Identity Theft

Which of the following are ways that an 'identity thief' can obtain someone's credit card numbers and other pieces of identification?

• Shoulder surfing at ATM machines
• All of these
• "Dumpster Diving" from a trash can
• Stealing mail from mailboxes

Let's say you have a credit card which has no balance due on it. You've decided not to use it anymore. No monthly statements show up for it and you don't carry it with you. There is no way an 'identity thief' can get this card's number. True or False?

• True
• False

To minimize the amount of information an 'identity thief' can steal, which of the following should you NOT carry in your wallet or purse unless you absolutely need to?

• Birth Certificate
• Social Security Card
• Passport
• All of these

When creating passwords and PINs (personal identification numbers), what information should you avoid using that could easily be discovered by an 'identity thief'?

• Last 4 digits of Social Security number
• Middle Name
• Birthdate
• All of these

You receive a phone call ... 'Today is your lucky day! You have been chosen by the Space Travel Sweepstakes to receive a free trip on the Space Shuttle. All we need is your credit card number and expiration date to verify you as the lucky winner.' Do you give out this information?

• Yes
• No

You have been pre-approved for a credit card, but you have too many already and decide to toss this bit of mail away. What should you do first?

• Run it through your home shredder
• Cut it up with scissors
• Tear it up into small pieces
• Any of these

If you are a victim of 'identity theft', it's important to act immediately to stop the thief's further use of your identity. Who should you contact first?

• Bank/Credit Card Company
• Phone Company
• Insurance Company
• Police

In the USA, when you call your credit card issuers for replacement cards, which of the following should you do?

• Ask for the same account numbers
• Ask that the old account be processed as 'account closed at consumer's request'
• Report the card as "lost or stolen"
• Ask if you can use the same PIN number so you don't have to remember a new one

In the USA, when you notify the bank of the theft of your ATM card, or personal checks, you should do which of the following?

• Cancel your checking and savings accounts and obtain new account numbers
• Put stop payments on any outstanding checks 
• Ask the bank to issue you a secret password that must be used in every transaction
• All of these

In the United States, which of the following things can an 'identity thief' NOT do?

• File a change of address form for you at the post office
• An "identity thief" can do all of these things
• Obtain a passport in your name
• Write checks using your driver's license number as an ID