St. Francis Police Department

Identity Theft crimes are the fastest growing type of crime in Wisconsin right now. It is suggested that an identity theft crime victim will spend nearly $200.00 dollars and 40 hours of time in dealing with the aftermath of an identity theft.

We encourage people to take proactive steps to limit their risk of identity theft. Shred your credit card, debit card, bank and financial statements before placing them in the trash. Do not preprint your social security number or drivers license numbers on personal checks. The social security number is the “ gateway number “ that can facilitate other identity theft crimes. Safeguard your social security number information. It is illegal for merchants to ask for your social security number as a form of identification. Do not carry your social security card in your purse or wallet. Limit the number of credit cards you carry in your purse or wallet on the chance you may lose that purse or wallet.

 

Monitor your credit history by visiting reputable government web sits which can help you get a free credit report. Go to www.ftc.gov for the Federal Trade Commission and information on identity theft.

 

Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to obtain your “FREE” credit report. Be aware that your report is free, but there is a charge to obtain a “ credit score “ or any monitoring services offered.

 

If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, please contact the police department. If you lose a credit card, you should report that loss immediately to your credit card supplier.

How do thieves steal an identity?

According to FTC.gov Identity theft starts with the misuse of your personally identifying information such as your name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information. For identity thieves, this information is as good as gold.
Skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:

1. Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
2. Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
3. Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
4. Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form.
5. Old-Fashioned Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access.
6. Pretexting.  They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources.