How can I prevent becoming an identity theft victim? While no one can totally prevent this crime from occurring, here are some positive steps to take which will decrease your risk of this growing problem.

How do thieves get my information?

• They go through your trashcan, looking for straight cut or unshredded papers.They steal your mail or your wallet.
• They listen in on conversations you have in public.
• They trick you into giving them the information over the telephone or by email.
• They buy the information either on the Internet or from someone who might have stolen it.
• They steal it from a loan or credit application form you filled out or from files at a hospital, bank, school or business that you deal with. They may have obtained it from dumpsters outside of such companies.
• They get it from your computer, especially those without firewalls.
• They may be a friend or relative or someone who works for you who has access to your information.

Tips to Consumers:

• Check your credit reports once a year from all three of the credit reporting agencies by accessing www.annualcreditreport.com.
• Guard your Social Security number. When possible, don't carry your Social Security card with you.
• Don't put your SSN or driver’s license number on your checks.
• Guard your personal information. You should never give your Social Security number to anyone unless they have a good reason for needing it.

Tips to Businesses: 

It is vital that the business community acts now to implement and follow better information handling processes. The following areas need to be considered when measuring your information handling security.

• Information acquisition - Do you need the information? Are you acquiring it in a safe manner?
• Storage - What computer security measures have you placed around the systems storing personal data? It should consider highly classified and not common access.
• Access - Who has access? Is it on a need to know basis and access audited? Is there password control over systems? Is there a cafeteria worker asking a child for his/her SSN prior to receiving lunch? Did you do a background check on those who have access to personal information of employees and customers? Do temps have access to secure info?
• Disposal - Are electronic and paper documents containing personal information rendered unreadable prior to disposal? What is in your dumpster? Is it a treasure chest for thieves and for consumer action attorneys ready to sue you for placing their clients in jeopardy?
• Distribution - How do you handle information? Is your employee requiring a member of the public to repeat a SSN out loud where it can be overheard? The public display, use and exchange of SSN (including on membership cards carried in wallets) needs to be reconsidered. You place people at much higher risk when you do so.

 Other tips:

• Fraud and security alerts placed on credit reports must be honored.
• Businesses that print out cash register receipts need to make sure that credit card numbers are partially truncated to help consumers avoid credit card takeover.
• Mail sent to the public either should not include account information or SSN. At the least, truncating part of the number should be considered.
• Watch for people who may try to eavesdrop and overhear the information you give out orally.
• Carefully destroy papers you throw out, especially those with sensitive or identifying information. A crosscut paper shredder works best.
• Be suspicious of telephone solicitors. Never provide information unless you have initiated the call.
• Delete without replying to any suspicious email requests. 
• Do not use the red flag signaling outgoing mail in your mailbox. This is a sign for thieves that information may be present. Take outgoing mail to a mailbox or directly to the post office.
• Reduce the number of pre-approved credit card offers you receive call 888-5OPT OUT (they will ask for your SSN).

 What should I do if I become an identity theft victim?

The first thing you should do if you suspect that you have become a victim is to obtain copies of your credit report from all three agencies and ask that a fraud alert be placed on file with each of them. This will at least prevent the theft from going further while you are taking steps to clear your name. Next, you should contact the Westport Police Department at 203-341-6000 and request that an investigation be initiated. A police officer will either respond to your home or business, or you may come to the police department directly. You should bring copies of your credit report and highlight the suspicious activity in order to assist the detective bureau with the investigation. We also ask that you go to www.identitytheft.gov to report identity theft and get a recovery plan.

Resources:

The Federal Trade Commission has several resources available to the public regarding identity theft. We've made some of them available here:

• www.identitytheft.gov
• Identity Theft Recovery Plan (contains all the steps you'll need to take as well as sample letters, credit reporting agencies, and much more)
• Ten Things You Can Do To Avoid Fraud

Forms:

• Credit Card Forgery Affidavit