Identity Theft

What Are Identity Theft and Identity Fraud?


Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain. USDOJ

 Identity TheftIdentity theft is a crime in which an impostor obtains key pieces of Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers and uses those for their own personal gain. It can start with lost or stolen wallets, stolen mail, a data breach, computer virus, “phishing” scams, or paper documents thrown out by you or a business (dumpster). With South Florida being number one in the country in identity theft cases, here are some tips to assist residents to avoid being the victim of identity theft.

  • Don’t give out your SSN unnecessarily (only for tax reasons, credit or verified employment.) Before providing personal identifiers, know how it will be used and if it will be shared.
  • Use a cross-cut shredder to dispose of documents with personal information. Also, use a specialized gel pen when writing out checks.
  • Place outgoing mail in collection boxes or the U.S. Post Office.
  • Know your billing cycles and contact creditors when bills fail to show up. Review bank and credit card statements carefully.
  • Password protect your financial accounts. A strong password should be more than eight characters in length, and contain both capital letters and at least one numeric or other non- alphabetical character. Use of non-dictionary words is also recommended.
  • Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you initiated the contact.
  • Use firewall software to protect computer information. Keep virus and spyware software programs updated.
  • Reduce the number of pre-approved credit card offers you receive: 888-5OPT-OUT
  • Order your free annual credit reports on-line at: www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228
  • You may also “freeze” your credit report.
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Identity theft happens. It's an unfortunate fact of modern life. But there are certain steps you can take to help keep your personal information from falling into the wrong hands.

Every day, you do things to protect what's most important to you. And you know what? You do them almost automatically. Routine things like looking both ways before you cross, brushing your teeth, and buckling your seat belt. Another routine to get into is keeping tabs on your identity and personal information. Here are five easy ways you can do it.

  • Read your credit card and bank statements carefully and often.
  • Know your payment due dates.
  • If a bill doesn't show up when you expect it, look into it.
  • Read the statements from your health insurance plan.
  • Make sure the claims paid match the care you got.
  • Shred any documents with personal and financial information.
  • Review each of your three credit reports at least once a year. It's easy, and it's free.
Before you know it, protecting your personal information can be as routine as locking your doors at night. For more tips and tools on dealing with identity theft, visit the FTC Consumer page on Identity Theft. 

Identity Theft resources.


Identity Theft Task Force
FTC Consumer Information
Social Security
SSA Fraud Advisory
IRS Identity Protection Information
DOJ - Identity Theft and Identity Fraud
Credit Report Fraud
Cybercrimes and ID Theft
Scam Alerts
10 Tips to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft