IDENTITY THEFT
Fraud Prevention
Biometrics
Secure ID

About Identity Theft and What You Can Do About It

What does the Federal Trade Commission say about Identity Theft?

Identity theft is a serious crime. How does it happen?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. While you can't entirely control whether you will become a victim, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk.

If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do:
Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three consumer reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. The fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. 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. 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 Social Security number will appear on your credit reports." More  >>

Get a FREE copy of your credit report:

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) 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. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies. For more information please click here.

Request your free annual credit report here...it's quick, easy, and secure.  www.annualcreditreport.com


In The Boardroom With...

Ms. Deb Harmon, MBA
Project Manager
Identity Theft
Property Product Office
Nationwide Financial Services

Almost every day brings the emergence of a story about a security breach, a new ID theft scam, or tips to prevent becoming a victim. Due to the success of our $45 endorsement, the next logical step was to offer a true standalone policy which can be purchased by anyone, regardless if you’re a Nationwide policyholder or not. The sales of our endorsements have been closely monitored and exceeded initial expectations.  More>>

Mr. Joe Lester
Identity Fraud Product Manager
St. Paul Travelers

Phishing” is Internet-based and is done via computer. Thieves send messages in an attempt to trick you into divulging personal information (credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, etc.). The messages sent by phishers claim to be from a business or organization that you may do business with. For example, you could get a legitimate-looking message from your Internet service provider, bank or government agency. The message may ask you to “update,” “validate” or “confirm” your account information. More>>