CHASE - CREDITCARDS

Preventing Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone illegally uses your personal information to access your account(s), make unauthorized purchases, take out loans, and even rent apartments. It can leave you with damaged credit, bills for items you did not purchase, and the burdensome task of clearing your name. However, you do have the power to prevent criminals from stealing your information.

Identifying fraud and identity theft

• Phishing (pronounced “fishing”). As the name implies, this type of identity theft involves “fishing” for victims. The perpetrator poses as a trustworthy, legitimate person or business (i.e., your bank) in an attempt to glean personal information from you, such as passwords and PIN numbers.

• Illegitimate offers. These come in the form of emails offering you products and services at reduced prices, or before they are available to the general public, though the sender does not intend to deliver them to you. Instead, these are attempts to get your credit card or bank account number.

• Requests for help. This type of fraud usually involves the sender asking the email recipient to deposit a large sum of money into his or her bank account for safekeeping in exchange for a percentage of the money. This, of course, involves revealing one’s bank account number to a stranger over the Internet.

Visit www.chase.com for tips on reporting fraud and identifying thieves’ attempts to trick you into providing your vital information.

What do if you are a victim

• Call your bank(s) immediately to let them know what has happened.

• For any Chase account(s), call a Chase customer service representative as soon as you are aware that identity theft or fraud has taken place. Chase will help you correct fraudulent transactions on your account(s) as well as any incorrect reports Chase has sent to credit bureaus. Chase will also help you protect yourself from future crimes.

• All three credit bureaus have fraud departments. We suggest that you immediately contact them all to have them put your file on “fraud alert.” This lets creditors know that they need to call you before taking out any accounts in your name:

 Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

 Experian: 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

 

• File a report with your local police department. This may not help catch the person who stole your identity, but having a record of the crime can aid you in clearing your name.

• Call the Federal Trade Commission’s tool-free identity theft hotline at 1-877- IDTHEFT (438-4338) to file a complaint. A counselor trained in identity theft will take your complaint and may offer invaluable advice for your situation. You can also file online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

• Filling out an identity theft affidavit will help you notify companies that someone has opened an unauthorized account in you name. The form is located online at: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf.

Preventing identity theft

You are not defenseless against this crime. Here are just a few valuable resources:

• The Chase Identity Theft Kit—This information source discusses what identity theft is, how it happens, what to do if it happens, and how to prevent it. A PDF version is available for free download at: www.chase.com/ccpmweb/shared/document/Identity_Theft_Kit.pdf.

• For information on fighting identity theft from the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Web site at, visit: www.occ.treas.gov/consumer/PhishBrochFINAL-SCREEN.pdf.

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a helpful resource on identity theft. Quizzes, videos, and publications can assist you in your situation or help you prevent the crime from occurring at: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/.

• You can also call the FTC’s toll-free identity theft hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).

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