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CHUBBUCK POLICE DEPARTMENT IDENTITY THEFT OVERVIEW
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One of our missions is the prevention of crime. We offer the following suggestions that will help you protect yourself from identity theft. One of the fastest growing crimes in the nation,
there were at least 718 reported cases of identity theft in Idaho in 2006.
That number is expected to double in 2010. The information and resources on
this page are provided by the Federal Trade Commission.
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DETER POTENTIAL IDENTITY THIEVES
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As with most crimes, you can take a number of steps to lessen the probability of
becoming a victim. Listed below are a few simple steps that should help you
protect yourself.
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 Shred documents with personal information before discarding them
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Protect your social security number - do not carry your card
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Only give out personal information to people you know and trust
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Be cautious online - Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information
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Keep your personal information in a secure place at all times
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DETECT THE SIGNS OF IDENTITY THEFT
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Regular inspection of your financial statements for unauthorized charges and review
of your free annual credit report usually will alert you to any suspicious activity
which may be the first sign of identity theft. The following list contains
other indicators of potential identity theft.
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Account statements or bills that do not arrive in the mail as expected
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Unexpected credit cards, bills or account statements
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Denials of credit for no apparent reason
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Calls or letters about purchases you did not make
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DEFEND YOURSELF WHEN IDENTITY THEFT IS SUSPECTED
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Quick action is strongly recommended if you suspect identity theft. You will
find that disputed charges will be resolved much more effectively if you follow
all the steps below as soon as possible.
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File a police report with the local police department
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Close all tampered with or fraudulent financial accounts
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Contact the organization's fraud or security department
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Ask for written or email verification of account closure
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Keep copies of all documents and conversations
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Place a fraud alert on each of your three credit reports
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Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
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Experian: 1-800-397-3742
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TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
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Report theft to the Federal Trade Commission.
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