Consumer carelessness
happens when you . . .

• misplace checks and/or credit cards
• fail to shred trashed financial document

• freely give your Social Security number when asked
• have your Social Security number printed on your checks and/or driver's license
• complete consumer surveys and product registration cards
• sign up for free prizes or gifts

• steals your wallet or purse
• takes mail from an unsecure mailbox or trash
• opens accounts (i.e., credit card, utilities) in your name billed to you or to a different address
• opens a false bank account in your name
• accesses consumer database for personal gain
• is a trusted person (relative, roommate) with easy access to your accounts
• obtains a false ID card sold on a web site

• Watch for interruptions in billing cycles, (missing mail).
  
• Be wary of calls requesting updated or clarification of information.
• Never give checking account, credit card, or Social Security number (SSN) to unknown caller.
• Review your financial accounts and credit report regularly for accuracy.
• Tear up or shred financial papers before throwing them away.
• Get Social Security number off your checks and driver's license; don't carry the original card with you.
• Watch your debit or credit card when making purchases.
• Use non-sensible PIN numbers (not a pet's name, a nickname, your birth date, or house number; mix numbers and letters) and don't write the PIN on your card!
• Only do business with reputable companies.
• Opt out of company sharing your information with outsiders; option available annually.
• Get off mailing lists (i.e., call 1-888-5-OPTOUT to stop receiving pre-approved credit card offers; write to DMA Mail Preference Service, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735 to reduce junk mail; send name, address, and phone number to DMA Telephone Preference Service, PO Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735 to avoid unwanted calls from telemarketers; send notice to https://www.dmachoice.org/ to get off national e-mail lists).
• Reject electronic "cookies."
• Use secure Web site to place your order
  (the s in https:// signifies "secure").
• Use only encrypted Web sites to authorize money transfers.

• Call local Police Department- get a written copy of your report.
• Notify banker or credit union- set up new accounts if affected.
• Request "fraud alert" from all three national credit bureaus:
  Equifax (800-525-6285);
  Trans Union (800-680-7289); and
  Experian (800-301-7195)
  - order a free copy of your credit report.


Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
http://www.equifax.com;
P.O. Box 740241,
Atlanta, GA 30374- 0241

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
http://www.experian.com;
P.O. Box 9532,
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289;
http://www.transunion.com;
Fraud Victim Assistance Division,
P.O. Box 6790,
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790


• Getting your annual credit report at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/
• Cancel your ATM, debit, and/or credit card if stolen.
• Request that retailers be notified not to accept checks written on your stolen account- contact check verification companies:
  Telecheck (800-710-9898);
  International Check Services (800-631-9656);
  Equifax (800-437-5120).
• Report theft to the S.D. Division of Consumer Protection (800-300-1986); or to help@atg.state.sd.us
• Call the Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Hotline (1-877-ID THEFT) or go on-line at www.consumer.gov/idtheft for information.
• Report mail theft to you local postal inspection officer; find a listing at http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/
• If a driver's license is involved, call your nearest Department of Motor Vehicles.
• If it is phone fraud, contact S.D. Public Utilities Commission (605-773-3201) or go on-line for information at http://puc.sd.gov/
• For information on insurance companies, policies, agents and brokers, contact the S.D. Division of Insurance (605-773-3563).
• Call the S.D. State Bar Association (800-952-2333) if assistance is needed in clearing your name.
• Report investment fraud to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (202-942-7040) or to help@sec.gov
• If tax fraud is suspected, call the Internal Revenue Service (800-829-0433) or go on-line for information at http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=121259,00.html
• Though a new number is seldom assigned, call the Social Security Administration hotline at (800-269-0271) or on-line at oig.hotline@ssa.gov
  
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation usually only gets involved when multiple similar reports are made; send a complaint to http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress02/idtheft.htm
• DO NOT CALL listing at http://www.sddonotcall.com/

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Last Modified June 23, 2008.

AgBio Communications Unit
Box 2231, SDSU
Brookings, SD 57007-1897
(605) 688-4187

Send Comments to:
    Lowell Haag