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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Employment Opportunities
About the Secret Service
Protecting Yourself
Employment Opportunities
About the Secret Service
Protecting Yourself
- How can I detect counterfeit currency?
Visit our Know Your Money Page.
- How can I protect myself against credit card fraud?
- It is critical that you notify your bank or credit card company immediately if
you lose your card. It may prevent someone else from using it illegally. Remember
to get your card back after purchasing goods or services. Do not leave the card in
hotel rooms or unnecessarily exposed for long periods of time. The number can be
copied even if the card is not taken.
- Retain all carbon copies of your receipts when making a purchase and retain
receipts from ATM withdrawals. If you don't get a billing statement on time, notify
the credit card issuer immediately. Check billing statements carefully upon receipt
to make sure all charges are yours. Errors or changes that don't belong should be
reported as soon as possible.
- Do not put your credit card account number on checks used to pay your monthly
bills. The credit card agency can always trace your check through your name/address
information from your check.
- Retain copies of receipts to check against billing statement. Be careful when
disposing of materials and correspondence relating to your finances. Shred all
receipt carbon copies to make sure your credit card number is unrecognizable.
Do not throw away canceled checks, financial statements or letters offering
pre-approved credit cards where others can easily find them.
- Promptly destroy all old cards or cards you no longer use. Cut them in half
and make sure the card number is unrecognizable.
- Secure your mailbox. Obtain a lock, if necessary. If you receive mail through
an apartment house clusterbox arrangement, make sure the locks for the panel and
your box lock correctly.
- When applying for a credit card, check the return address. If there is a
sticker with a return address placed on the application, contact the card
issuing company to verify the correct address.
- Do not give your card number to anyone calling on the telephone offering
you prizes or gifts.
- Do not write your card number on a postcard notifying you that you have
won a prize or gift and requesting the number as part of the award arrangements.
- Do not leave gasoline credit card receipts at the pump. They contain your
credit card number.
- What to do if you have been the victim of credit card fraud or identity theft.
If your complaint is essentially a non-criminal dispute with a retailer or other business,
you must immediately dispute the charge(s) in writing with the customer relations office
of your credit card company.
If you have been the victim of credit card fraud or identity theft, the following tips
will assist you:
- Report the crime to the police immediately. Get a copy of your police report
or case number. Credit card companies, your bank, and the insurance company may
ask you to reference the report to verify the crime.
- Immediately contact your credit card issuers. Get replacement cards with new
account numbers and ask that the old account be processed as "account closed
at consumers. request" for credit record purposes. You should also follow up
this telephone conversation with a letter to the credit card company that
summarizes your requests in writing.
- Call the fraud units of the three credit reporting bureaus. Report the theft
of your credit cards and/or numbers. Ask that your accounts be flagged. Also,
add a victim's statement to your report that requests that they contact you to
verify future credit applications. The following is a list of addresses and numbers
to the three credit bureaus:
Equifax Credit Information Services - Consumer Fraud Div.
P.O. Box 105496
Atlanta, Georgia 30348-5496
Tel: (800) 997-2493
www.equifax.com
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Experian
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, Texas 75013-2104
Tel: (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742)
www.experian.com |
Trans Union Fraud Victim Assistance Dept.
P.O. Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
Tel: (800) 680-7289
www.transunion.com
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- Keep a log of all conversations with authorities and financial entities.
- As with any personal information, only provide your credit card number to
merchants you know. Also, remember to protect your social security number.
You have to give your social security number for employment and tax purposes,
but it is not necessary for many businesses. Notify the Social Security
Administration.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the federal clearinghouse for complaints by
victims of identity theft. Although the FTC does not have the authority to bring
criminal cases, the Commission assists victims of identity theft by providing them
with information to help them resolve the financial and other problems that can
result from identity theft. The FTC also may refer victim complaints to other
appropriate government agencies and private organizations for further action.
If you have been a victim of ID theft, you can file a complaint with the FTC
by contacting the FTC's Consumer Response Center.
By phone:
Toll-free 877-FTC-HELP (382-4357)
TDD: 202-326-2502
By mail:
Consumer Response Center
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20580
On the Internet:
For consumer information:
- How can I protect myself against check fraud?
- Don't give your checking account number to people you don't know, even if they
claim they are from your bank.
- Reveal checking account information only to businesses you know to be reputable.
- Report lost or stolen checks immediately.
- Properly store or dispose of canceled checks, and guard new checks.
- Report any inquiries or suspicious behavior to your banker who will take measures
to protect your account and notify proper authorities.
- Do not leave your automated teller machine receipt at the ATM; it contains
account information.
- Check your bank statements carefully and often.
- Use direct deposit.
Tips for Businesses - Internal Procedures:
- Review your bank statements regularly, and ensure that the authorized signers
are not the same people who reconcile the account.
- Have Social Security, and as many other checks as possible, deposited directly
into your bank account rather than mailed to you.
- Review all hiring procedures. Know your employees.
- Make sure two people are responsible for accounts payable, and ensure that
mailroom personnel and procedures are sound.
- Keep all check stock or cash equivalents in a secure and locked facility.
- Change keys or entry codes periodically to prevent routine access to storage areas.
- Consider surprise audits.
- Consider moving check disbursement activity to electronic payment.
- Read and understand your bank contracts regarding liability for fraud
under the Uniform Commercial Code.
Tips for Businesses - External Procedures:
- Maintain contact with other businesses in your area so you can receive timely
information on fraud occurrences. Keep a record of when, what, and how a fraud may
have hurt your business so you can prevent it the next time.
- Use bank services like positive pay, expedited return information and signature
verification systems to protect your accounts payable and accounts receivable areas.
- Purchase check stock from well-established vendors. Use safety paper. If you
process your payables through a service bureau, make sure you have a copy of its
security procedures.
- Reconcile your check disbursements and deposits regularly.
- If a payment account is fraudulently used, close the account as soon as possible.
- Be cautious when using refund accounts, such as rebates for subscriptions. This
is another target for check fraud. The checks are relatively easy to obtain and can
be used for counterfeits.
- Evaluate the use of negative check file databases, especially if you accept a
large number of payments by check.
- Find ways to replace paper documents with electronic payment devices.
- Know your customer.
- How can I protect myself against telemarketing fraud?
Tips for Determining Telemarketing Fraud:
- High-pressure sales tactics.
- Insistence on an immediate decision.
- The offer sounds too good to be true.
- A request for your credit card number for any purpose other than to make a purchase.
- An offer to send someone to your home or office to pick up the money, or some other
method such as overnight mail to get your funds more quickly.
- A statement that something is "free," followed by a requirement that you
pay for something.
- An investment that is "without risk."
- Unwillingness to provide written information or references (such as a bank or names
of satisfied customers in your area) that you can contact.
- A suggestion that you should make a purchase or investment on the basis of "trust."
Ways to Avoid Becoming a Victim:
- Don't allow yourself to be pushed into a hurried decision.
- Always request written information, by mail, about the product, service,
investment or charity and about the organization that's offering it.
- Don't make any investment or purchase you don't fully understand.
- Ask with what state or federal agencies the firm is registered.
- Check out the company or organization.
- If an investment or major purchase is involved, request that information also
be sent to your accountant, financial adviser, banker, or attorney for evaluation and an opinion.
- Ask what recourse you would have if you make a purchase and aren't satisfied.
- Beware of testimonials that you may have no way of verifying.
- Don't provide personal financial information over the phone unless you are
absolutely certain the caller has a bona fide need to know.
- If necessary, hang up the phone.
- How can I protect my privacy?
- Get a copy of your credit report from more than one credit bureau. Check for inaccuracies.
- Don't share personal information with anyone who doesn't have the right to know.
Among other things, that means you shouldn't write down your social security, credit card,
or telephone numbers on checks if it's not appropriate to do so. And don't offer this
information to store clerks and unknown telephone marketers.
- To avoid junk mail and telemarketing calls, write to direct marketing associations
and request that your name be removed from any junk mail lists.
- Be aware that almost every time you call an 800, 888, or 900 number, your name and
address are captured by the company you dialed. This information becomes part of your
electronic profile.
- Ask your bank to notify you in writing when someone requests your records. Examine
your automated teller receipts to make sure that the balance is correct and that nobody
is tapping your account electronically.
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