Identity Theft Webquest

Part I Use the Justice Departments website to learn more about identity theft.
http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html
1. What is identity theft?
This is when someone steals personal info about you and uses it without permission to pay for things.
2. Define the following ways thieves might steal your identity
a. Shoulder Surfing
Take money or info from your pocket
b. Dumpster Diving
digging up information from the trash
c. Via the mail
pretend to be a credit card company and ask for information
d. Spam Emails
Send someone a virus to get into their computer and steal their information.
3. To avoid being a victim of identity theft, it is recommended that you SCAM what does this stand for?
Stingy about giving info to others, Check your financial information regularly, Ask periodically for a copy of your
credit report, Maintain careful records of your banking and financial accounts.
4. Explain what one part of SCAM means.
Stingy means to be careful about what you give people online, and make sure you are giving information to the
right people and no to just everybody.
5. What groups do you need to contact when you find youre the victim of identity theft or fraud? [Hint - there are
7 specific bureaus/organizations + 2 more generic companies and institutions]
FTC, postal inspection service, social security administration, Equifax, Experian, trans Union.

Part II For this assignment, you will read a story of one persons experience with identity theft and use the internet to
further your understanding of what happened to the person. Questions where you will need to research the answer
online are indicated as such.
Article -
http://www.protectmyid.com/images/education_center/pdf/060IdentityRecovery/050%20id%20recovery_one%20victi
ms%20story.pdf
6. Why was Joe Tremba confused when he received a collection letter about a past due credit card account?
Because he only has one credit card and pays it in full every month.
7. What does it mean to be assigned to a collections agency? [Look up online]
Someone who calls to collect the debt someone is owed.
8. How has this identity theft affected Joes life?
He has a weak credit so he cant buy a house and people still call to collect money.
9. What does it mean to opt out of credit card offers that arrive in the mail? [Look this up online]
Takes your name out of anything that has to do with collection agencies or offers.
10. How many people are victims of identity theft each year?
11.1 million
11. What is the average amount stolen according to the Javelin Identity Fraud Survey Report in 2010?
$4,841
12. When must suspicious credit activity be reported so creditors can efficiently track fraudulent purchases?
Right away so that they can detect fraud early preferable in the first 30 days.
What are the 3 big things you must look for when reviewing your credit report?
Accounts that do not belong to you, Personal information, such as names, phone numbers, date of birth, addresses, or
Social Security numbers that do not belong to you, Outdated or incomplete information.
13. What steps should be taken when you are the victim of identity theft?
placing a fraud alert on your credit report, filing a police report, and filling out an Identification Theft Complaint
with the Federal Trade Commission.
14. What is a fraud alert with the FTC? [Look this up online]
Prevents people from taking out more credit in their name.