Identity

Theft
Handbook
www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov n 1-800-242-5846
Identity Theft occurs when someone uses your personal information
without your permission to commit fraud. Identity theft can wreak havoc
on your finances, credit history, and reputation and may require time, money,
and patience to resolve. Your identity can be stolen in different ways.
Please review the information in this booklet to familiarize yourself with
the types of identity theft and learn how to protect yourself and loved
ones from becoming victims.

Be an Informed Consumer…We can Help!

A CONSUMER GUIDE TO IDENTITY THEFT

 table of contents
Signs that you may be a victim of Identity Theft.............................................. 2
Types of Identity Theft......................................................................................... 4
Financial Identity Theft........................................................................................ 6
Social Security Identity Theft.............................................................................. 8
Medical Identity Theft.......................................................................................... 10
Tax Identity Theft................................................................................................. 14
Elder Identity Theft............................................................................................... 20
Child Identity Theft.............................................................................................. 22
Driver’s License Identity Theft............................................................................. 26
Steps to take to protect yourself from Identity Theft........................................ 28
If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, report it to the appropriate authorities... 34
Maintain a thorough record of the Identity Theft incident.............................. 40
Signs that you may be a victim of Identity Theft

• Your bank account lists unauthorized transactions or withdrawals.

• You unexpectedly get denied for a credit card, a loan or other service.

• Your electronic payments and/or checks are rejected.

• You receive calls from debt collectors about debts that are not yours.

• You are unexpectedly no longer receiving your regular mail.

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• You find unfamiliar accounts on your credit report.

• You receive mail, including bills, statements and/or legal

correspondence, for goods or services that you did not purchase.

• Your health plan unexpectedly rejects your medical claim because

the records show you have reached your benefits limit.

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Identity Theft comes in many different forms. Familiarize yourself
with the various types of identity theft so that you know how to
protect yourself from becoming a victim.

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Financial Identity Theft
Social Security Identity Theft
Medical Identity Theft
Tax Identity Theft
Elder Identity Theft
Child Identity Theft
Driver’s License Identity Theft
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Financial Identity Theft
Financial Identity Theft occurs when someone uses another person’s
financial information to commit fraud. For example, someone may try to
trick you into disclosing your credit card number or bank account number
so that they can use this information to open credit card accounts, make
purchases or commit other frauds. This is the most common form of
identity theft.

Early detection is crucial when it comes to fighting financial identity theft.

The sooner you realize your identity has been stolen, the sooner you can
correct problems and prevent further damage. The best way to protect
against financial identity theft is to regularly check your financial
accounts and statements, and immediately contact your financial
institution if an unauthorized charge appears.

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Social Security Identity Theft
Social Security Identity Theft occurs when someone uses your Social Security
Number to commit fraud or other crimes. Your Social Security Number can be
used for a variety of fraudulent purposes, including:
• Opening new financial accounts
• Filing a fraudulent tax refund
• Stealing your unemployment or social security benefits
• Obtaining medical care

Always guard your Social Security Number so that it does not get into
the wrong hands.

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To report a lost or stolen Social Security Number, or if you believe
your Social Security Number has been used fraudulently, contact the
Social Security Administration at 1-800-269-0271 or visit the
Office of the Inspector General’s webpage:
https://oig.ssa.gov/report-fraud-waste-or-abuse/.

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Medical Identity Theft
Medical Identity Theft occurs when someone uses your personal information,
such as your Medicare Identification Number, in order to obtain medical care,
buy medication, access your medical records, or submit fake claims to your
insurer or Medicare in your name.

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Medical Identity Theft can have devastating consequences
Loss of health coverage: Fraudulent medical claims can max out your medical benefits,
causing you to be denied benefits.
Negative credit history: Fraudsters can build up large bills at hospitals in your name
and then disappear without a trace. Eventually, the fraudulent bills go to collection. You
might not even realize your identity was stolen until bill collectors start contacting you.
Inaccurate medical records: When an identity thief uses your health insurance to
get medical care in your name, doctors may update your records with the imposter’s
medical information, resulting in incorrect entries in your medical history. Erroneous
entries can be extremely dangerous, as medical personnel rely on this information to
prescribe medicine and give treatments.
Higher premiums: Your premiums may rise as a result of these fraudulent medical claims.
Difficulty obtaining life insurance: You may have a hard time qualifying for life insurance
if the premiums are based on the imposter’s health records rather than your own.

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How to recognize Medical Identity Theft
Review your Explanation of Benefits statements or Medicare Summary Notices:
Review these documents regularly to make sure the claims match the services you
received. Report questionable charges to your health insurance provider or Medicare.
If you are sent bills for medical services you did not receive, call the provider and
dispute the charges.
Check your medical records: If you think you may be a victim of Medical Identity
Theft, carefully review a copy of your medical records for any inaccuracies, including
any incorrect medical diagnoses.

Report Medical Identity Theft

If you believe that you have been a victim of Medical Identity Theft, you should take
the following steps:

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• Immediately call your health insurance company’s fraud department and your
treating physician to report the theft.
• File a report with the NJ Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor at
www.njinsurancefraud2.org/ or call 1-877-55-FRAUD.
• File a report with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the NJ Office of the Attorney
General at www.nj.gov/oag/medicaidfraud/ or call 1-609-292-1272.
• Report Medicaid Fraud to the Medicaid Fraud Division of the Office of the
State Comptroller by calling 1-888-937-2835 or visit
www.nj.gov/comptroller/divisions/medicaid/.
• To report Medicare Fraud, visit:
www.medicare.gov/forms-help-resources/help-fight-medicare-fraud/how-report-medicare
• Be sure to get copies of your medical records and work with your doctor’s office and
insurance company to correct erroneous information.

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Tax Identity Theft

Tax Identity Theft occurs when someone uses your personal information
(such as your Social Security Number or tax preparation software account
username or password) to file a tax return in order to claim a fraudulent
refund or establish a “verified identity” with tax authorities. You may not
be aware of the problem until you attempt to file your tax returns and then
learn that a return has already been filed. The IRS does not initiate contact
with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. This
includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and
social media channels.

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How to Protect Yourself from Tax Identity Theft

• NEVER provide any personal information in response to an unsolicited

phone call, email, social media message or text message claiming to
be the IRS. The IRS will not make initial contact with consumers using
these methods.

• BEWARE of emails, texts or social media messages that look like they’re
from the IRS or a financial institution. This is called “phishing” and the
goal is to get you to provide personal information or click on links that
either lead to fake websites or install malicious software on your computer.

• NEVER reply to, or click, on any links in suspicious email, texts, and social
media messages.

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• ALWAYS read correspondence from tax authorities.

• ALWAYS report suspicious activity to the IRS.

Visit: www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams.

• If possible, file your income taxes early in the season, before

someone can file fraudulent taxes in your name.

• If you suspect you are a victim of Tax Identity Theft, continue to pay
your taxes and file your return, even if you must do so by paper.

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Report Tax Identity Theft
If you suspect you have become a victim of Tax Identity Theft, or if the IRS
sends you a letter or notice indicating a problem, the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) suggests that you take the following steps:

• File a report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov.

• Contact one of the major credit reporting bureaus to place a “fraud alert”
on your credit records. For even greater protection, consider a credit freeze.
See page 35 for further information regarding credit reporting bureaus.

• Contact your financial institutions and close any accounts opened without
your permission or that show unusual activity.

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• If you receive an IRS notice in the mail that says someone used your Social
Security Number to get a tax refund, follow the instructions provided in
the notice. Visit www.irs.gov/newsroom/taxpayer-guide-to-identity-theft.
If these steps don’t resolve your situation, contact the IRS for specialized
assistance at 1-800-908-4490.

• If you suspect that you are a victim of tax fraud and would like to report
the incident to the New Jersey Division of Taxation and have your account
noted that you are a victim of identity theft or to identify any questionable
activity, you should complete an Identity Theft Declaration form. For further
information, visit: www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/identity_theft.shtml.

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Elder Identity Theft
Elder Identity Theft occurs when someone wrongly obtains the
personal information of an elderly person. Unfortunately, seniors can be
especially vulnerable to identity theft scams as they may be isolated or
unfamiliar with the latest scams. They are also often more reluctant to
report identity theft because they might not know how to report it or are
embarrassed about being victimized.

Steps to take to avoid becoming a victim of Identity Theft

• NEVER disclose any personal information over the phone. Seniors are often
targeted by callers trying to trick them into giving out personal information,
such as credit card and Social Security Numbers. These calls often take the
form of the “grandparent scam,”“romance scam,” or “sweepstakes scam.”
Screen your calls. Only answer calls from people and businesses you know
and trust. Let all unknown callers leave a message.
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• Secure all important documents, such as bank statements and
benefits statements.

• Be safe online: Emails and texts aimed at tricking the recipient to

click on a link or open an attachment are often targeted at the elderly.

• When using social media, do NOT share personal information in your

profiles, such as birthdates, vacation plans or health information.

• Always guard your Social Security and Medicare Numbers.

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Child Identity Theft
Child Identity Theft occurs when a child’s Social Security Number or other
information is used to commit fraud or other crimes. Often, this information will
be used to open credit accounts, apply for loans or government benefits. Child
Identity Theft can go undetected for years, with victims unaware until they apply
for a driver’s license, first loan, or a job.

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Steps you can take to protect your children from Identity Theft

• Check with the credit reporting bureaus to see if your child has a credit
report. If so, review it carefully. Report any inaccuracies to the Federal Trade
Commission and file a report with your local police department. You may also
want to place a security freeze on your child’s credit report. See page 35 for
further information regarding the credit reporting bureaus.

• Keep your child’s personal information private, including name, address,

birthdate, school and Social Security Number.

• Monitor how your child’s school uses your child’s personal information.

• Monitor your child’s online activity and social media presence.

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Warning signs that may indicate Child Identity Theft

• Your child receives pre-approved offers of credit or insurance in the

mail in their own name.

• Your child receives promotional or junk mail.

• Your child is denied governmental benefits and/or financial aid

because the benefits are already being paid to someone else using
the same Social Security Number.

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Driver’s License Identity Theft

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Driver’s License Identity Theft
Driver’s License Identity Theft occurs when someone uses your identity,
or submits false identity documents in order to obtain a fraudulent driver’s
license. Once someone has your license or obtains one fraudulently using
your identity, it becomes easy to get other forms of ID in your name.

If someone using your identity gets pulled over for a traffic violation or
drunk driving and gives the police officer your identity, their driving-related
offenses might be added to your driving record, which can result in a
revocation or suspension of your driver’s license. These offenses can
wreak havoc on your life and impact car insurance rates or any attempts
to obtain new car insurance.

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If you suspect your driver’s license was lost, stolen or fraudulently used,
contact the State of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission at
1-609-292-6500 or visit www.state.nj.us/mvc/license/liclost.htm.

Regularly monitor your driving history.

Visit: www.state.nj.us/mvc/license/driverhist.htm.

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Steps to take to protect yourself from Identity Theft
• Protect your personal information, especially your Social Security Number.

• Carefully review your bank and credit card statements regularly for
inaccuracies. If you see a charge you don’t recognize, large or small,
contact your bank or credit card company. The telephone number is
typically located on the back of the card.

• Report lost or stolen identification cards, such as your Social Security

card, Medicare card, insurance card or driver’s license, to the issuing
agency immediately.

• Report lost or stolen debit or credit cards to the issuing company

as soon as you notice it is missing.

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• Secure all documents that contain sensitive personal information, such as
bank or credit card statements, benefits statements and medical records.

• Protect your mail by removing it from your mailbox as soon as possible.

Consider using a locked mailbox.

• Empty your wallet or purse of extra credit cards or IDs (Social Security
card, birth certificate, passport) and cut up cards that are not in use.

• Do not keep ANY personal information (such as Social Security numbers,

bank account numbers, passwords or PINS) on anything in your wallet or purse.

• NEVER discard personal information in the trash. Instead, SHRED all

documents containing personal or financial information, including
pre-approved credit card and loan applications.

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Steps to take to protect yourself from Identity Theft (continued)
• Opt out of receiving credit card offers by contacting the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) at 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) or online at:
www.optoutprescreen.com.
• NEVER provide ANY personal information, including credit card numbers, bank
account information or your Social Security Number over the telephone, unless you
have a trusted business relationship with the company and YOU have initiated the call.
• Monitor your credit regularly by ordering a copy of your credit report every year
from all of the major credit reporting agencies to check for fraudulent activity
or discrepancies. In New Jersey, you can obtain one free report every 12 months
from each of the credit reporting agencies. See page 35 for further information
regarding the credit reporting bureaus.
• Use any extra security measures offered by your financial institutions, such as
two-factor authentication and login alerts.
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• Monitor data breach announcements to see if you are an affected consumer.
• Be safe when online and limit the amount of personal information you post
and share online.
• Always use strong, unique passwords for all online accounts and change
them regularly. Consider using a password management service.
• Do not use public wi-fi to make purchases or login to your email or mobile
banking site.
• Do not click or open unknown links or attachments. Scammers will often send
emails and texts aimed at tricking the recipient to click on a link or open
attachments. This is referred to as “phishing.” Government agencies and
legitimate businesses will not request personal information via email, text
or phone call.

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Steps to take to protect yourself from Identity Theft (continued)
• Check your internet/web browser privacy policy and fine-tune your security
settings. Keep your operating system, browser, and other software up-to-date.
• Install virus protection and firewall software on your computer and always
make sure they are up-to-date.
• Download only those applications you plan to use and check the privacy policies
and permission of the applications before you download an app.
• Enable security functions on your phone and computer—especially if you have
stored passwords or apps that link to your financial institutions. For example,
use a fingerprint or password to lock your phone.
• When disposing of digital devices such as phones, computers and tablets, make
sure to completely erase all of your data — this includes modern copiers which
may have an internal hard drive. If in doubt, destroy the devices.

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• Communicate with the elderly and young people in your family about the
dangers of Identity Theft. Teach them to be vigilant in their everyday
transactions involving money and personal information, as well as in their
online activity and social media presence.

• When using social media, use discretion as to disclosure of personal

details about yourself, your family and friends. For example, do not reveal
exact birthdates, vacation plans, health issues or family history.

For additional information about Identity Theft, visit:

www.njsp.org/tech/identity.html.

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If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, report it to
the appropriate authorities listed below

When to contact your local police department:

If you suspect that you may be a victim of Identity Theft, immediately file a
report with the local police department. Once your police report has been filed,
request a copy to send to credit reporting agencies and creditors if you decide to
contest suspicious charges. Note: According to N.J.A.C. 2C:21-17.6, the local law
enforcement agency is required to take your complaint and provide you with a copy.

When to contact your financial institutions:

Contact fraud departments of all of your credit card companies, creditors,
banks and financial institutions (including mortgage and student loan
companies) to alert them and request replacement cards.

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Contact the national credit bureaus to request a copy of your credit report.
You can also request to have a credit freeze or fraud alert placed on your credit
report free of charge. A security freeze, also known as a credit freeze, restricts
access to a consumer’s credit file, making it harder for identity thieves to open
new accounts in the consumer’s name. A fraud alert tells businesses to check
with the consumer before opening a new account.

• Equifax: www.Equifax.com/personal/ or 1-800-685-1111

• Experian: www.Experian.com/ or 1-888-397-3742
• Transunion: www.TransUnion.com/credit-help or 1-888-909-8872
• Innovis: www.Innovis.com or 1-800-540-2505

Note: As a resident of New Jersey, you have the right to obtain a FREE copy
of your credit report every 12 months from www.annualcreditreport.com.

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If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, report it to
the appropriate authorities listed below (continued)

When to contact the U.S. Federal Trade Commission:

Contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.identitytheft.gov/ to create
an Identity Theft Report and a recovery plan. You may need these later when
dealing with some of the affected agencies.
When to contact the U.S. Social Security Administration:
If you believe that your Social Security card has been lost or stolen, or believe
that your Social Security Number has been misused, contact the Social Security
Administration at 1-800-269-0271, or https://www.oig.ssa.gov/report.

When to contact the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission:

If you suspect that your driver’s license or registration was lost, stolen or
fraudulently used, contact the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission at

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1-609-292-6500 or www.njmvc.gov. Note: You may have to appear in person
at a regional office to fill out an ID Theft Affidavit. You will be required to
bring forms of identification and all proof of fraudulent activity.

When to contact the U.S. Department of State:

Protect yourself from passport fraud–contact the U.S. State Department at
www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/contact-us/reporting-fraud.html,
1-877-487-2778, or [email protected] to alert the Department that
you were the victim of identity theft. Request an alert if anyone attempts to
use your identity to acquire a passport.
When to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service:
If you suspect that your address has been changed without your permission,
notify your local U.S. Postal Inspector to find out what your address was
changed to and instruct them to forward all mail addressed to you to your
correct address. Contact the U.S. Postal Inspectors at 1-877-876-2455 or
www.uspis.gov/report.
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If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, report it to
the appropriate authorities listed below (continued)

When to contact the U.S. Department of Education:

If you believe you are the victim of student loan Identity Theft, contact
the U.S. Department of Education Office of the Inspector General hotline
at 1-800-647-8733 and/or the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group at
the U.S. Department of Education at 1-877-557-2575.

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Maintain a thorough record of the Identity Theft incident
• Keep a complete set of records, including a log with notes of all
telephone conversations with credit reporting bureaus, creditors
and/or debt collection agencies (date/time/name).
• Keep copies of all paper or electronic correspondence you send
and receive related to the Identity Theft incident.
• Keep a record of the time spent and any expenses you incurred.
• When sending supporting documents, send copies, not originals.
• Be aware of all deadlines.
• Send letters by certified mail, return receipt requested.

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 Identity
Theft
Handbook
www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov n 1-800-242-5846