistake of thinking because you live in a low crime neighborhood, that you can leave items in your car or leave car doors unlocked. Thieves know to cruise "nice" neighborhoods cause that's where the good stuff can be found.
• Don't leave garage door activators in your parked car. Thieves will have easy access to your garage and sometimes your entire home if the door from the garage into your home interior is unsecured.

SECURITY DEVICES ARE ALWAYS GREAT WAYS TO SECURE YOUR CAR AND PUT OFF WOULD-BE THIEVES

• Electronic immobilisers (which prevent the car from starting) are a sure way to put off car thieves.
• Mechanical immobilisers, such as steering-wheel locks, are a good alternative to electronic immobilisers.
  They are not expensive and are easy to fit yourself. Commonly called clubs, collars, or j-bars--that locks to the steering wheel, column, or brake to prevent the wheel from being turned more than a few degrees.
• Fit locking wheel nuts, as wheels are often a target for car thieves. Wheel nuts are not expensive and are easy to fit.
• An alarm can help to keep your car secure but it must be installed professionally to be effective. If you live in a high theft area or drive an automobile that's an attractive target for thieves, you may get a discount from your insurance company.
• You should purchase a locking gas cap. A locking gas cap means the thief won't be able to put gas in your stolen car - shortening his joy ride.

KEEP YOUR CAR KEYS SAFE

• When you leave your car, always remove the ignition key and lock all doors – it only takes a few Seconds for a thief to jump into your car and drive away. Follow this routine all the time, even when filling up with petrol or just popping into the shop.
• On icy mornings, never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running to warm it up or defrost the windows.
• At home, always keep your car keys in a safe place which is out of sight and away from windows and doors.

ETCHING

• Arrange to have your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) etched onto all glass surfaces – including the headlamps. This helps discourage professional thieves who have to either remove or replace etched parts before selling your car. Copy the VIN and your tage number on a card and keep it in a safe place. If your vehicle is stolen, the police will need this information.

SECURITY MARKING

• Consider marking all your valuables, especially those that you frequently take in your car. Mark items with your ZIPCODE or some other unique identifying number linked to a recognised database. If any of your valuables have serial numbers, keep a note of them in a safe place. This should help the police return your possessions to you if they are stolen and recovered. It also helps to convict criminals. Our crime prevention officer can give you further information about marking schemes.

DOORS AND WINDOWS

• Lock all doors and close all windows and the sunroof every time you leave your car unattended – however briefly. Many cars get broken into in the few seconds that a car is out of the driver’s sight.
• You can have special security film installed on your side windows making them difficult to break.

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

• Always remove your in-car electronic equipment, particularly satellite navigation devices and car stereos, if you can – these are the most sought-after items in your car. With satellite navigation equipment remember also to remove any support cradle and suction pads, and wipe away any suction pad marks on the windscreen and dashboard as thieves will look out for these.
• All in-car electronic equipment – whether you can remove it or not – should be permanently marked, in a visible place, with the vehicle’s registration number or some other unique identifying number linked to a recognised database. Make a note of the equipment’s serial number and keep it in a safe place.
• Pawn shops are regularly checked for stolen goods by comparing serial numbers.
• When choosing electronic equipment, look for models with anti-theft security features.

STOLEN GOODS

• A lot of stolen items are sold on to the public. If you are offered a ‘bargain’ you could be buying something that has been stolen. Stick to reputable shops and dealers.

If you have any information about criminal activity, particularly concerning
cars stolen for spare parts or items stolen from cars and then sold to the
public, you can contact the Greenville Police Tip Line at (864) 271-4273 or
Crimestoppers at 23-CRIME (232-7463). You do not have to give out your name.

PARKING

• If you have a garage at home, use it. Always lock your car and garage. If you don’t have a garage, always try to park in a well-lit, open place. Thieves always like to steal from cars parked in places where they run the least risk of being seen. When you park your car away from home, always try to avoid places that:
  • Are unattended
  • Have easy access
  • Are concealed from public view
  • Have many escape routes
• When parking in a lot, try not to park next to trucks or other large vehicles which block the view of your car.
• When you leave your car with a parking attendant, leave just the ignition key with the attendant. Make sure no personal indentification is attached. Do the same when you take your car in for repairs.

SELLING YOUR CAR YOURSELF

• When selling your car privately, it is worth remembering that thieves can pose as potential buyers. Never let the buyer go on a test drive alone. They may not come back. Don’t leave the buyer alone with your keys in the ignition. Be careful about accepting cheques or banker’s drafts. If they are fraudulent or counterfeit you will lose the money. If in doubt, contact your bank.

WHAT ABOUT CARJACKING?

Carjacking--stealing a car by force--has captured headlines in the last few years. Statistically, your chances of being a victim of carjacking are very slim, and preventive actions can reduce the risk even more.

• Approach your car with your key in hand. Look around inside before getting in.
• When driving, keep your doors locked and your windows rolled up at all times.
• Never roll down your window to a suspicious person.
• Be especially alert at intersections, gas stations, ATMs, shopping malls convenience and grocery stores--all are windows of opportunity for carjackers.
• Park in well-lighted areas with good visibility, close to walkways, stores, and people.
• If someone attempts to force their way into your car, blow the horn.
• If the carjacker has a weapon, give up the car with no questions asked. Your life is worth more than a car.
• If you think you are being followed, do not drive home. Drive to the nearest police or fire station or any well lit store or gas station.

WHAT IF MY CAR IS STOLEN?

• If your car was just stolen call 911 immediately. Be prepared to give the 911 operator your vehicle information, the address of where it was taken from, and any information you may have on the suspects and their direction of travel. If your vehicle was taken, but you don't know when it occured, report it to the desk officer at 467-5258. You must have your vehicle information ready to give the officer. If your vehicle has any unique markings, damage, or parts (like custom wheels) this will help in locating your vehicle.
• Your vehicle will be entered into NCIC (a nation-wide stolen vehicle data base) and a BOLO (be on the lookout alert) will be immediately broadcast to all city police units.
• Anytme an officer anywhere in the U.S. does a traffic stop or comes across a suspicious, or abandoned vehicle, the vehicle tag will be ran through the national data base to determine if the vehicle is stolen. If the tag comes back "clear" but does not match the vehicle's registration on which it is displayed, the officer will check the VIN to determine if the vehicle in stolen.
• If your vehicle is recovered by law enforcement you will be contacted immediately and given the information on how to retrieve your vehicle.
• Sometimes an owner of a stolen vehicle happens to recover their own vehicle. If this occurs you must contact the agency with whom you reported the vehicle stolen so the vehicle can be removed from the NCIC data base. Failure to to do so could result in an officer performing a felony traffic stop upon seeing the vehicle being driven on the roadway and not knowing the vehicle is no longer stolen. Should this occur, it will not be a pleasant experience for whomever happens to be driving the vehicle.

WHAT IS A BREACH-OF-TRUST VEHICLE?

• If you gave your permission for someone to borrow your vehicle and they failed to return the vehicle as promised, that is known as a breach of trust. It is NOT a stolen vehicle. You can still report it to the police and we will attempt to recover the vehicle. Under no circumstances should you lead the police to believe the vehicle was stolen. Doing so not only could lead to you being charged with filing a false police report, but it could result in an innocent person being harmed since the police will use tactics neccesary for handling a felony level crime instead of a simple breach of trust situation.

 

 

Property Crimes investigators have seen a new crime trend emerge with the increased sales and use of automotive GPS unit. The theft of GPS Systems has increased rapidly in the last few years. Nationwide, the numbers are staggering. FBI statistics show there were nearly 5,500 reports of GPS theft last year at this time. This year, it’s more than 31,000.

Crime Analysts blame an alignment of economic and technological factors for the upswing concerning such thefts. Investigators say that sharp-eyed thieves do not hesitate to break into a car or truck when they spot the faint mark of the suction cup used to position the system on the dashboard or windshield.

After they break in, they will look under seats and inside consoles to find devices that may be hidden. Often times, your repair bill is higher than the cost of the stolen GPS unit. Keeping the criminal element in mind, here are a few tips that can help you keep your GPS safe from theft:

1) Removing your GPS unit from the dashboard or windshield alone, without removing its cradle or mounting doesn't guarantee that a thief still won't break into your car. Today's GPS thieves often are willing to gamble that an empty GPS cradle suggests that its owner has taken the action of removing the GPS unit and storing it underneath one of the vehicle's seats.

2) Keep your windshields and dashes clean. Even taking the extra precaution of removing the GPS device's cradle might still not be enough to stop a break-in into your car. The suction cups used to secure the GPS unit's cradle to the car's dashboard or windshield can leave a ring of film on the glass. The Police Department recommends that you use micro fiber cloths or moist towelettes to wipe away any ring of film from the GPS cradle suction cup.

3) Hide or remove the power cord or any other accessories.

4) Some GPS units now have a password to use. This makes the GPS useless to the thief and they may pawn the device, allowing for the possibility that the police may recover the device.

5) To locate your stolen item, police need to know the make, model, serial number of the unit and any identifying marks engraved on it. Keep a written record with these details in the event a police report is filed.

6) If you don’t feel you will sell your unit, use an engraving tool to etch your vehicle license plate number or some sort of distinctive marking onto the outer casing of their GPS unit. Do NOT engrave your name, telephone number etc. as the thief may use this to steal your identity.

 

Are you a Safe Internet User?

You may be at risk if you answer YES to any of the following questions:

• Do you visit websites by clicking onlinks within an email?
• Do you reply to emails from companies or persons you are not familiar with?
• Have you received packages to hold or ship to someone you met on the internet?
• Have you been asked to cash checks and wire funds to an employer you met online?
• Would you cash checks or money orders received through an online transaction without first confirming their legitimacy?
• Would you provide your personal/banking information as a result of an email notification?

DON'T BE AN INTERNET CRIME VICTIM!

Internet crime schemes that steal millions of dollars each year from victims continue to plague the Internet through various methods such as:

* Auction Fraud
* Counterfeit Cashier's Check
* Credit Card Fraud
* Debt Elimination
* DHL/UPS
* Employment/Business Opportunities
* Escrow Services Fraud
* Identity Theft
* Internet Extortion
* Investment Fraud
* Lotteries
* Nigerian Letter or "419"
* Phishing/Spoofing
* Ponzi/Pyramid
* Reshipping
* Spam
* Third Party Receiver

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO TEST YOUR ONLINE PRACTICES VISIT:

www.LooksTooGoodToBeTrue.com

TO LEARN MORE OR REPORT AN ONLINE CRIME VISIT:

WWW.IC3.GOV

 

Distraction burglary is where a bogus visitor tells lies to con their way into a home, or creates a diversion so an accomplice can sneak in. Because elderly or vulnerable people are often targeted, distraction burglary can have a devastating effect – victims can lose their confidence and peace of mind, as well as money and possessions.

Who are the offenders?

Many are professional teams of con men or women who travel the country, choosing locations with a high density of older residents or mixed communities within easy access of main or arterial roads. Surveillance information suggests tens and sometimes hundreds of miles are travelled between offences. Offenders move on following a concentrated period of offending. The constant movement also makes detection both difficult and expensive.

Who do the offenders work with?

Offenders often have a network of connections. There is a close relationship with the so-called ‘prop’ men; property repairers who trick older people into parting with large sums of money
and distraction burglars. These criminals are known to sell victims details. They may use an accomplice who has made an initial ‘cold call’ to identify properties inhabited by older and other vulnerable people.

Anecdotal information also suggests that prolific offenders respond less to rehabilitation and
often learnt their skills from their parents during childhood.

How to avoid becoming a victim of distraction burglary

The Greenville Police Department is committed to reducing distraction burglary, but police need the whole community to work together to keep out bogus visitors. By following these tips you can not only lessen your chances of becoming a victim, but also help others not to be targeted.

They’ll say anything

Bogus callers will say or do anything to gain entry to your home and because people are becoming more aware that they shouldn’t let anyone in, they are using increasingly devious tactics. Some of the lines used include:

• Playing for sympathy - “I’ve broken down, please can I use your phone?” or "I've ran out of gas, could I borrow some money or a gas can?" or “I don’t feel very well, could I use your toilet or get a glass of water?”
• Good Samaritan - “I’ve just caught someone climbing out of your window, I think they might have stolen something. We need to check your money hasn’t been taken.”
• Using children - “Hello could my son and I come in to ask you some questions for his school project?”
• Fake emergency - “There’s a gas leak/flood in your road, I have to come in to turn off your supply.”
  (Note that if there is a real gas or water emergency, police and firefighters are likely to be present).
• Leaving a note - “I’ve dropped in to see my aunty/friend who lives next door, but she’s out at the moment. Please could I borrow a pen and paper to leave a note.”

In a lot of cases the person who calls at the door will divert your attention while an accomplice sneaks into your house to search for valuables.

Taking precautions

Don't be afraid to be rude. You are not obligated to open the door for anyone you don't know. Don’t open the door to anyone before you’ve checked who it is – look out of the window or use a spy hole in your door. If you open the door, keep the chain on while you find out who is calling and what they want. If you’re not expecting someone and you don’t know them, don’t let them into your home, no matter what they say to you. If a caller is genuine they will understand your concerns. If someone claims to be from a company, such as a gas or electricity provider, always double check their identity – see the section below for tips on how to do that properly.

If someone is asking for a favour, such as to use your toilet, borrow a pen or retrieve a ball, don’t let them in. Instead direct them to a shop, office or public place. It’s only natural to want to help someone, but sadly that’s one of the techniques often used by distraction burglars. If you have any concerns about someone who has called at your door, call police immediately. If you have a chance try to note what they look like and any vehicle they have with them, so police can investigate.

Checking identification

If someone from a company calls at your door, even if you are expecting them, ask to see their identification and check it thoroughly. If you are blind or partially sighted, ask a friend or neighbour who you trust to help you if someone calls at your door.

If you were not expecting anyone, explain that you need to check they are legitimate and ask them to wait outside for a few minutes. Take a note of their name and the company they claim to be working for and then close and lock the door. Look up the phone number for the company in a telephone directory and check they have an employee of that name and that they are visiting you on legitimate business. Never just take someone’s word for it and don’t use any phone number they give you to check their identity – you don’t know if it’s a genuine number.

Helping others

Determine if you should call the police. Even if no crime has occurred, it might be worthwhile to make the police aware of any suspicious behavior. The police might be looking for a suspect that matches the person's description, and your call may save others from falling prey to a distraction burglary.

The elderly are often not aware that they are a victim – Often victims do not realise something has been taken, for hours, days or even weeks. In such cases they are more likely to question
their own judgement and memory rather than admit that they have been a victim.

Often the elderly believe that reporting the crime is futile – Feelings of great loss and powerlessness often ensue. These are compounded by emotions generated by other life events, a recent bereavement may take up all spare emotional capacity. As a result, victims often think it pointless and unnecessary to report the incident and in many cases to even mention it to friends and relatives.

Although anyone can be a victim of distraction burglary, bogus callers often prey on elderly or vulnerable people because they see them as easier targets. If you know somebody who is elderly or vulnerable who might not be aware of this advice, please do all you can to help them to protect themselves and their homes. Offer to help your neighbours to check the identification of callers.

If you have elderly friends or relatives, have a look at their home to see if there are any extra security measures that could be taken. If they don’t have a door chain or spy hole make sure they have one fitted – they can be brought from most DIY stores for less than $10.

Encourage them to use a bank account instead of keeping large amounts of cash in their home. Help them to keep their yard tidy – some burglars keep a lookout for unkempt yards because it could be a sign that someone elderly lives there.

If you are a victim of a distraction burglary

Call the police to report a distraction burglary the moment you realize valuables are missing. Often, distraction burglars strike more than once, so make the report as soon as possible.

Make neighbors aware of what happened so they can look out for similar schemes. Print up a flyer detailing the crime and describing the perpetrator. Distribute it on your block.

 

Theft of all types of copper tubing and wiring is an alarming development. Over the past two years, law enforcement agencies and utility companies have seen a dramatic rise in the theft of copper wiring, water piping and refrigeration copper tubing from homes, businesses and utility facilities. Often, the destruction does $3,000 in damages for $25 worth of scrap copper.

This rise is alarming but not unexpected; thefts of recyclable metals spike whenever scrap metal prices rise. And with the market value of copper increasing as much as 400% since 2000, the metal has become more attractive to thieves looking for an easy source of cash. Unscrupulous salvage yards readily accept copper, often paying up to 90% of market price. Thieves, (typically drug addicts looking for quick-buy money), look for copper in many forms and places:

• New wiring, piping, and other components awaiting installation, stored at construction sites.
• Wiring (even high-voltage wiring), piping, and electrical components in unsecured buildings (whether under construction, vacant, or occupied), electrical facilities, streetlamps, traffic signals, etc.
• Gutters, downspouts, lightning conductors and other roof components.
• Copper coils in air conditioners and HVAC units.
• Outdoor sculptures or decorative architectural components.

The Law Regarding Copper Theft

In response to the problem, South Carolina has passed new legistration to help deter copper theft:

SECTION 16-17-680.
Unlawful purchase or transportation of copper wire or copper pipe.

(A) It is unlawful to purchase copper wire, copper pipe, copper bars, or copper sheeting in excess of ten pounds from a person who is not a holder of a retail license or an authorized wholesaler or unless the purchaser obtains and can verify the name and address of the seller. A purchaser of copper wire, copper pipe, copper bars, or copper sheeting shall maintain a record containing the date of purchase, name and address of seller, weight or length, and size or other description of copper wire, copper pipe, copper bars, or copper sheeting purchased and amount paid for it. Records must be maintained and kept open for inspection by law enforcement officials or local and state governmental agencies during regular business hours. The records must be maintained for twelve months from the date of purchase.

(B) It is unlawful for a person to transport or have in his possession on highways of this State, in a vehicle other than a vehicle used in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of transporting copper wire, copper pipe, copper bars, or copper sheeting, an amount of copper wire, copper pipe, copper bars, or copper sheeting of an aggregate weight of more than twenty-five pounds, unless the person has in his possession:

(1) a bill of sale signed by:

(a) a holder of a retail license for a business engaged in the sale of copper wire, copper pipe, copper bars, or copper sheeting;

(b) an authorized wholesaler engaged in the sale of copper wire, copper pipe, copper bars, or copper sheeting; or (c) a registered dealer in scrap metals; or

(2) a certificate of origin signed by the sheriff, or his designated representative, of the county in which the purchase was made. The bill of sale or certificate of origin clearly must identify the material to which it applies and show the name and address of the seller, license plate of the vehicle in which the material is delivered to the purchaser, identified by license number, year, and state of issue, the name and address of the purchaser, the date of sale, and the type and amount of copper wire, copper pipe, copper bars, or copper sheeting purchased.

(C) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a:

(1) misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days for a first offense. This offense is triable in magistrate's court;

(2) misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, for a second offense;

(3) misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than three years, or both, for a third or subsequent offense. For an offense to be considered a third or subsequent offense, only those offenses which occurred within a period of ten years, including and immediately preceding the date of the last offense shall constitute a prior offense within the meaning of this section.

(D) For purposes of this section, the only identification acceptable is:

(1) a valid South Carolina driver's license;

(2) a South Carolina identification card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles;

(3) a valid driver's license from another state that contains the licensee's picture on the face of the license; or

(4) a valid military identification card.

What Home Owners can do to Fight Copper Theft

• Greenville residents and businesses can assist police in thwarting these crimes by reporting any suspicious activities near light poles, buildings under construction and any air conditioning units.
• Be on the lookout for suspicious burning in the area. Thieves will typically burn the coating off of electrical wiring before attempting to sell it. Smoke from this type of fire will be dark and oily looking and is usually done inside a metal drum. If you see any suspicious activity, please call the Greenville Police Department at 271-5333.
• Work with police and neighbors to establish a neighborhood watch program.
• Shoot 'Hilti nails through the base pan of your air conditioning condensing unit into the concrete pad it sits on so that when they try to steal it they'll have to drag off the 500-pound pad as well. (Hilti makes a concrete-piercing, steel-pin-firing gun that uses a .22-caliber cartridge to attach 2-by-4-inch wall plates to new concrete.)
• Install a steel cage to cover your air conditioning unit, or locate it within a secure fence.
• Secure any access to your home's crawl space. Thieves are known to get under your home and completely strip all of the exposed wiring and copper pipes located there.

What Building Contractors can do

• Seek Information and Assistance
  • Consult your insurance agent or loss control consultant before your project begins, to ensure that you have adequate, appropriate insurance to protect copper during transportation, storage, and installation, and to cover business interruption costs should a theft shut down your operation temporarily.
  • Meet with local law enforcement early in the project, to familiarize them with your plans, materials, risks, and schedules, and to seek their guidance on local risks.
  • Talk with employees about theft, and show them how to secure materials and equipment to prevent theft and vandalism.
  • Get to know your neighbors, tenants, and vendors; ask them to alert police if they see suspicious activities or people on or near your site, especially after hours.
• Manage Valuable Materials Wisely
  • Arrange “just-in-time” delivery of costly commodities such as copper. When possible, avoid storing large quantities of valuable materials on site.
  • If you must purchase large quantities of copper components in order to “lock in” prices, be sure to have secure storage, either on or off site. Use sturdy, lockable buildings, storage containers, or wire cages.
  • Develop and use an effective inventory system to identify, measure, and track copper components. Mark copper materials as your property, using any of several new technologies available for this purpose. Record serial numbers of appliances and equipment that contain copper components.
• Keep Your Property Secure
  • Provide adequate exterior lighting and video surveillance cameras, especially in high-risk areas. Maintain these properly to ensure that they are always in working order.
  • Clearly define the perimeters of your property (such as with chain-link fencing), and post prominent “No Trespassing” signs. This makes it easier for police to identify, challenge, and arrest trespassers.
  • Hire security staff to monitor your property after hours. Schedule inspection rounds at irregular intervals so that thieves cannot anticipate vulnerable times.
  • Choose the best quality doors, fences, storage containers, and locks, and maintain them properly.
  • Install locking steel cages over HVAC equipment (such as air conditioning units) and other outdoor equipment that contains copper components. Install locks on exterior electrical panels.
  • Remove exterior fixed ladders, stairs, and other means of access. (Do not remove fire escapes.) Store ladders inside locked buildings.
  • Allow only authorized personnel on site. Train employees not to admit any others.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

In the course of a busy day, you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax returns, change service providers for your cell phone, or apply for a credit card. Chances are you don’t give these everyday transactions a second thought. But an identity thief does. Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years – and thousands of dollars – cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of a good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims of identity theft may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing, or cars, and even get arrested for crimes they didn’t commit. Humiliation, anger, and frustration are among the feelings victims experience as they navigate the process of rescuing their identity.

Working with other government agencies and organizations, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has produced this information to help you remedy the effects of an identity theft. It describes what steps to take, your legal rights, how to handle specific problems you may encounter on the way to clearing your name, and what to watch for in the future. After reading this information, you can download this information in a PDF booklet which you can print out. The filesize of the PDF is 6.89 MB. Click here for the English version or here for the Spanish language version.

HOW IDENTITY THEFT OCCURS

I first was notified that someone had used my Social Security number for their taxes in February 2004. I also found out that this person opened a checking account, cable and utility accounts, and a cell phone account in my name. I’m still trying to clear up everything and just received my income tax refund after waiting four to five months. Trying to work and get all this cleared up is very stressful. -- From a consumer’s complaint to the FTC, July 9, 2004

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 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.
  

If Your Personal Information Has Been Lost or Stolen:

If you’ve lost personal information or identification, or if it has been stolen from you, taking certain steps quickly can minimize the potential for identity theft.

• Financial accounts: Close accounts, like credit cards and bank accounts, immediately. When you open new accounts, place passwords on them. Avoid using your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN) or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
  
  
• Social Security number: Call the toll-free fraud number of any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports. An alert can help stop someone from opening new credit accounts in your name. For consumer reporting company contact information, and more information about fraud alerts continue reading.
  
  
• Driver’s license/other government-issued identification: Contact the agency that issued the license or other identification document. Follow its procedures to cancel the document and to get a replacement. Ask the agency to flag your file so that no one else can get a license or any other identification document from them in your name.

Once you’ve taken these precautions, watch for signs that your information is being misused. See Staying Alert, below.

If your information has been misused, file a report about the theft with the police, and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, as well. If another crime was committed – for example, if your purse or wallet was stolen or your house or car was broken into – report it to the police immediately.

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IDENTITY THEFT VICTIMS: IMMEDIATE STEPS

If you are a victim of identity theft, take the following four steps as soon as possible, and keep a record with the details of your conversations and copies of all correspondence.

1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports.

Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. 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.

• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
  
  
• Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
  
  
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division,
  P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
  

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. See Correcting Credit Reports, page 17 to learn how. Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.

Fraud Alerts
There are two types of fraud alerts: an initial alert, and an extended alert.

• An initial alert stays on your credit report for at least 90 days. You may ask that an initial fraud alert be placed on your credit report if you suspect you have been, or are about to be, a victim of identity theft. An initial alert is appropriate if your wallet has been stolen or if you’ve been taken in by a “phishing” scam. When you place an initial fraud alert on your credit report, you’re entitled to one free credit report from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies.
  
  
• An extended alert stays on your credit report for seven years. You can have an extended alert placed on your credit report if you’ve been a victim of identity theft and you provide the consumer reporting company with an “identity theft report” (see page 9). When you place an extended alert on your credit report, you’re entitled to two free credit reports within 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. In addition, the consumer reporting companies will remove your name from marketing lists for pre-screened credit offers for five years – unless you ask them to put your name back on the list before then.
  

To place either of these alerts on your credit report, you will be required to provide appropriate proof of your identity, which may include your SSN, name, address and other personal information requested by the consumer reporting company. To remove the fraud alert, you will need a copy of an identity theft report and proof of your identity.

When a business sees the alert on your credit report, they must verify your identity before issuing you credit. As part of this verification process, the business may try to contact you directly. This may cause some delays if you’re trying to obtain credit. To compensate for possible delays, you may wish to include a cell phone number, where you can be reached easily, in your alert. Remember to keep all contact information in your alert current.

2. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company. Follow up in writing, and include copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. It’s important to notify credit card companies and banks in writing. Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so
you can document what the company received and when. Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures.

When you open new accounts, use new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

If the identity thief has made charges or debits on your accounts, or on fraudulently opened accounts, ask the company for the forms to dispute those transactions:

• For charges and debits on existing accounts, ask the representative to send you the company’s fraud dispute forms. If the company doesn’t have special forms, use the sample letter provided here to dispute the fraudulent charges or debits. In either case, write to the company at the address given for
  “billing inquiries,” NOT the address for sending your payments.
• For new unauthorized accounts, ask if the company accepts the ID Theft Affidavit. If not, ask the representative to send you the company’s fraud dispute forms.
  

If the company already has reported these accounts or debts on your credit report, dispute this fraudulent information. See Correcting Credit Reports to learn how.

Once you have resolved your identity theft dispute with the company, ask for a letter stating that the company has closed the disputed accounts and has discharged the fraudulent debts. This letter is your best proof if errors relating to this account reappear on your credit report or you are contacted
again about the fraudulent debt.

Proving You’re a Victim
Applications or other transaction records related to the theft of your identity may help you prove that you are a victim. For example, you may be able to show that the signature on an application is not yours. These documents also may contain information about the identity thief that is valuable to law enforcement. By law, companies must give you a copy of the application or other business transaction records relating to your identity theft if you submit your request in writing. Be sure to ask the company
representative where you should mail your request. Companies must provide these records at no charge to you within 30 days of receipt of your request and your supporting documents. You also may give permission to any law enforcement agency to get these records, or ask in your written request that a copy of these records be sent to a particular law enforcement officer.

The company can ask you for:

• proof of your identity. This may be a photocopy of a government-issued ID card, the same type of information the identity thief used to open or access the account, or the type of information the company usually requests from applicants or customers, and
  
  
• a police report and a completed affidavit, which may be the Identity Theft Affidavit
  (see page 37) or the company’s own affidavit.

3. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

Then, get a copy of the police report or at the very least, the number of the report. It can help you deal with creditors who need proof of the crime. If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a “Miscellaneous Incidents” report, or try another jurisdiction, like your state police. You also can check with your state Attorney General’s office to find out if state law requires the police to take reports for identity theft. Check the Blue Pages of your telephone directory for the phone number or check www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.

4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the
South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs

By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and stop them. The FTC can refer victims’ complaints to other government agencies and companies for further action, as well as investigate companies for violations of laws the agency enforces.

You can file a complaint online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. If you don’t have Internet access, call the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20580.

The South Carolina Consumer Protection Code gives the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs' Administrator broad powers and responsibilities to accept all types of complaints dealing with any consumer transaction arising out of the production, promotion or sale of consumer goods and services. The Division of Consumer Services is responsible for processing and evaluating consumer complaints received by the Department.

You can file your complaint online with the SCDCA at www.scconsumer.gov/complaint_services.htm or, if you don't have internet access, call (803) 734-4200 or (800) 922-1594 (toll free in S.C.)
Teletips (803) 734-4215 or (877) 734-4215 (toll free in S.C.); or write: South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, 3600 Forest Drive, 3rd Floor, P.O. Box 5757 Columbia, SC 29250

Be sure to call the Hotlines to update your complaint if you have any additional information or problems.

Note;
The SCDCA maintains a BUYER BEWARE LIST to inform the public of ALL businesses or individuals who have not responded to written complaints or who have failed to provide resolutions as promised. The list contains the name and address of the business for both in and out-of-state business. You can view the list online at www.scconsumer.gov/buyer_beware.htm

The Identity Theft Report
An identity theft report may have two parts:

Part One is a copy of a report filed with a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency, like your local police department, your State Attorney General, the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the FTC, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. There is no federal law requiring a federal agency to take a report about identity theft; however, some state laws require local police departments to take reports. When you file a report, provide as much information as you can about the crime, including anything you know about the dates of the identity theft, the fraudulent accounts opened, and the alleged identity thief.

Note: Knowingly submitting false information could subject you to criminal prosecution for perjury.

Part Two of an identity theft report depends on the policies of the consumer reporting company and the information provider (the business that sent the information to the consumer reporting company). That is, they may ask you to provide information or documentation in addition to that included in the law enforcement report which is reasonably intended to verify your identity theft. They must make their request within 15 days of receiving your law enforcement report, or, if you already obtained an extended fraud alert on your credit report, the date you submit your request to the credit reporting company for information blocking. The consumer reporting company and information provider then have 15 more days to work with you to make sure your identity theft report contains everything they need. They are entitled to take five days to review any information you give them. For example, if you give them information 11 days after they request it, they do not have to make a final decision
until 16 days after they asked you for that information. If you give them any information after the 15-day deadline, they can reject your identity theft report as incomplete; you will have to resubmit your identity theft report with the correct information.

You may find that most federal and state agencies, and some local police departments, offer only “automated” reports – a report that does not require a face-to-face meeting with a law enforcement officer. Automated reports may be submitted online, or by telephone or mail. If you have a choice, do not use an automated report. The reason? It’s more difficult for the consumer reporting company or information provider to verify the information. Unless you are asking a consumer reporting company to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report, you probably will have to provide additional
information or documentation when you use an automated report.

Tips For Organizing Your Case
Accurate and complete records will help you to resolve your identity theft case more quickly.

• Have a plan when you contact a company. Don’t assume that the person you talk to will give you all the information or help you need. Prepare a list of questions to ask the representative, as well as information about your identity theft. Don’t end the call until you’re sure you understand everything you’ve been told. If you need more help, ask to speak to a supervisor.
• Write down the name of everyone you talk to, what he or she tells you, and the date the conversation occurred. Use Chart Your Course of Action on page 11 to help you.
• Follow up in writing with all contacts you’ve made on the phone or in person. Use certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company or organization received and when.
• Keep copies of all correspondence or forms you send.
• Keep the originals of supporting documents, like police reports and letters to and from creditors; send copies only.
• Set up a filing system for easy access to your paperwork.
• Keep old files even if you believe your case is closed. Once resolved, most cases stay resolved, but problems can crop up.

Note: The PDF Booklet has a Chart which you can print out to assist you in organizing your case.

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RESOLVING SPECIFIC PROBLEMS

While dealing with problems resulting from identity theft can be time-consuming and frustrating, most victims can resolve their cases by being assertive, organized, and knowledgeable about their legal rights. Some laws require you to notify companies within specific time periods. Don’t delay in contacting any companies to deal with these problems, and ask for supervisors if you need more help
than you’re getting.

BANK ACCOUNTS AND FRAUDULENT WITHDRAWALS
Different laws determine your legal remedies based on the type of bank fraud you have suffered. For example, state laws protect you against fraud committed by a thief using paper documents, like stolen or counterfeit checks. But if the thief used an electronic fund transfer, federal law applies. Many transactions may seem to be processed electronically but are still considered “paper” transactions. If you’re not sure what type of transaction the thief used to commit the fraud, ask the financial institution that processed the transaction.

Fraudulent Electronic Withdrawals
The Electronic Fund Transfer Act provides consumer protections for transactions involving an ATM or debit card, or another electronic way to debit or credit an account. It also limits your liability for unauthorized electronic fund transfers. You have 60 days from the date your bank account statement is sent to you to report in writing any money withdrawn from your account without your permission. This includes instances when your ATM or debit card is “skimmed” – that is, when a thief captures your account number and PIN without your card having been lost or stolen. If your ATM or debit card is lost or stolen, report it immediately because the amount you can be held responsible for depends on how quickly you report the loss.

• If you report the loss or theft within two business days of discovery, your losses are limited to $50.
• If you report the loss or theft after two business days, but within 60 days after the unauthorized electronic fund transfer appears on your statement, you could lose up to $500 of what the thief withdraws.
• If you wait more than 60 days to report the loss or theft, you could lose all the money that was taken from your account after the end of the 60 days.

Note: Most card issuers voluntarily have agreed to limit or waive consumers’ liability for unauthorized use of their debit cards, no matter how much time has elapsed since the discovery of the loss or theft of the card. Contact your card issuer for more information.

The best way to protect yourself in the event of an error or fraudulent transaction is to call the financial institution and follow up in writing – by certified letter, return receipt requested – so you can prove when the institution received your letter. Keep a copy of the letter you send for your records.
After receiving your notification about an error on your statement, the institution generally has 10 business days to investigate. The institution must tell you the results of its investigation within three business days after completing it and must correct an error within one business day after determining that it occurred. If the institution needs more time, it may take up to 45 days to complete the
investigation – but only if the money in dispute is returned to your account and you are notified promptly of the credit. At the end of the investigation, if no error has been found, the institution may take the money back if it sends you a written explanation. For more information, see Electronic
Banking and Credit, ATM and Debit Cards: What To Do If They’re Lost or Stolen at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Fraudulent Checks and Other “Paper” Transactions
In general, if an identity thief steals your checks or counterfeits checks from your existing bank account, stop payment, close the account, and ask your bank to notify Chex Systems, Inc., (contact information on page 15) or the check verification service with which it does business. That way, retailers can be notified not to accept these checks. While no federal law limits your losses if someone uses your checks with a forged signature, or uses another type of “paper” transaction such as a demand draft, state laws may protect you. Most states hold the bank responsible for losses from such transactions. At the same time, most states require you to take reasonable care of your account. For
example, you may be held responsible for the forgery if you fail to notify the bank in a timely manner that a check was lost or stolen. Contact your state banking or consumer protection agency for more information. You can contact major check verification companies directly for the following services:

• To request that they notify retailers who use their databases not to accept your checks, call:
  • TeleCheck at 1-800-710-9898 or 1-800-927-0188
  • Certegy, Inc. (previously Equifax Check Systems) at 1-800-437-5120
    
    
• To find out if the identity thief has been passing bad checks in your name, call:
  • SCAN: 1-800-262-7771

If your checks are rejected by a merchant, it may be because an identity thief is using the Magnetic Information Character Recognition (MICR) code (the numbers at the bottom of checks), your driver’s license number, or another identification number. The merchant who rejects your check should give you its check verification company contact information so you can find out what information the thief is using. If you find that the thief is using your MICR code, ask your bank to close your checking account, and open a new one. If you discover that the thief is using your driver’s license number or some other identification number, work with your DMV or other identification issuing agency to get new identification with new numbers. Once you have taken the appropriate steps, your checks should be accepted.

Note:

• The check verification company may or may not remove the information about the MICR code or the driver’s license/identification number from its database because this information may help prevent the thief from continuing to commit fraud.
• If the checks are being passed on a new account, contact the bank to close the account. Also contact Chex Systems, Inc., to review your consumer report to make sure that no other bank accounts have been opened in your name.
• Dispute any bad checks passed in your name with merchants so they don’t start any collections actions against you.

Fraudulent New Accounts
If you have trouble opening a new checking account, it may be because an identity thief has been opening accounts in your name. Chex Systems, Inc., produces consumer reports specifically about checking accounts, and as a consumer reporting company, is subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
You can request a free copy of your consumer report by contacting Chex Systems, Inc. If you find inaccurate information on your consumer report, follow the procedures under Correcting Credit Reports (see page 17) to dispute it. Contact each of the banks where account inquiries were made, too. This will help ensure that any fraudulently opened accounts are closed.

Chex Systems, Inc.: 1-800-428-9623; www.chexhelp.com
Fax: 602-659-2197
Chex Systems, Inc.
Attn: Consumer Relations
7805 Hudson Road, Suite 100
Woodbury, MN 55125

Where to Find Help
If you have trouble getting a financial institution to help you resolve your banking-related identity theft problems, including problems with bank-issued credit cards, contact the agency that oversees your bank (see list below). If you’re not sure which of these agencies is the right one, call your bank or visit the National Information Center of the Federal Reserve System at www.ffiec.gov/nic/ and click on “Institution Search.”

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) – www.fdic.gov
The FDIC supervises state-chartered banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System, and insures deposits at banks and savings and loans. Call the FDIC Consumer Call Center toll-free: 1-800-934-3342; or write: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Division of Compliance and Consumer Affairs, 550 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20429.

FDIC publications:

• Classic Cons... And How to Counter Them
  www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnsprg98/cons.html
• A Crook Has Drained Your Account. Who Pays?
  www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnsprg98/crook.html
• Your Wallet: A Loser’s Manual
  www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnfall97/wallet.html

Federal Reserve System (Fed) – www.federalreserve.gov
The Fed supervises state-chartered banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System.
Call: 202-452-3693; or write: Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, Mail Stop 801, Federal Reserve Board, Washington, DC 20551; or contact the Federal Reserve Bank in your area. The Reserve Banks are located in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, and San Francisco.

National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) – www.ncua.gov
The NCUA charters and supervises federal credit unions and insures deposits at federal credit unions and many state credit unions. Call: 703-518-6360; or write: Compliance Officer, National Credit Union
Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OC) – www.occ.treas.gov
The OCC charters and supervises national banks. If the word “national” appears in the name of a bank, or the initials “N.A.” follow its name, the OCC oversees its operations. Call toll-free: 1-800-613-6743 (business days 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST); fax: 713-336-4301; or write: Customer Assistance Group, 1301 McKinney Street, Suite 3710, Houston, TX 77010.

OC publications:

• Check Fraud: A Guide to Avoiding Losses
  www.occ.treas.gov/chckfrd/chckfrd.pdf
• How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft
  www.occ.treas.gov/idtheft.pdf
• Identity Theft and Pretext Calling Advisory Letter 2001-4
  www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/advisory/2001-4.doc

Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) – www.ots.treas.gov
The OTS is the primary regulator of all federal, and many state-chartered, thrift institutions, including savings banks and savings and loan institutions. Call: 202-906-6000; or write: Office of Thrift Supervision, 1700 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20552.

Bankruptcy Fraud
U. S. Trustee (UST) – www.usdoj.gov/ust
If you believe someone has filed for bankruptcy in your name, write to the U.S. Trustee in the region where the bankruptcy was filed. A list of the U.S. Trustee Programs’ Regional Offices is available on the UST website, or check the Blue Pages of your phone book under U.S. Government Bankruptcy Administration.

In your letter, describe the situation and provide proof of your identity. The U.S. Trustee will make a criminal referral to law enforcement authorities if you provide appropriate documentation to substantiate your claim. You also may want to file a complaint with the U.S. Attorney and/or the FBI in the city where the bankruptcy was filed. The U.S. Trustee does not provide legal representation, legal advice, or referrals to lawyers. That means you may need to hire an attorney to help convince the bankruptcy court that the filing is fraudulent. When you or your attorney ask the bankruptcy court to dismiss the fraudulently filed bankruptcy case, you also should request that the bankruptcy court include in its order of dismissal facts that will help you repair your credit, including a statement that you did not file this bankruptcy case and that the case was filed by an imposter as the result of identity theft.

Ask the bankruptcy court to send a copy of the dismissal order to each consumer reporting company; if the court will not do so, you should send the order to the consumer reporting companies yourself. Some courts will even provide you with several official copies of the order at no charge so that you can send them to creditors or use them in case of future problems. The U.S. Trustee does not provide consumers with copies of court documents. You can get them from the bankruptcy clerk’s office for a fee.

Correcting Fraudulent Information in Credit Reports
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) establishes procedures for correcting fraudulent information on your credit report and requires that your report be made available only for certain legitimate business needs. Under the FCRA, both the consumer reporting company and the information provider (the business that sent the information to the consumer reporting company), such as a bank or credit card company, are responsible for correcting fraudulent information in your report. To protect your rights under the law, contact both the consumer reporting company and the information provider.

Consumer Reporting Company Obligations
Consumer reporting companies will block fraudulent information from appearing on your credit report if you take the following steps: Send them a copy of an identity theft report and a letter telling them what information is fraudulent. The letter also should state that the information does not relate to any transaction that you made or authorized. In addition, provide proof of your identity that may include your SSN, name, address, and other personal information requested by the consumer reporting company.

The consumer reporting company has four business days to block the fraudulent information after accepting your identity theft report. It also must tell the information provider that it has blocked the information. The consumer reporting company may refuse to block the information or remove the block if, for example, you have not told the truth about your identity theft. If the consumer reporting company removes the block or refuses to place the block, it must let you know.

The blocking process is only one way for identity theft victims to deal with fraudulent information. There’s also the “reinvestigation process,” which was designed to help all consumers dispute errors or inaccuracies on their credit reports. For more information on this process, see How to Dispute Credit Report Errors and Your Access to Free Credit Reports, two publications from the FTC at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Sample Blocking Letter

Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code

Complaint Department
Name of Consumer Reporting Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Sir or Madam:
I am a victim of identity theft. I am writing to request that you block the
following fraudulent information in my file. This information does not
relate to any transaction that I have made. The items also are circled on
the attached copy of the report I received. (Identify item(s) to be blocked
by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item,
such as credit account, judgment, etc.)

Enclosed is a copy of the law enforcement report regarding my identity
theft. Please let me know if you need any other information from me to
block this information on my credit report.
Sincerely,

Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing.)

Information Provider Obligations
Information providers stop reporting fraudulent information to the consumer reporting companies once you send them an identity theft report and a letter explaining that the information they’re reporting resulted from identity theft. But you must send your identity theft report and letter to the address specified by the information provider. Note that the information provider may continue to report the information if it later learns that the information does not result from identity theft.

If a consumer reporting company tells an information provider that it has blocked fraudulent information in your credit report, the information provider may not continue to report that information to the consumer reporting company. The information provider also may not hire someone to collect the debt that relates to the fraudulent account, or sell that debt to anyone else who would
try to collect it.

Credit Cards
The Fair Credit Billing Act establishes procedures for resolving billing errors on your credit card accounts, including fraudulent charges on your accounts. The law also limits your liability for unauthorized credit card charges to $50 per card. To take advantage of the law’s consumer protections, you must:

• write to the creditor at the address given for “billing inquiries,” NOT the address for sending your payments. Include your name, address, account number, and a description of the billing error, including the amount and
  date of the error. A sample dispute letter is located below.
  
  
• send your letter so that it reaches the creditor within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was mailed to you. If an identity thief changed the address on your account and you didn’t receive the bill, your dispute letter still must reach the creditor within 60 days of when the creditor would have mailed the bill. This is one reason it’s essential to keep track of your billing statements, and follow up quickly if your bills don’t arrive on time.
  
  You should send your letter by certified mail, and request a return receipt. It becomes your proof of the date the creditor received the letter. Include copies (NOT originals) of your police report or other documents that support your position. Keep a copy of your dispute letter. The creditor must acknowledge your complaint in writing within 30 days after receiving it, unless the problem has been resolved. The creditor must resolve the dispute within two billing cycles (but not more than 90 days) after receiving your letter.
  
  For more information, see Fair Credit Billing and Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud, two publications from the FTC at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Sample Dispute Letter - For Existing Accounts

Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Your Account Number

Name of Creditor
Billing Inquiries
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to dispute a fraudulent (charge or debit) on my account in the amount of $______. I am a victim of identity theft, and I did not make this (charge or debit). I am requesting that the (charge be removed or the debit reinstated), that any finance and other charges related to the fraudulent amount be credited, as well, and that I receive an accurate statement.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence to describe any enclosed information, such as a police report) supporting my position. Please investigate this matter and correct the fraudulent (charge or debit) as soon as possible.
Sincerely,

Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing.)

Criminal Violations
Procedures to correct your record within criminal justice databases can vary from state to state, and even from county to county. Some states have enacted laws with special procedures for identity theft victims to follow to clear their names. You should check with the office of your state Attorney General, but you can use the following information as a general guide.

If wrongful criminal violations are attributed to your name, contact the police or sheriff’s department that originally arrested the person using your identity, or the court agency that issued the warrant for the arrest. File an impersonation report with the police/sheriff’s department or the court, and confirm your identity: Ask the police department to take a full set of your fingerprints,photograph you, and make a copies of your photo identification documents, like your driver’s license, passport, or travel visa. To establish your innocence, ask the police to compare the prints and photographs with those of the imposter.

If the arrest warrant is from a state or county other than where you live, ask your local police department to send the impersonation report to the police department in the jurisdiction where the arrest warrant, traffic citation, or criminal conviction originated.

The law enforcement agency should then recall any warrants and issue a “clearance letter” or “certificate of release” (if you were arrested/booked). You’ll need to keep this document with you at all times in case you’re wrongly arrested again. Ask the law enforcement agency to file the record of the follow-up investigation establishing your innocence with the district attorney’s (D.A.) office and/or court where the crime took place. This will result in an amended complaint. Once your name is recorded in a criminal database, it’s unlikely that it will be completely removed from the official record. Ask that the “key name” or “primary name” be changed from your name to the imposter’s name (or to “John Doe” if the imposter’s true identity is not known), with your name noted as an alias.

You’ll also want to clear your name in the court records. To do so, you’ll need to determine which state law(s) will help you with this and how. If your state has no formal procedure for clearing your record, contact the D.A.’s office in the county where the case was originally prosecuted. Ask the D.A.’s office for the appropriate court records needed to clear your name. You may need to hire a criminal defense attorney to help you clear your name. Contact Legal Services in your state or your local bar association for help in finding an attorney.

Finally, contact your state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to find out if your driver’s license is being used by the identity thief. Ask that your files be flagged for possible fraud.

Debt Collectors
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits debt collectors from using unfair or deceptive practices to collect overdue bills that a creditor has forwarded for collection, even if those bills don’t result from identity theft. You can stop a debt collector from contacting you in two ways:

• Write a letter to the collection agency telling them to stop. Once the debt collector receives your letter, the company may not contact you again – with two exceptions: They can tell you there will be no further contact, and they can tell you that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take some specific action.
  
  
• Send a letter to the collection agency, within 30 days after you received written notice of the debt, telling them that you do not owe the money. Include copies of documents that support your position. Including a copy (NOT original) of your police report may be useful. In this case, a collector can renew collection activities only if it sends you proof of the debt.

If you don’t have documentation to support your position, be as specific as possible about why the debt collector is mistaken. The debt collector is responsible for sending you proof that you’re wrong. For example, if the debt you’re disputing originates from a credit card you never applied for, ask for a copy of the application with the applicant’s signature. Then, you can prove that it’s not your signature.

If you tell the debt collector that you are a victim of identity theft and it is collecting the debt for another company, the debt collector must tell that company that you may be a victim of identity theft.

While you can stop a debt collector from contacting you, that won’t get rid of the debt itself. To dispute the debt, it’s important to contact the company that originally opened the account, otherwise that company may send it to a different debt collector, report it on your credit report, or initiate a lawsuit to collect on the debt.

For more information, see Fair Debt Collection, a publication from the FTC at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Driver’s License
If you think your name or SSN is being used by an identity thief to get a driver’s license or a non-driver’s ID card, contact your state DMV. If your state uses your SSN as your driver’s license number, ask to substitute another number.

Investment Fraud
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – www.sec.gov

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Assistance serves investors who complain to the SEC about investment fraud or the mishandling of their investments by securities professionals. If you believe that an identity thief has tampered with your securities investments or a brokerage account, immediately report it to your broker or account manager and to the SEC. You can file a complaint with the SEC’s Complaint Center at www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml. Include as much detail as possible. If you don’t have Internet access, write to the SEC at: SEC Office of Investor Education and Assistance, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. For answers to general questions, call 202-551-6551.

Mail Theft
U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect

The USPIS is the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, and investigates cases of identity theft. The USPIS has primary jurisdiction in all matters infringing on the integrity of the U.S. mail. If an identity thief has stolen your mail to get new credit cards, bank or credit card statements, pre-screened credit offers, or tax information, or has falsified change-of-address forms or obtained your
personal information through a fraud conducted by mail, report it to your
local postal inspector.

You can locate the USPIS district office nearest you by calling your local post office, checking the Blue Pages of your telephone directory, or visiting www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect.

Passport Fraud
United States Department of State (USDS) – www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

If you’ve lost your passport, or believe it was stolen or is being used fraudulently, contact the USDS through their website, or call a local USDS field office. Local field offices are listed in the Blue Pages of your telephone directory.

Phone Fraud
If an identity thief has established phone service in your name, is making unauthorized calls that seem to come from – and are billed to – your cellular phone, or is using your calling card and PIN, contact your service provider immediately to cancel the account and/or calling card. Open new accounts
and choose new PINs. If you’re having trouble getting fraudulent phone charges removed from your account or getting an unauthorized account closed, contact the appropriate agency below.

• For local service, contact your state Public Utility Commission.
  
  
• For cellular phones and long distance, contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at www.fcc.gov. The FCC regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. Call: 1-888-CALL-FCC; TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC; or write: Federal Communications
  Commission, Consumer Information Bureau, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 5A863, Washington, DC 20554.
  You can file complaints online at www.fcc.gov, or e-mail your questions to FCC Consumer Information Bureau.

Social Security Number Misuse
Social Security Administration (SSA) – www.ssa.gov

If you have specific information of SSN misuse that involves the buying or selling of Social Security cards, may be related to terrorist activity, or is designed to obtain Social Security benefits, contact the SSA Office of the Inspector General. You may file a complaint online at www.socialsecurity.gov/oig,
call toll-free: 1-800-269-0271, fax: 410-597-0118, or write: SSA Fraud Hotline, P.O. Box 17768, Baltimore, MD 21235.

You also may call SSA toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 to verify the accuracy of the earnings reported on your SSN, request a copy of your Social Security Statement, or get a replacement SSN card if yours is lost or stolen. Follow up in writing.

SSA publications:

• SSA Fraud Hotline for Reporting Fraud
  www.ssa.gov/oig/guidelin.htm
• Social Security: Your Number and Card (SSA Pub. No. 05-10002)
  www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html
• Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number (SSA Pub. No. 05-10064)
  www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html

Student Loans
Contact the school or program that opened the student loan to close the loan. At the same time, report the fraudulent loan to the U.S. Department of Education. Call the Inspector General’s Hotline toll-free at 1-800-MIS-USED; visit www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotline.html?src=rt; or write: Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20202-1510.

Tax Fraud
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – www.treas.gov/irs/ci

The IRS is responsible for administering and enforcing tax laws. Identity fraud may occur as it relates directly to your tax records. Visit www.irs.gov and type in the IRS key word “Identity Theft” for more information. If you have an unresolved issue related to identity theft, or you have suffered or are about to suffer a significant hardship as a result of the administration of the tax laws, visit the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service website www.irs.gov/advocate/ or call toll-free: 1-877-777-4778.

If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with the tax law, report it to the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Informant Hotline by calling toll-free: 1-800-829-0433 or visit www.irs.gov and type in the IRS key word “Tax Fraud.”

For More Information
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – ftc.gov
The FTC wants consumers and businesses to know about the importance of personal information privacy. To request free copies of brochures, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

FTC publications:

• ID Theft: What It’s All About
  ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheftmini.htm
  
  
• Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud
  ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/cards.htm
  
  
• Credit, ATM and Debit Cards: What to Do If They’re Lost or Stolen
  ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/atmcard.htm
  
  
• Credit Card Loss Protection Offers: They’re The Real Steal
  ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/lossalrt.htm
  
  
• Electronic Banking
  ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/elbank.htm
  
  
• Fair Credit Billing
  ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fcb.htm
  
  
• Fair Debt Collection
  ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm
  
  
• Getting Purse-onal: What To Do If Your Wallet or Purse Is Stolen
  ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/getpurse.htm
  
  
• How to Dispute Credit Report Errors
  ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/crdtdis.htm
  
  
• Identity Crisis... What to Do If Your Identity Is Stolen
  ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/idenalrt.htm
  
  
• Identity Thieves Can Ruin Your Good Name: Tips for Avoiding Identity Theft
  ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idthieves.htm
  
  
• Your Access to Free Credit Reports
  ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/freereports.htm

Department of Justice (DOJ) – www.usdoj.gov
The DOJ and its U.S. Attorneys prosecute federal identity theft cases. Information on identity theft is available at www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – www.fbi.gov
The FBI, a criminal law enforcement agency, investigates cases of identity theft. The FBI recognizes that identity theft is a component of many crimes, including bank fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, bankruptcy fraud, insurance fraud, fraud against the government, and terrorism. Local field offices are listed in the Blue Pages of your telephone directory.

U.S. Secret Service (US) – www.treas.gov/usss
The U.S. Secret Service investigates financial crimes, which may include identity theft. Although the Secret Service generally investigates cases where the dollar loss is substantial, your information may provide evidence of a larger pattern of fraud requiring their involvement.

Local field offices are listed in the Blue Pages of your telephone directory.

Financial Crimes Division – www.treas.gov/usss/financial_crimes.shtml

---

STAYING ALERT
Once resolved, most cases of identity theft stay resolved. But occasionally, some victims have recurring problems. To help stay on top of the situation, continue to monitor your credit reports and read your financial account statements promptly and carefully. You may want to review your credit reports once every three months in the first year of the theft, and once a year thereafter. And stay
alert for other signs of identity theft, like:

• failing to receive bills or other mail. Follow up with creditors if your bills don’t arrive on time. A missing bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.
• receiving credit cards that you didn’t apply for.
• being denied credit, or being offered less favorable credit terms, like a high interest rate, for no apparent reason.
• getting calls or letters from debt collectors or businesses about merchandise or services you didn’t buy.
  

Getting Your Credit Report
Free Annual Credit Reports
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

To order your free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting companies, visit www.annualcreditreport.com, call toll-free 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA
30348-5281.

The form is included in the PDF Booklet, or you can print it from ftc.gov/credit. Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. They provide free annual credit reports only through www.annualcreditreport.com, 1-877-322-8228, and Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell www.annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from the FTC’s website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports, but only with the purchase of other products. While consumers may be offered additional products or services while on the authorized website, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annual credit reports.

For more information, see Your Access to Free Credit Reports, a publication from the FTC, at ftc.gov/credit.

Other Consumer Rights to Free Reports
Under federal law, you’re entitled to a free report if a company takes adverse action against you, such as denying your application for credit, insurance, or employment, and you request your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action. The notice will give you the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting company. You’re also entitled to one free report a year if you’re unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days; you’re on welfare; or your report is inaccurate because of fraud. Otherwise, a consumer reporting company may charge you up to $9.50 for another copy of your report within a 12-month period.

To buy a copy of your report, contact:
• Equifax: 1-800-685-1111; www.equifax.com
• Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742); www.experian.com
• TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800; www.transunion.com

---

MINIMIZING RECURENCES

Last week I noticed that I was getting products in the mail that I hadn’t ordered.
Then I noticed charges on my credit card statement that I hadn’t made. I spent a
whole day calling the vendors’ numbers listed on my statement to let them know
someone was using my credit card to make purchases without my permission.
I don’t know what else this person may be doing with my accounts and/or my
name, and I’m worried about that. -- From a consumer’s complaint to the FTC, 1/7/2007

When it comes to identity theft, you can’t control whether you will become a victim. But there are certain steps you can take to minimize recurrences.

What To Do Today

• Place passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers. When opening new accounts, you may find that many businesses still have a line on their applications for your mother’s maiden name. Ask if you can use a password instead.
  
  
• Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your home.
  
  
• Ask about information security procedures in your workplace or at businesses, doctor’s offices, or other institutions that collect your personally identifyinginformation. Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that it is handled securely. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records
  as well. Find out if your information will be shared with anyone else. If so, ask how your information can be kept confidential.

Active Duty Alerts for Military Personnel
If you are a member of the military and away from your usual duty station, you may place an active duty alert on your credit reports to help minimize the risk of identity theft while you are deployed. Active duty alerts are in effect on your report for one year. If your deployment lasts longer, you can place another alert on your credit report.

When you place an active duty alert, you’ll be removed from the credit reporting companies’ marketing list for pre-screened credit card offers for two years unless you ask to go back on the list before then.
The process for getting and removing an alert, and a business’s response to your alert, are the same as that for an initial alert. You may use a personal representative to place or remove an alert.

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 website 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 at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
  
  
• 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.

A Special Word About Social Security Numbers
Your employer and financial institutions will need your SSN for wage and tax reporting purposes. Other businesses may ask you for your SSN to do a credit check if you are applying for a loan, renting an apartment, or signing up for utilities. Sometimes, however, they simply want your SSN for general record keeping. If someone asks for your SSN, ask:

• Why do you need my SSN?
• How will my SSN be used?
• How do you protect my SSN from being stolen?
• What will happen if I don’t give you my SSN?

If you don’t provide your SSN , some businesses may not provide you with the service or
benefit you want. Getting satisfactory answers to these questions will help you decide
whether you want to share your SSN with the business. The decision to share is yours.

The Doors and Windows Are Locked, But . . .
You may be careful about locking your doors and windows, and keeping your personal papers in a secure place. Depending on what you use your personal computer for, an identity thief may not need to set foot in your house to steal your personal information. You may store your SSN, financial records, tax returns, birth date, and bank account numbers on your computer. These tips can help you keep your computer – and the personal information it stores – safe.

• Virus protection software should be updated regularly, and patches for your operating system and other software programs should be installed to protect against intrusions and infections that can lead to the compromise of your computer files or passwords. Ideally, virus protection software should be set to automatically update each week. The Windows XP operating system also can be set to automatically check for patches and download them to your computer.
  
  
• Do not open files sent to you by strangers, or click on hyperlinks or download programs from people you don’t know. Be careful about using file-sharing programs. Opening a file could expose your system to a computer virus or a program known as “spyware,” which could capture your passwords or any other information as you type it into your keyboard. For more information, see File Sharing: A Fair Share? Maybe Not and Spyware, publications from the
  FTC at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
  
  
• Use a firewall program, especially if you use a high-speed Internet connection like cable, DSL or T-1 that leaves your computer connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. The firewall program will allow you to stop uninvited access to your computer. Without it, hackers can take over your computer, access the personal information stored on it, or use it to commit other crimes.
  
  
• Use a secure browser – software that encrypts or scrambles information you send over the Internet – to guard your online transactions. Be sure your browser has the most up-to-date encryption capabilities by using the latest version available from the manufacturer. You also can download some browsers for free over the Internet. When submitting information, look for the “lock” icon on the browser’s status bar to be sure your information is secure during transmission.
  
  
• Try not to store financial information on your laptop unless absolutely necessary. If you do, use a strong password – a combination of letters (upper and lower case), numbers, and symbols. A good way to create a strong password is to think of a memorable phrase and use the first letter of each word as your password, converting some letters into numbers that resemble letters. For example, “I love Felix; he’s a good cat,” would become 1LFHA6c. Don’t use an automatic log-in feature that saves your user name and password, and always log off when you’re finished. That way, if your laptop is stolen, it’s harder for a thief to access your personal information.
  
  
• Before you dispose of a computer, delete all the personal information it stored. Deleting files using the keyboard or mouse commands or reformatting your hard drive may not be enough because the files may stay on the computer’s hard drive, where they may be retrieved easily. Use a “wipe” utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive.
  
  
• Look for website privacy policies. They should answer questions about maintaining accuracy, access, security, and control of personal information collected by the site, how the information will be used, and whether it will be provided to third parties. If you don’t see a privacy policy – or if you can’t understand it – consider doing business elsewhere.
  

For more information, see Site-Seeing on the Internet: A Traveler’s Guide to Cyberspace, a publication from the FTC at ftc.gov.

Download the PDF booklet which you can print out.
(The filesize of the PDF is 6.89 MB)

Click here for the English version

Click here for the Spanish language version

 

 

Introduction
Whether you are a salesperson, politician, repairman, parent or teenager, you likely not only own a cell phone, but depend on its constant availability. Over 190 million Americans have cell phone subscriptions. Today, there are more cell phone subscriptions than traditional "land-line" subscriptions according to the Cellular Telecommunications International Association (www.ctia.org).

With cell phones fast becoming the primary way of communicating, harassing phone calls can be especially distressing and disruptive. You should be aware of the steps you need to take if you receive harassing calls, text messages, or spam.

What can I do if I am receiving harassing calls on my cell phone?
Cell phone carriers recommend that you contact the police first because they have expertise in personal safety. Forty-four states now have laws that explicitly include electronic forms of communication within stalking or harassment laws. For specifics please see www.ncsl.org/programs/lis/cip/stalk99.htm.

In South Carolina, the law (S.C. Code § 16-3-1700(A)(2), 16-3-1700(B) ) protects individuals who are harassed by electronic contact. "Electronic contact" means any transfer of signs, signals, writings, images, sounds, data, intelligence, or information of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by any device, system, or mechanism including, but not limited to, a wire, radio, computer, electromagnetic, photoelectric, or photo-optical system. For the full text of the law, go to http://www.scstatehouse.net/code/t16c003.htm.

You should file a report with the police department. This is important to ensure that you can get a subpoena. A subpoena is a court order demanding the production of evidence. Filing a report is not a guarantee that you will get a subpoena however. Depending on the resources of your local police station, your complaint may not be fully investigated. We recommend that you file the report as a first step because most cell phone carriers will not reveal customer information, including a harasser's identity, without a subpoena.

Some cell phone carriers have corporate security divisions that will work with you to stop the harassing calls. You should call customer service after filing your police report and determine if your phone carrier will assist you without a subpoena. If your phone carrier does not offer this option you can consider filing a civil suit against your harasser and subpoena the information from the phone carrier as part of your lawsuit.

Unlike traditional "land-line" phones, you are not able to block incoming callers to your cell phone. However, you should record the date, time, and description of each call, and save any messages you receive. This information is essential evidence in helping the police and the cell phone carrier investigate the harassment. If you think that the messages will be deleted before you are able to get a subpoena, it is a good idea to play the message into a tape recorder.

How is harassment defined?
In South Carolina the law reads;

A) "Harassment in the first degree" means a pattern of intentional, substantial, and unreasonable intrusion into the private life of a targeted person that serves no legitimate purpose and causes the person and would cause a reasonable person in his position to suffer mental or emotional distress. Harassment in the first degree may include, but is not limited to:

(1) following the targeted person as he moves from location to location;

(2) visual or physical contact that is initiated, maintained, or repeated after a person has been provided oral or written notice that the contact is unwanted or after the victim has filed an incident report with a law enforcement agency;

(3) surveillance of or the maintenance of a presence near the targeted person's:

(a) residence;

(b) place of work;

(c) school; or

(d) another place regularly occupied or visited by the targeted person; and

(4) vandalism and property damage.

(B) "Harassment in the second degree" means a pattern of intentional, substantial, and unreasonable intrusion into the private life of a targeted person that serves no legitimate purpose and causes the person and would cause a reasonable person in his position to suffer mental or emotional distress. Harassment in the second degree may include, but is not limited to, verbal, written, or electronic contact that is initiated, maintained, or repeated.

Intent is another requirement included in most harassment definitions. The law generally requires that the harasser intend the calls to be viewed as harassment. Because of the need to prove intent, you should tell the harasser that you do not want to speak to the person and to stop calling.

If the harasser persists after this clear message, it will be easier to prove that the intent was to harass. If the caller is a debt collector or telemarketer, harassment law will not apply. For more information on dealing with these types of calls, see Fact Sheet 5 on telemarketing available at www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs5-tmkt.htm and Fact Sheet 27 on debt collection available at www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs27-debtcoll.htm.

What can I do if I am receiving harassing text messages on my cell phone?
If you believe the threats are serious, contact the police. Most carriers explicitly prohibit harassing SMS (short message service) messages, or as they are more commonly known, text messages, in their terms of use. However, filing a police report is still an important step. Since text messages can be sent from a computer without sending a call-back number, it may be difficult to pinpoint who is sending the message. A subpoena might be necessary to locate the harasser through their computer or their restricted phone number.

In addition to filing the police report, it is important to document the harassment. If you think the messages will be deleted before the investigation is complete, you may want to photograph the text messages.

Parents should be aware of the increase in electronic bullying through text messages. One option is to contact the carrier and ask that the text message function be disabled. Disabling this feature will block all messages though (it is not usually possible to block a single phone number). As cell phones are often an integral part of a child's social life, you may not want to completely take away this option.

Experts suggest that turning off the text messaging function for a few days may be enough to discourage the harasser. Policies on blocking text messages vary by individual carrier, and your carrier may offer other options.

Often people use shorthand for text messages. If you are unsure of what the shorthand means, you can use the translator found at www.teenangels.org .

What can I do if I am receiving spam text messages on my cell phone?
Beginning in 2004, the federal CAN-SPAM law made it illegal to send unsolicited commercial text messages. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has compiled a list of websites to which marketers may not send unsolicited e-mail because the messages go to wireless devices. This list was compiled with the help of the cell phone carriers.

If you are receiving unwanted messages, it is important to notify your phone carrier so they can get an idea of the scope of the problem. But remember, text messages from your phone carrier regarding your account are not considered "spam" within the meaning of the law.

You can report unwanted text messages to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC cannot award monetary or other damages and does not settle individual consumer complaints, but it can issue citations or impose fines against those violating the CAN-SPAM Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the National Do-Not-Call Registry, and the FCC's related rules.

You may file a complaint with the FCC by:

• E-mail: fccinfo@fcc.gov Online :
• Online: www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html
• Telephone: Voice (888) CALL-FCC, or (888-225-5322) TTY (888) TELL-FCC, of (888-835-5322)
• Mail: Federal Communications Commission Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Consumer Inquiries and Complaint Division 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554

The FCC asks that you include the following in your complaint;

• Your name, address, and daytime telephone number
• The telephone number or e-mail address at which you received an unsolicited commercial message or call, or an autodialed call
• As much specific information about the message as possible, including: the date and time you received the message the identity of the company that sent the message to you the products or services that were promoted in the message
• the sender's e-mail address and any other e-mail addresses, street addresses or telephone numbers that may be referenced in the message
• a description of any contact you may have had with the entity that sent the message, including whether you have done business with that entity before receiving the message/call and any steps you may have taken to reject future messages.

Resources:

State laws regulating electronic communication devices on school property www.ncsl.org/programs/lis/legislation/pagersinschools.htm

State computer harassment or "cyberstalking" laws
www.ncsl.org/programs/lis/cip/stalk99.htm

FCC consumer facts on CAN-SPAM and cell phones
www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/canspam.html

FCC list of prohibited text messaging websites
www.fcc.gov/cgb/policy/DomainNameDownload.html

 

Portions of this guide was developed by the Privacy Rights Clearing House, a nonprofit, consumer information and advocacy organization. http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs2a-cellcalls.htm

 

 

This information is designed to educate you about what to expect during a traffic stop. Understanding what is expected from both parties improves communication, helps to reduce anxieties, and increases your knowledge about the need for traffic law enforcment. Some things to remember:

• An average of three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives.
• The driving behaviors associated with agressive driving - speeding, red light running, following too closely, and others - cause hundreds of crash-related deaths and thousands of injuries each year.
• Lap/shoulder safety belts, when used correctly, significantly reduce the risk of crash-related fatalities and injuries.
• Traffic stops often result in the identification of criminals who are suspected in other crimes.

To effectively address these public health and safety issues, law enforcement agencies across the country enforce traffic laws. Traffic enforcment is a time-proven method of:

• increasing pedestrian safety, seat belt, child safety seat, and helmet use
• reducing the incidence of impaired and aggressive driving
• increasing the apprehension of dangerous criminals

If you are a motorist, here are some ways to improve your traffic stop experience:

• Pull off to the right side of the roadway and position your vehicle as far out of the lane of traffic as possible. Turn off your engine, radio, tape player, and any other device that might hinder your communication with the officer.
• Turn on your flashers and the vehicle’s interior lights so that the officer can easily see that everything is in order when the stop occurs in darkness.
• Roll down your window so that you and the officer can communicate. Remain calm and ask the passengers to remain quiet and calm as well.
• Keep your safety belt fastened and ask your passengers to keep their seat belts fastened as well, until the officer sees you wearing them.
• Stay in your seat and do not get out of the vehicle unless the officer asks you to exit the vehicle.
• Keep your hands in plain view, preferably on the steering wheel, and ask your passengers to keep their hands in plain view as well, such as on their laps.
• Do not make any movement that might be interpreted by the officer that you are hiding or searching for something.
• Carry proper identification: a valid driver’s license, proof of vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. If the officer asks you for these documents, tell the officer where they are and reach for them slowly, keeping one hand on the steering wheel.
• Answer the officer’s questions fully and clearly.
• If the charge or citation is not clear, ask the officer for an explanation in a respectful manner. Also ask the officer for identification if the officer does not have his/her uniform on or if his/her patrol vehicle does not have official law enforcement markings.
• Answer the officer’s questions and ask your own questions in a calm and courteous manner.
• If you disagree with the citation or the officer’s actions, do not discuss your point of view at that time - wait to have the chance to do it before a judge in court. The citation will show the date and location of your court date.
• Do not be surprised if another patrol car appears. This is only to assure the officer’s safety.
• Let the officer know if you are carrying a weapon in your auto and if you have a legal permit to carry it.
• Do not resist a pat down. This is done if the officer has a suspicion that you may be carrying anything that would jeopardize officer safety.
• Remember the officer’s name or badge number if you believe that the officer acted irresponsibly, document the officer’s behavior in a written statement and submit it to the officer’s agency within a few days after the incident. Then, call the agency and follow their established complaint procedure.
• If you have any questions about the laws of the state you are in, consult an attorney or law enforcement agency representative who is familiar with the laws of that state.
• In most states, you will be asked for your signature if the officer gives you a citation. Your signature is not an admission of guilt. It only means that you received the citation. Any refusal to sign the citation can result in an arrest or being taken to the station to post collateral and pay for the offense.
• Practice the golden rule: Treat the officer like you would want to be treated. Treat the officer with respect and teach your children how to treat law enforcement officers with respect.

 

Things to do to prevent a robbery:

• Have at least two employees open and close the business.
• Do not release personal information to strangers.
• Keep purses and personal valuables locked in desks or lockers.
• Keep your front doors and windows clear or signs and posters to allow good, two way visibility. Employees need to see suspicious persons outside. The police cruising by your store need to see in.
• Keep the outside of your business well lit at night.
• Make sure your cash register area is clearly visible to outside observers.
• Keep your business looking neat and clean. A clean environment is not only good for business but uncomfortable to robbers.
• Practice good cash control. Keep a minimum amount of cash in your cash drawer and make regular drops to safe.
• Use only one register at night. Leave other registers empty and open. Tilt the register drawer to show there is no money in it.
• Make bank deposits as often as possible, never less than once a day.
• Vary times and routes of travel for bank deposits. Do not use marked moneybags. Consider using armored car money couriers.
• Use video camera surveillance and make it well known.
• Use cameras or mirrors to observe all areas of the store.
• Be alert for "customers" who seem to be loitering or glancing around the store while appearing to shop or browse through a magazine.
• If you see someone who is acting suspicious inside or outside, call the police to have them checked out.
• Keep side and back doors locked. have employees use the main entrance, if possible.
• Be cautious when taking out the trash or cleaning the parking lot. Make sure another employee inside the business keeps you within eye contact while you are outside of your building.
• Try to greet customers as they enter your business. Look them in the eye, and ask them if they need help. Your attention can discourage a robber.
• Place markers at the entrance that employees can use to help gauge the height of a robber as he leaves.

Things to remember during a robbery:

• Try to stay calm. Don't make any sudden movements to upset the robber.
• Do exactly as you are told. DO NOT RESIST.
• Activate your alarm ONLY if you can do so secretly.
• Tell the robber about anything that might surprise him, such as someone who is expected to arrive soon.
• If you have to move or reach, tell the robber what you are going to do and why.
• The longer a robbery takes the more nervous the robber is, so try keep it short. The average robbery takes about 2 minutes.
• Try to get a good look at the robber so you can describe him later.
• Note his direction of travel when he leaves.
• Try to get a description of his vehicle ONLY if you can do so without exposing yourself to harm.

Things to do after a robbery:

• Call the police immediately, even if you have already activated thealarm.
• Close the store and lock the doors if you have a key.
• Ask any witnesses to stay until the police arrive. If they can't, get their names, phone numbers, and addresses.
• Do not touch anything that the robber may have touched. Block off areas where the robber was, if necessary.
• Step outside the store when the police arrive so they'll know the robber is gone and you are safe.
• Do not discuss the amount of money taken with anyone other than the police.

Surveillance equipment information:

• Reusing VHS videotapes diminishes the clarity of the images that you record. For best image clarity, replace tapes every 12 sessions.
• A good method for replacing tapes is to use 31 tapes, one for each day of the month and replace them annually.
• Never use the pause button on your VCR, this can destroy the image and stretch the tape.
• Avoid playing a tape over and over again after a robbery.
• Clean the lenses of the video cameras in your establishment. Use camera lens paper to remove dust that tends to build up there.
• Have a security technician position the cameras to capture the best images of the perpetrators.
• Insure that the correct date and time appear on your video camera, and that they are recorded on the tape. (Remember "Spring forward, Fall back")
  

 

Here are a few quick tips concerning counterfeit bills:

• Train your employees on how to spot a fake bill. There are good tips on the secret service website that include looking for the watermark by holding the bill up to the light. There is a denomination line (on one or the other side) of legitimate bills. The line can be seen on $5 bills and up.
• Keep counterfeit detection pens and/or UV light detection devices at all points of sale. You can get these at most Office Supply businesses.
• Be especially wary of new bills and larger bills provided for a relatively small purchase.
• If you detect a fake bill, do not try to apprehend the suspect. Refuse the bill and notify Police as soon as possible.
• Do not pass on a known fake bill you have received to another person or business. THIS IS A CRIME.
• Beware of bills that are genuine bills, but have corners from higher denomination bills pasted on them. These do not get detected by the counterfeit detector because the bill has characteristics of a real bill.
• Be aware that some counterfeiters tend to hit one area very hard for a week or so, then they move on.
• Keep in contact with Police and businesses near your store to let them know about unusual activity such as counterfeiting.
• Post a sign prominently in your place of business warning criminals that you employ counterfeit detection devices.

 

 

If your home is protected with an ordinary lock, it may not do you much good, says the National Crime Prevention Council.

Thieves have caught on to an increasingly popular technique called “bumping.” It is easier than traditional lock picking, which requires manipulating the pins inside the lock with small tools. All that is needed for bumping is a “bump key” that is specially manipulated to pick the lock without other tools.

The National Crime Prevention Council wants homeowners to be aware of the prevalence of bumping, especially because there are many “how-to” videos online demonstrating how easy bumping is. This is a huge problem because usually there are no signs of a break-in when bumping is done. This means insurance companies may not cover it because “you probably left your door open.”

Installing high-quality locks is a good defense against home burglaries, according to the National Crime Prevention Council. “Not all locks can be bumped; consumers just need to know the differences,” says Clyde Roberson, director of technical services at Medeco Security Locks. “Consumers should consider using quality high-security locks for their home or business in order to have adequate protection from bumping and other forms of lock attack.” The National Crime Prevention Council also recommends consulting a professional locksmith or security provider for advice on which locks protect against this and other forms of lock bypass.

For more information about how to secure your home or business or to request a copy of “Locking Your Home, What To Know Before Buying Locks For Your Home” and “A Safe Workplace is Everybody’s Business,” visit the National Crime Prevention Council Web site at www.ncpc.org. Additional information, including a good video on lock bumping can be found on Medeco Security Locks’ Web site at www.medeco.com.

 

 

City Police Investigators warn citizens that thieves are targeting some vehicles and stealing catalytic converters.

4 Quick Facts About Catalytic Converter Theft:

>> Stolen catalytic converters sell for ~$40-$200 each.
>> They can cost ~$1000 to replace.
>> CC thieves are known to strike in broad daylight, in busy areas.
>> SUVs and other vehicles with high clearance are especially vulnerable.

 

What Makes a Catalytic Converter so Valuable?
There are three types of metals that help the catalytic converter remove toxins from the vehicles’ emissions: platinum, palladium and rhodium. The prices of these already valuable metals has shot up hundreds of dollars an ounce in recent years. It’s the tiny amounts of these metals on the screens inside the catalytic converter that makes them so valuable.

Tools of the Catalytic Converter Thief:
Stealing a catalytic converter takes either a wrench or a cordless reciprocating saw. In some cases thieves using mechanics dollies to slide under vehicles more easily.

How Long it Takes to Steal One:
About 3 minutes. That’s to either unbolt it or use the reciprocating saw to cut it out. Good thieves are even faster.

How Catalytic Converter Thieves Work:
The occasional or “opportunity” catalytic converter thieves go prowling when their drugs wear off. They look for easy steals - SUVs are favorite targets. Toyota SUVs especially because their catalytic converters are only bolted on. Sometimes they even follow cars and wait for them to park. These are often the ones who strike non-business targets and they go on sprees of theft that last several hours or sometimes days. Some drive vans which offer some concealment when parked next to the victim car.

The more organized catalytic converter thieves look for larger scores. They attack car dealership lots, the parking lots at auto repair shops, auto fleet parking locations, and poorly attended parking lots. They are better equipped, faster, and work as teams to make larger scores. These are the crews more likely to steal from businesses and larger organizations with higher concentrations of vehicles.

 

 

 

9 Ways to Deter Catalytic Converter Theft:

1) Defensive Parking
Always park your vehicle in an area that allows the most visibility to passersby. The riskiest places to leave your vehicle are the places where vehicles are left long term, (such as auto repair shops), and parking lots with closely parked cars allowing organized thieves to hit several cars at once. Always take note of the security precautions taken and ask if you have any doubts.

If you are a business with a fleet of vehicles block the high-clearance vehicles with your low clearance vehicles. The goal here is obstructing access underneath the vehicle. At the very least you want to slow the thieves down as much as possible so that your other security measures have time to effectively respond.

2) Effective Security Lighting
Lighting is vital to reducing catalytic converter theft. Though the opportunity thieves are getting bold enough to strike in busy areas in broad daylight, the more organized thieves won’t be so brazen. They are more professional and bit more risk averse. Good security lighting makes your vehicles visible to the street without creating glare.

3) Live Video Surveillance
For some businesses it will make sense to install video cameras and employ live surveillance specialists to monitor for catalytic converter theft. If your live surveillance specialists are authorized to call the police on your behalf you can stop catalytic converter theft before it happens, potentially saving yourself the cost of damage to your vehicles.

4) Monitor Your Local News
The less organized opportunity thieves fall into quickly recognizable patterns in local areas. Monitor this website and your local news to give you an idea of when there are catalytic converter thieves in high activity in your area.

5) Spread Community Awareness
If you hear about catalytic converter thefts in your neighborhood or even suffer the theft of a catalytic converter from your vehicle then consider getting the word out in some way to others in your area. The opportunity catalytic converter thieves often strike locally and repeatedly in their crime spree. Call your friends and associates in the area, knock on the doors of your neighbors and post fliers. Even send people this article - there will be something in it that will save them the cost of a repair.

6) Fencing Around Your Vehicles
Fencing will deter the occasional/opportunistic catalytic thieves and it will slow down the more organized thieves.

7) Welded Bolts
If your catalytic converters are “bolt on” you can have the bolts welded shut. This is only a deterrent to the lowest grade of catalytic converter thief though - the one who works only with a wrench. Still, in some cases it might be enough of a deterrent to help prevent a theft.

8) Catalytic Converter Protective Sleeves
Protective coverings for your catalytic converter, such as the device known as the “Catclamp,” can deter thieves as well. The Catclamp and competitor Catcuff makes it much more difficult for the reciprocal saw wielding thief to steal your converter. They are somewhat pricey though, and if you’re operating a fleet of vehicles or an auto dealership it won’t be cost effective. They are great for owners of one or two cars.

9) ID# Etching
A major problem with this type of crime is convicting a thief when they are not caught in the act. Police need proof that a catalytic converter they find in a guy's trunk or at the scrap metal dealer, is stolen. Etching your converter with your vehicles VIN number or your drivers license number will help the police to track your converter back to you if police recover it after it’s stolen. This will not protect you from theft, but it could help to catch the thieves preying on your neighborhood’s vehicles and at least you get some satisfaction knowing your foresight help convict the thieves.

IF YOU SEE SUSPICOUS PERSONS OR VEHICLES IN PARKING LOTS OR NEAR VEHICLES AT YOUR HOME CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON THESE CRIMES, PLEASE CALL THE GREENVILLE POLICE TIP LINE AT 271-GCPD (4273) OR CRIME STOPPERS AT 23-CRIME.